The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-06-18

ana Drldge and threatening to enter the
bayfield,, and every little ditch and
| sheep-drain was carrying its tribute of
| peaty water to the greater flood. The
| farmer of Clachlands, as he looked over
the landscape from the doorstep of his
| dwelling, marked the state of the
weather and pondered over it.
He was not in a pleasant state of
mind that morning. He had been
crossed by plowman, his servant. He
liked the man, and so the obvious way of
dealing with him-by making things
uncomfortable or turing him off-was
shut against him. But he burned to get
the upper hand of him, and discomft
once for all one who had dared to ques-
| ton his wisdom and good sense If
only he could get him to vote on the
other side-but that was out of the
question. If only he could keep him
| from voting-that was possible but I'M
| likely. He might forcibly detain him,
in which case he would lay himself open
to the penalties of the law, and be moth
ing the gamer, For the victory which
| he desired was moral one, not tri-
lmDh of force. He would like to cir
cumvent him by cleverness, to score
against him fairly and honor;bly on his
own ground. But the thing was hard,
and as it seemed to him at the moment,
impossible.
| Suddenly, as he looked over the morn
ing landscape, thought struck him
and made him slap his legs and chuclle
| hugely. He walked quickly up and
down the graveled walk. "Losh, it's
guild. FL dae't. I'll daet, if the weather
just hauds."
His unseemly mirth was checked by
| the approach of some one who found
the farmer engaged in the minute eX-
animation of gooseberry leaves. I'm
concerned ABBOTT thae busses,' he was
saying; "they've been i'll lockit to, an
We'll no haze half CROP And he went
off, still smiling, and spent a restless
| forenoon in the Marchthorn market.
In the evening he met the pIowman.
as he returned from the turnip-singling,
with his hoe on his shoulder. The two
men looked at one another with the air
OF those who knew that all is not we'll
between them. Then the farmer spoke
with much humility.
II maybe spoke rayther severe yes
treen," he said. Il hope l didna hurt
your feelings
Ma, ma! No me-" said the plowman,
airily.
Because I've been thinking over the
matter, an | admit that a man has a
RIGHT to his ain thochts. A'body should
haze principles an stick to them" said
the farmer, with the manner of one
making a reconcile quotation.
"Ay," he went on, 81 respect We, Will
liam, for your consistency. Ye're an
example to us "a
The other shuffled and looked unhap-
| Ply. He and his master were on the best
of terms, but these unnecessary compli-
ments were not usual in their inter-
course. He began to suspect, and the
| farmer. who saw his mistake, fastened
TO change the subject.
"Graund weather for the fishin','
said he
oh, is it MOP said the other, reused
to excited interest by this home topic.
as they've never ta'en this ear. Doom
in the big pool in the ClachlandS water,
al the turn O the turnip-tield, there are
| twae or three Founders and aibilins vim
O twae pund. | saw them myself when
the water was low. It's over big the
moo, but when it gangs doom the morn,
and gets the color o porter, Use warrant
| I anIIII NEh1It, tha,,, a. wiz ha
flee
Dye say sac said the farmer, sweet
| ly. "Wcel, it's lang time since tried
the fshin', but | vince was keen ont.
! Come in bye, William; I've something
ye MIGHT like to see"
From a.corner he produced rod. and
handed it to the other. 1t was very
had gained in a fishing competition
many years before, and treasured ac-
cordingly. The plowman examined il
long and critically. Then he gave his
verdict. Its the brawest rod | ever
saw, wi a fine hickory butt, an guild
greenhert tap and middle. 1t wad cast
the sma'est flee, and baud the biggest
troot.'
"Weel," said the farmer. genially
smiling, 'ye have half-holiday the
morn when ye gang 10 the poll There'll
be plenty O time in the evening to try
cast wit, I'll lend it We for the day"
The mans face frightened. II wad
tax it vera kindly" he said, "if we wad.
| My ain YIN is no muckle worth. and. as
/ y say. I'll hae time for a cast the morn's
| NIGHT"
"Dinna mention it. Did | ever let We
see my flee book? Here it is" and he
produced a thick flannel book from
drawer. 'There's a maist miscellaneous
collection, for = waters an a weathers.
| got a heap o them fTse auld Lord
Manorwater, when | was laddie, and
used to carry his basket"
But the plowman needed him not, be-
ing deep in the examination of the mys-
tories. Very gingerly he handled the
tiny spiders and hackles, surveying
them with the eye of connoisseur.
"If there's anything there We think at
a like the water, I'll be vera pleased if
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