The record-union., 1899-08-06

OF the Prayer Book he successfully
cons inced himself that the l.se CT ma
chinery not only came under the head
ing OF a work Of sup srefo;sailon. out
YVES furthermore a fond thing valillE
invented, and grounded upon no war
ranty of Scripture, and even partouk
Of the nature of a .'5lasphenlols 1aple'
and dangerous deceit.
l am afraid that in Toms eyes was
accounted as only an Indifferent the
Clocian. For whs:l we were discussing
tta merits of d steam D!ow which was
Eeing largely aGvel tised. and he had
produced for my benefit a Prayer Eook
the Articles und srlinsl w'sf. red ink,
| failed to trace the connection with
tl:f matter in dispute.
why, it's writ plain as plain can be,
amt it, Master George"
"Oh, yes it's plain enough, but
there's nothing about steam plows."
"Ah, well, you hide bit. Flows come
often enough in the Bible, don't they
Yes
"But there amt not word said
about. those blessed steam plows, is
there?'
mo, but
"There amt no but about it: it's
plain as plain can be. There's the
warranty in Scripture for the pillow, and
for the oxen; but the steam plows'-
here he quoted from the Prayer Book
lis a fond thing vainly invented, and
grounded upon no warranty of Script
ure.' No, no. Master George. I've heard
tell as you be high learned in Latin
and Greek and all that mullock; but 1
reckon as old Tom Campion knows his
way about his Bible and his Prayer
Book just as we'll as you and both the
reverends rolled into one"
Apart from matters pastoral and ag-
ricultural, not the Yorkshire farmer
who lives his life through in his native
dale, not the plowman who has plodded
his weary way homeward along the
same beaten track from boyhood to old
age. troubled himself less about the
ways of the outside world than my old
friend Tom. Even the relaxations
which he allowed himself so far formed
part of his regular life that they must
have come to him rather in the light
of things that, having been always
done, must on that account never be
left undone. than as real recreation
Twice a week in the hunting season
he rode, and, so men said, rode
straighter than most of the field to the
hounds; twice in the season there was
a meet at the Park, Hall. and Tom
Campion brought forth of his best
cheer for all who cared to partake OF
it. 1t was only by accident that I
further on these occasions. Going down
to see the meet one morning, I was
rather amused to find that John Ball,
though he could only hobble a few
yards beyond his own doorway, was
taking quite as keen an interest in the
proceedings as any one of his more
active neighbors. I should remark that.
albeit we did not take much count of
st. Lubbock's Day in our village, the
days when the hounds met at the Park
HALL were religiously kept as public
holidays. st d+iz5 8
well, there's a 'plaguey lot on 'enl.
amt there, mister?" said John, adj
dressing me; land blessed if there amt
more a-coming-I can hear 'em miles
off. I counts as there's two things as
they smart folks get in our parish as
they won't find not in one-half of they
places as they goes to, no. nor a quar-
ter either"
And what are those John?'
"Why, a fox in the covert and a
bellyful of victuals, and I reckon as one
amt much tin fox hunting with
out t'other There's two classes of folk
as goes arter the fox, Master George
them as likes the riding and them as
likes the victuals. I wish as one-half
on 'em would stay at home, drat 'em,
or breakfast, as they calls it, afore
they starts
why, what earthly difference can it
make to your"
Difference to me? The difference
of weeks eating, of course. You amt
half awake, Master George Perhaps
you don't know as the old gemman
always sends the victuals as is over
meat and drink both, down our street
gotten half turkey once, and bot
tie of wine and all, one day it We're
raining hard, and now mebbe there
won't be nothing but a loaf or two O.
bread and perhaps bit of cheese. for
old John Ball. I wish the rain would
'em, I do. It's downright robbery, /
calls it,"
You ungracious old villain." I ex-
claimed. you ought to be grateful if
you get anything at ALL
$50 I are grateful, amt T? But I'd
be id sight gratefulier for half
turkey than a loaf of bread, and sod
you be IL your belly was empty. Master
George" And with this parting shot
the old cobbler hobbled back into his
house and slammed the door behind
him.
In addition to following the hounds
Tom rode or drove to our market once
a week to attend the farmers ordinary
mot as wouldn't lever eat my own
dinner at home" as he explained to me,
nor as wants to meet any one in
particular; but 1 counts as when a man
has made it his business to put dinner
on the table every Saturday a-purpose
for us farmers. it's no more nor
nelGhborly act to go and eat it."
But l suppose you pay for it, Mr.
Campion.''
In course we all pays for it, was the
answer; some pays three shillings ev-
cry time they comes, and stays away
when they've a mind to. But I can't
abide these messy goings on. 1 pays
my check for fS on the fust of January
every year, ASH cover Christmas tur-
key and all, and then they knows as
Tom Campion'll be there to time
Journeys in the way of business to
fairs or sales, no matter the distance.
were always accomplished in an old
fashioned gig drawn by one of the
skewbald nags for the breeding of
which Tom Campion had won SO great