Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-26

among the Ivy and under the hedgerow
roots Then he would pick something up
and drop it into his satchel.
What could it be? Nuts were gone, and
the few purple Sloes that still chung to the
leaiess twigs above had been spoiled and
shriveled by the early frosts. Besides,
these are not to be found down on the
bank. Curiosity triumphed, and so asked
What are you looking for?"
''Snails." was the rather short reply.
What do you want them for?
''Zell EN-" But then he softened a little.
and added thought. with a touch of pride,
That's my trade
Now, every established trade mist have
a name to know itself by, and what NIGH
this industry be most appropriately called:
To talk of catching even summer snail
when he is on urgent business after
thunder shower. with his horns gu. and
his house on the middle of his back, do
ing his best on the cinder track of a kitchen
garden path. was absurd. To speak of
gathering snails on bank that in earliest
spring will be covered thick with SWEET
est primroses would be sheer profanity.
Then what do you cali yourself"' l
ventured to ask.
"On the census I put snail merchant,
he answered with dignity.
And SO a snail merchant let him be.
His first diffidence overcome, he had no
objection to talk about his trade. He felt
proud Of the vast and increasing magnitude
to which commerce in snails was attaining.
All that he could pick up and 1,o-e would
be taken by one house Of business in Bris-
toll. In fact. at this time Of the year he
could never get enough.
But to what sort of shop do they go?"
'"To an oyster bar" At once, in response
to smile. he FASTENED to exp ain. "Oh.
but they don't cell 'em for oysters. 'Tis
all fair and open as the day. They do zell
'em in the shell. boiled and Just as they
be. You zee''-and he waved no snailing
iron instructively-" tbs the like o. this.
The glass blowers have always a-made use
O. 'em because they be so good for the
chest And folk WI weak Iurgs do eat 'em,
too. And others have a-learnt from they,
like. and do eat EN- for a relish. Oh,
there's a goodish trade. I've lived at It
summer and winter alike Tor ten year. IT'S
a growing trade. too. To be sure gentry
don't eat 'em in this country, bu. tits to be
hoped that they will. For I've, a.bin told,
and told by one that have a-bin there,
too. that In furrin parts quality folk do eas
'em to their meals. And Why not? They
too to- "0AOe'iD' sO0'' anu s'"'s'
What do they taste hke-winkles?"
'Winklesv' The mere word filled him
with scorn. '"They be better than beet
mutton"
"And are there other mer In the trader
PLENTY. But not about here. No. If
man should chance to come here, 20 zeen
as he knew I was working this diStric:
he'd go away again"
professional etiquette, I SUPPOSE"
He looked puzzled Then ne said: Yes,
yes" But presently he aQdeu QouDttully:
You zee. he wouldn't find mona where Ia
BEEN"
But this was wasting time. ami he turned
back to his work: though now that his
tongue was loosened he kept talking all
the while. Into the dark caverns under
the wrinkled roots Of a maple bush he
thrust his snailing iron and tapped in all
directions.
'"There's lot here" he said.
"How do you known
t'By the sound"
He pulled away the sandy earth and put
in his hand. 1.-THE only risk in this trade"
he told me with a shake Of the head. ''is
from adders, but they be all in their WIN
ter sleep by now. He drew on. cluster
Of snails half as big again as a cricket
ball. There! That's how they do cling
together in winter-to keep warm. sup
pose. You know. snail is very cunning
thing. He do know what he Go like and
where he's safe from the thrushes. He
do like maple and sycamore and nut and
ash. But elder he can't a-brar. and so he
won't go there-think o. that: He do know
his own mind. you zee. And that better
an most men and all women-eh: And
they'll crawl through q crack In old
stone wall. one at time. and then pack
inside a hundred o. 'em. where / can't
hook 'em out And snail do know lime
stone from other stone. too. He's partial
n Hmestoner