Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-01-16
sovs or snAxspsAas.s TIME


They Have Battle Over the Rspusa.
tion Of the GREAT Poet.
The lending serial for ct. Nicholas n
Minister Skylark." by John Bennett.
It Is story Of Shakspeare's time. and
the poet figures Us one Of the charac.
tiers. Tho following is a scene from
the December number. In which two
boys start quarrel over the abilities
OF the poet:
Hodge came on little way. sinking
his bead like an old sheep In corner.
"Wul)y Shaxper great man." said lie.
:Why MS name he cut on the old beech.
tree up Snitterfiel lane. where's uncle
Henry Slmxper lives. an It's hut poor
~ done. could do better wi my own
wliittle."
"Ay, Hodge," cried Nick: land that's
alVu. al; thou cunst do. Doss tlliEk
that u mans greatness hangs on ~
little u thing rs his sleight-of ~
cutting hts name on a tree?"
"wnll, maybe; maybe not; but II a
ie great man. Nick Atwood. a might
do ~ little thing passing well--sO there
now!"
Nick rendered for moment. ~ 20
pa Know" said he. slowly; '!icaps u:
II cn con do the little things. hut pay.
lous few the big. So some one mus, be
lrgging It. or folks would oil sing very
small And he docth the big most
beautiful they say. They call him the
Swan OF Avon"
"AvOn swans he mostly geese" said
11Wlgt. vacantly.
"Now. look e here. Hodge Dawson.
don't thou be calling Master VIII
Shakespeare goose. lie married my
own mothers cousin. and I will M have
It,"
ia. now" drnwied Hodge. staring.
otis nowt to me. Thy Muster Willy
Slnxpcr may Ike all the long -necketl
fowls In Warrickshire for all care.
| And. anyway, I'd like to know. Nick
| Atwood. since when hath been Mus
ter Sl,axpcr'--that ne'er.tlo.wcll, play.
nctoring fellow?"
| "Nt'er.dO.weli? II Is M 50. When
hc was here Inst summer he was brave.
~ dressed. and had u heap OF good
mobiles In bis purse. And he gave Rick
Hawkins. that's blind OF an eye, o
shilling for only holding his horse"
"Ol. n.y." drnwled Hodge! IA fool
apd as money be soon parted"
"Will Shakespeare Is M fool" declar.
cd Nick. holly. "llc's made n peck
o money there In London town ani .
going to buy the Great House In Chapel
lane. and come back here to live"
"rhcn MS witlpss, nzzy" blurtcd
Hodge. III as so great man amongst
the lords and earlses. nd M come back
to Stratford. An l say as witiess
loon--so there.'
Nick whiried around In the road.
t"And I say. Hodge Dawson" he ex.
claimed. with flashing eyes, 'that 7 10
q shame for u lout like thee to 80 mis-.
call thy thousand. time betters. Aud
what's MORE thou shnlt unsay that. or
will make thee swallow thy words
right here anj now!"
I'D lOike to see thee try" Hodge
began; hut the words were scarcely
out of his month when he found him.
self strctclit.l on the grass. Nick Att.
wood bending over him.
"rhcre! thou hast seen II tried. Now
come. take that hack. or will surely
box thine cars for thee"
Hodge blinked and gnped. collecting
his wits which had scattered to the
four winds.
"Whoy." said he. -agucly. III I Ia all
o. that to thee. ! take II back"
Nick rose. and Hodge scra mblcd clum
silly to his feet. I'll M 70 WI thee.
said he. sulklly; II will M 20 whur
be whipped
MEX turned on his heel without Z
word. and started on.
AN what's MORE" bawled Hodge
after him. "thy Muster Wully Sliaxpei
be-eth IN old gray goose. an boo to he
says u"
Az he spoke. he turned, divcd through
the thin hedge. and gallOped across tllt
Held AZ II an army were ut his heels.
Nick started back. but quickly paus
ell. "T'h0u ncedst IN rum" he called
! "l've not the time to catch thee now
But mind thee this. Hodge Dawson
: when I do como back. I'll teach, thcG
who thy be,ters be-Will Shakespeare
:: Hrst OF air.