Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-06-24


me, and said:
II reckon you knaw a deal? / won
der nav, whether you can writer
answered with some decision that
certainly could, at which 1 thought his
face fell.
Poetry, naw?' he inquired. "Warses
like?"
| replied that though I was able to
write a capital hand | had only once
or twice aspired to original competition;
at which he chuckled delightediy. then.
fixing his eyes with fascinating glare
upon my face, he repeated in high,
shrill voice the following lines:
ITO Missus Pendragon. who's always 50
pleasant,
John Rudd, of St. Gurlott, brings this
little present.
May her life be as sweet as best sugar
can be,
And the only hot water be mixed wi
her tea"
what do you think o that?" he asked
anxiously.
VERY good" l replied Where did
you read it? In a book ?"
II didn't read m, master, wrote
un." he replied "Leastways, | should
ha' wrote 'un if could write. Nav.
you'm a smart chap. pr'aps you could
take them lines dawnf"
"Of course could replied. Where
upon / produced pencil from my waist
coat pocket. and, asking Mr.. Rndd T.
repeat the verse again. | Transcribed :
on the back Of an old letter.
s'Do you make much poetry?' | asked.
"A goodish bit" be replied, least
ways, | should If Ia allus a smart I'M
like you at hand to take 'un down. IT'S
gift. II all began when | were n lad.
a-driving up and dawn Falmouth way wi
father. Then l used to hear the old
wagon go II to tum alawng the road.
and the wars hey came and kept time.
To think o tha thousands of bootiful
PONIES | ha' made they'd make wal
Ium: and I've got 'em all here in my
head. thick as bees in a beehive, all a
buzzing together. one atop a. t'other"
"Do you live at st. Gurlott's. Mr..
RuddT'
'Iss. young master; | drives this here
van three times a week to Falmouth and
back"
~
cold evening, and with the darkness had
come rain. | was glad to follow John
Rudd's example, to wrap myself well up
in my overcoat. We jolted on. covering
what seemed to me an interminable
space. The darkness rapidly increased,
the rain continued TO fall, and, worn out
with fatigue, / fell into fitful doze.
| was dimly conscious of the wagon
rolling on, Of occasional disjointed re-
marks, rhythmical in character, when
John Rudd's voice aroused me.
"Wawk up. young MASTER" said he:
"we'm gettin' pratty nigh your place."
reused myself and looked about me,
but there was nothing to be seen. Dark
ness encompassed us on every hand: the
wind was signing softly, making sound
like the distant murmur Of the sea. Pres
entity the wagon stopped. The carrier
jumped down; then he gave a peculiar
whistle as be went round to the back of
the wagon to haul out my trunk. The
darkness was suddenly penetrated by
light. which seemed quite close to us, and
a mans voice called out IN broad couu-
try dialect;
BE that you, John Rudd?"
"Iss, mate returned Rudd. 'You
kateh hold o. the young gentleman. /
ha' gawt the bawx."
''Be this the lad2" asked the voice. as
| felt n heavy hand laid upon my shout
der. "Waal, my lad, you be welcoms
10 st. Gurlott's."
The hand kept hold Of my shoulder
and led me along. The next thing | be-
came conscious of was standing upon the
threshold of an open door. aud of the
voice Of my guide saying heartily:
Var he be, MarthaF'
found myself standing in the middle
Of a quaint cornish kitchen. The indi-
vidnal who had led me was a tall. broad
" built man. dressed In a red-stained
suit Of coarse flannel. His hands were
big and broad and very red, his head was
thickly covered with coarse black hair
and he spoke the broarest Of Cornish
lialect in voice of thunder. Having
finished my inspection of number one.
glanced at number two--namely, my
aunt. She was comely looking Won
an Of forty. very stout aud motherly in
appearance. She ..1.s = ~-,sJg; -.--, -
large coarse apron, and a curious cap.
My amazement at the sight Of these
two individuals was SO strong that
word; but If my surprise was great.
theirs seemed greater. After the first
glance at me- they looked uneasiiy at one
another the genial smiles faded from
their faces and the words of welcome
died upon their lips.
\ pleasant interruption to all this was
John Rudd. who at this moment came
IN with my trunk upon his shoulder and
placed il down on the kitchen floor Then
he made dive into the voIuminous folds
Of his coat and produced packet
THAT be for you niissus," said he;
"a little present, vi a suitable inscgip-
ton o my avn making"
Thank yor SIR. Rudd." returned my
aunt. taking the packet. ~You'm very
kind"
Read the warses, missus: read the
warsesl' said Mr.. Rudd. whereupoE she
proceeded 70 DO so.
It was a proud moment for John
Rudd. be seemed To expand with pleas.
are. And though 20 sll intents and pur-
poses he was gazing upon Mrs. Pen
dragon, L. rolled one eye round my way.
as il To watch the effect upon me, when
the reading was done. he smiled aHahly,
while my uncle brought down bis open
hand heavily upou his knee.
WAL done. John. waai doHes' cried
my uncle. heartily. while another voice
cue which tbea heard for the FIRST time.
said.
"oh. Mr.. Rn'd. what beautiful poetry
you 40 writ.
\, tAe soaod ~ the voice. all eyes.
mine among the ress. we're turned upon
the speaker. Whoul I Uncovered 70 be a