Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-16

were piled up beside IT. and Sir James sat
tossing first one and then another upon
the heap absent mindedly, talking all the
while to the English cloth merchant.
AS soon as Robin saw this he sat down
the tray on the table, and, going over to
mis- master. he took the billet of wood out
OF his hand and led him back to the table.
Sir James looked at the birch faggot. then
at the hand on his arm. The old servitor
was firm and respectful So without inter-
hitting his discourse for a moment my
grandfather permitted himself to be led
back to the table and installed opposite the
great oaken guardevne, which. with the
sliver-capped square bottles and shining
ladies and RUNNERS. looked most comfort
aple and appetizng.
Then Robin Green went back to the
t sr and. STOPPING over the fire, he care
fuiiy removed the entire armful of faggots
Wnich Sir James had tossed on, blowing
out each If 1t had caught. and laying it at
tne side: SO that presently the whole room
was tuil OF the acrid bite of wood smoke,
ana tne tears began to run down my cheeks
INTO the milk l was drinking.
but Sir James continued his story with
OUT stopping to notice Robin Green. and
ne talked the tears ran down his cheeks
also. but whether from the pity of the tale
he was telling or because Of the wood
reek 1 know not.
My grandfather had compounded steam
ing giassful for his guest and then for
nimseif, but so absorbed was he in his
narrative that he quite forgot at the end
OF the operation to add the spirit to I'm
phIay Spurways glass-an omission
which the Englishman Immediately re-
paired without comment, reaching his hand
Tor the decanter and pouring in the rich
yellow liquid with a liberal hand, all the
time looking Sir James in the eye and
noddfng at the proper places in the story
as If that We're his sole concern.
My grandfather. after having hidden me
haste and dispatch my supper. because it
was late and my mother would wish me in
bed, presently forgot all about me. and
proceeded with his argument. Still talking,
he rose from his seat. and. going to one
OF the shelves which went about the deep
window seat, he took from that which was
readiest to his hand a little book covered
In crimson leather. and with the pages
grown yellow with age and handling
This, he said. holding it up, lis now
my chief comfort. No. Master Spurway. 1t
is not the Bible. Her iadyship--yes. certain
~, she is a comfort, but of a mild ma
ture, and, as one might say, occa-
sional in action But, sir, 1 would have
you know that this is Burton. his 'Meian-
choly, or the right edition, before he grew
C umSy. AT Oxford: Printed by John Iitch-
field and James Short for Henry Grips:
Ammo Dom. 1921 BY that you may know
1t. Without this written cordial / can
neither live merry hour sleep quiet
night. Having Burton's fellowship even
though my son strive after my death, L
can go on merrily toward heaven as in
deed, sayeth mine author.
Then umphray Spurway, with 4 curious
smile on his face, asked my grandfather if
II became him as an elder of the kirk to
pass his time with Burton, who, after ALL
was little better than a pagan Cor at least
meditation upon "Naphtali" or LEX Rex
or II he minded not these, at the least
casting up in his mind the points of Mr.
John Bell Sabbath sermon upon a suitable
passage In CanticieS.
To which my grandfather replied that TO
MS thinking there was more egg meat in
one page of honest Burton than in all the
songs of Solomon the king
rjfu
troubled and even Umphray Spurwav coy
cred his face with his hand
wait, tmphray." he went on, "only
wait, my nimble bachelor till you are a
man with family and know something
about the matter. What comfort will YOU
ma IN home that is one continual strife
OF tongues. your sons waiting for you with
our your gate, wishful for your death,
their teeth barred to bite. your wife peeyisb
OF lace, bitter of SDeech?'
IN answer to this outburst Cmphray
Spurway said no word but held out his
hand across the table and he smiled no
more behind his palm. Sir James took if
and held 1t hard in both of his
4 VIII not make stranger of YOU T-rnuh-
ray, he said; lit is not debts that troub.
me. You have put me out of the reach of
that. 1t is that of my sons hates me
fe have heard his best word of me this
night. My second, to whom had thought To
ltate the bulk of my money. now every
night comes home disguised in drink and
ralis upon me worse than the other Nv
wife cries ont constantly that 1 have been
Wen served for being SO long overenient
with the Children
speaking of your Philip" said
omphray Spurway quietly. have you tried
all ways with him-the severe as wei as
the fndulsent?''
Aye answered my grandfather hone
lessly, all ways. | sent him broad to take
service as a common soldier in the Scots
Dutch regiments [ thought this would set
tie him. But in d month he was in prison.
ana When, through the influence of our am
bassador at The Hague. / got him released
| in another month / had news that he has
been condemned to death at Treves. Then,
when had provided money to brihe his
| 1allers and bring him home, he only breaks
out more and more furiously, so that |
never know when | go down to mine own