River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-05-09

wife, hurrying TO the door as she heard
the tap of his wooden leg in the path.
- didn't like to begin without you; but
be dyin' for cup o tea; the dust gets
down your throat so when you be
cleanin' up"
II doubts IL there be ever much dus,
in your house to get down your throat,
rnissisr'' replied Ben; whereupon Mrs.
Creeth flung her head back and laughed
triumphantly; then stopped abruptly
TO call out: Don't YOU come in over
my clean ioor wi all that dust on yer'
Ben meekiy took the broom and
brushed himself. then followed her
into the room and seated himself at the
table, his roagh face beaming as he
looked across at her.
seed anybody you know" she In
quired.
Yes, seed a good few. Market
was uncommon full he answered. 81
seed that old rascal, Harry Legge, too.
and he CHECKED me that there, that il
he haedn't bin such a antient old man,
i a up'd wi my stick and het un on
the yead.''
''Old, indeed said Mrs. Creeth. "He
be good ten year younger nor you y
No, he bain't; not more or nine year;
and I be twice the man he be. wi his
appleplectic complexion and his husky
voice, like sheep wi the dust downs
throat There he goes nowr' he broke
off. excitedly, rising up and resting his
fists on the table to lean over and
watch figure that passed the window.
"Drat un! The sight o un spiles my
vittals," he continued. craning his neck.
What dye look at him fur, then?'
Il can't help seem un.' said Ben.
sinking back into his chair. what
call had he TO come and bide next door
to me, I should like TO know? can't
do nothen wiout him fo4leren' me. Coz
drives cattle he takes an does IL, too.
Coz / lives here. he comes next door.
Why. ! can't even hev one leg wi'out
him havin' one arm. What be laughin'
ate"
Il can't help laughin'." said Mrs.
Creeth. with an irrepressible chuckle.
won be so foolish! You knows as well
as do. there warn't no other cottage
when he come here; and what were he
10 do wi only one arm, If he didn't
driver"
There be lots q things" began
Ben. argumentatively.
well. never mine If there be. Did
you see anybody else in town?" said
Mrs. Creeth, diverting the conversa-
ton into more peaceful channels.
After tea Ben came to the door and
stood there smoking his pipe. Henry
Legge passed several times, fetching
water from the well. He was house
cleaning is to say, he had cleared
all his furniture out into the garden,
and was dashing buckets of water over
the stone floor of his room.
Next morning. being Sunday, Ben
was leaning over the pigsty, watching
his pig. A field or two off was a flock
of sheep. and the shepherd coming up
presently joined Ben. He, too, folded
his arms on the rail of the pigsty. and
became lost in contemplation of the
pig. Dry weather we be havin'," he
remarked, after time.
Sure. yes we be-" replied Ben.
Good fur the sowin'." he continued;
they says: A dry Febooary and a wet
March -one fur the corn, and one fur
the grass.
.Yes: fine pig" observed the shep-
herd after pause.
''Ah, I'll war'nt he do take kind to
his vittals," said Ben.
Sure. yes, tbs a fine pig" repeated
the shepherd.
''All my missis' pigs thrives," said
Ben with pride.
shouldn't "a tho't it, to look at We, =
came from the distance. where Henry
Legee was walking round mis- part of
of the garden, ostensibly looking at
his gooseberry bushes, but really list
ening TO the conversation
Ben looked at the shepherd with an
expression of contemptuous pity, and
tapped his head Significantly; which
gesture being seen, as it was intended
TO he. by Henry, he asked angrily:
what be tappin' yer head fur? To
see if tbs boiler? I'll war'nt tits as hol-
Ter as a empty beer barrel"
''Wull. Harry. how be times wi your
inquired the shepherd hastily, wishing
to cause diversion. lie moved up the
path as he spoke.
''Oh. pretty fair" replied Henry;
but I've a middling queer customer
afore long. Farmer HOSTS bull. they
SAYS. there'll be regular TODD getting
un off"
.'Ah, we'll, take care O. y toes.
Harry. when you gets anearst un!''
''Ah. I'll look pretty lively, I'll war
rant. I hev "a bin tossed once, but
that was a good many year ago now.
lows wouldn't come down so light
now,''
They say as you should take the
bull by the horns"
"Ah. and they must be pretty near
simpletons to say II, too" replied Her
~. contemptuously. IF anybody
wants a lark's journey, free o cost,
they'd better just try it, that's all I've
got to say"
''Wull, then, that's what they says.
don't answer for the sense on it, }" said
the shepherd. departing.
A high east wind was blowing in
great clouds of dust from the road
across the garden, and showering the
apple petals away to the blue ky like
flights of white butterfies-one morn
ing about two months later there was
snow round the cottages again-snow
of applebloom. Mrs. Creeth's cot
tage, was half-smothered in it: tom
tit was flying about in il. pecking out
the roller caterpillars. stopping every
now and then to give his quick note,
like the sharp ringing of a little bell.
which changed to a harsh note of
warming as Mrs. Creeth came out to her
door and entered the next one. She
went upstairs. and presently her cheer
full tones were heard alternating with
a husky, querulous voice. Presently
she came downstairs again and moved
round the room. which had an unusual
look Of tidiness. busting a table or
chair here and there with her apron.
Her husband came by and stopped at
the door Don't it look nice, Benz
said she. looking up. II ailus did
think Id like 20 hae hand in cleanin'
il, fur he've got nice furniture"
''How be he today" asked Ben.
''Oh. he be terrible low to-day, sayin'
as how this we're illness 'ull eat up all
his savin's; and when he do get better.
he II hev no work to do, andll have to
goo TO house"
why's that?" asked Ben, grumpily.
why. he means fur sure as you'll
hev got all his custom by then"
''Ho.~ iuterjected Ben, with a very
cross expression.