The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-05-04

the window, only pot or two or
pinched-lool<ing flowers A great con-
| trast TO the window next door, with its
coy curtains and brilliant flowers In
their bright red pots.
How late you be, Bent" said his
wife, hurrying 20 the door as she heard
the tap Of his wooden leg In the path.
IL didn't like 10 begin without you; but
be dyin' for cup o. ten; the dust gets
down your throat SO when you be
cleanin' up"
IL doubts II there be ever much dust
In your house 20 get down your throat.
missis!" 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 floor WI all that dust on vel"
Ben meelxly took the broom and
brushed himself. then followed her
into the room and seated himself at the
table, his rough face beaming as he
looked across at her.
seed anybody you know" she in
quired.
Yes, seed good few. Market
was uncommon FULL he answered. II
seed that old rascal Harry Legge, too.
and he CHECKED me that there, that IL
no hacdn't bin such antient old man,
I'd a up'd wi my stick and het un on
the yeadv'
''Old, indeedl' said Mrs Creeth. "He
be good ten year younger nor your
"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 nowi' he broke
off. excitedly, rising up and resting his
fists on the table 10 lean over and
watch figure that passed the window.
'Drat uni The sight o. I'm spiles my
vittalsF' he continued, craning his neck.
what dye look at him fur, them
II can't help seein' UNI" said Ben,
sinking back into his chair. What
call had he 70 come and bide next door
to me, should like TO know? can't
do hothen wi'out him folleren'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"
Cdu " HtAp AuukhAht oaAd AhA n
Creeth, with an irrepressible chuclxle,
'.you be so foolishl You knows as well
as do. there warn't no other cottage
when he como here; and what were he
to do wi only one arm, II he didn't
driver"
sThere be lots o. things" began
Ben. argumentatively.
swell, never mine II there be. Did
you see anybody else in town." said
Mrs. Creeth, divcrting the converse
tion 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 wen. He was house
cleaning that 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 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 wet
March-one fur the corn, and one fur
the grass.
Eyes; fine pig" observed the shep-
herd after a pause.
''Ah, I'll war'nt he do take kind to
his sittais, said Ben.
''Sure, yes, tbs a fine pig" repeated
the shepherd.
'sAll my missis' pigs thrives," said
Ben with pride.
came from the distance, where Henry
Legee was walking round his 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 IL was intended
TO be, by Henry, he asked angrilJ:
what be tappin' yer head fur? To
see II It's holler? I'll war'nt it's as hol-
Ter as empty beer barrel"
"Wull. Harry, how be times wi your"
inquired the shepherd hastily. wishing
TO cause diversion. He moved up the
path as he spoke.
''oh. pretty fair" replied Henry;
''but I've middling queer customer
afore long. Farmer HOSTS bull. they
says, theren be regular TODD getting
un off,"
"Ah, well, take care o. yer toes,
Harry, when You gets anearst unl'
"Ahl I'll look pretty lively, III war
rant. ] hev n bin tossed once. but
that was a good many year ago now.
lows / wouldn't come down so light
nowl'
They say as you should take the
bull by the horns
"Ahl and they must be pretty near
simpletons TO say IT, too" replied Hen
ry. contemptuously. IF anybody
wants larlx's journey, free o. cost.