Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-01-20
BOYS OF sHAKsPEARE.s TIME
They Have a Battle Over the Reput,.
ton of the Great Poet

The leading serial for st. Nicholas ia
master Skylark," by John Bennett
1t Is a story of Shakspeare's time. and
the poet figures as one of the eharac.
tiers. The following is a scene from
the December number, in which two
boys start a quarrel over the abilities
of the poet:
Hodge came on little way, shaking
his bead like an old sheep in n corner.
"Wully Shaxper great man." said lie.
"Wby as name be cut on the ole beech.
tree up Snitterfiel lane, where's uncle
Henry Shaxper lives, an it's but poor
ly DONE l could do better wi my own
whiitle.'
"Ay, Hodge," cried Nick; land that's
about ali thou canst do. Doss think
that Il mans greatness hangs on SO
little thing as his sleight-of- hand at
cutting his name on tree"
"Wull, maybe; maybe not; but if n
be u great man, Nick Atwood, a might
do little thing passing wellso there
noww
Nick pondered for a moment. 81 90
ma Know" said he, slowly; "heaps 0:
men can do the little things, but par
lous few the big. So some one must be
Digging it, or folks would all sing very
small And he doeth the big most
beautiful they say. They call him the
Swan of Avon"
avon swans be mostly geese said
Hodge. yacantly.
'Now, look e here, Hodge Dawson,
don't thou be calling Master viii
Shakespeare goose. He married my
own mothers cousin, and will ma have
IT,"
la, now," drawled Hodge, staring,
otis nowt to me. Thy Muster Willy
Shaxper may be all the long-necked
fowls In Warrickshire for all l care.
And, anyway, I'd like to know, Nick
Atwood, since when hath been Mus
ter Shaxper-that ne'er-do-well, play
actoring fellowY
"Ne'er-do-well? 1t is ma so. When
he was here last summer he was brave
ly dressed, and had a heap of good
mobiles in his purse. And he gave Rick
Hawkins, that's blind of an eye, a
shilling for only holding his horse"
"Oh, ay," drawled Hodge! "a fool
and as money be soon parted"
"Will Shakespeare Is ma fool" declar-
ed Nick, hotly. Hes made a peck
O. money there in London town and IS
going to buy the Great House in Chapel
lane, and come back here to live"
"Then as witless azzyr' blurted
Hodge. IF as so great man amongst
the lords and earlses, a'd ma come back
to Stratford. An 1 say as witless
loon-so therer'
Nick whirled around in the road.
"And l say, Hodge Dawson" he ex-
claimed, with flashing eyes, that It is
shame for lout like thee to so mis-
call thy thousand-time betters. And
what's more, thou shalt unsay that, or
l will make thee swallow thy words
right here and nowr
I'D loike to see thee try" Hodge
began; but the words were scarcely
out of his month when he found him
self stretched on the grass, Nick Att
wood bending over him.
There! thou hast seen 1t tried. Now
come, take that back, or will surely
box thine ears for thee"
Hodge blinked and gaped, collecting
his wits which had scattered to the
four winds.
"Whoy," said he, vaguely, "if t is all
o that to thee, l take it back"
Nick rose, and Hodge scrambled clum-
silly to his feet. III ma 60 WI thee"
said he, sulkily; Il will ma go whur l
be whipped"
Nick turned on his heel without
word, and started on.
can what's MORE" bawled Hodge,
after him, "thy Muster Wully Shaxper
be-eth an old gray goose, an boo to he,
says ~
AS he spoke, he turned, dived through
the thin hedge, and galloped across the
field as If an army were at his heels.
Nick started back, but quickly paus-
ed. Thou needst ma rum" he called;
1--WE not the time to catch thee now.
But mind thee this, Hodge Dawson,
when l do come back, I'll teach thee
who thy betters be-Will Shakespeare
first of ALP