The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-09-18

about repairs to his cottage said
the agent, checking his dogcart.
"Can | give you lift?"
l agreed that he could, and we
drove together. Father William met
us by the gate. In one hand he eX-
hibited rat that he had just taken
from the spring trap at the gardens
end; the other hand nursed two fine
lettuces. He responded to the agents
greeting, but ignored mine, for l am
in disgrace.
"I've come about the repairs" said
the agent, cheerfully.
An well ye might" replied Faith
er William, in acid and reproachful
tone. "Sixty-fve years I've lived
'ere an pide me rent reg liar, an tn
place tumbling' to pieces. I'm shamed
on ye, an no mistake. Do ye make
tn ole place fit FIR man what's in
years fore we gifts another winter,
f'r I feels tn cold, an that's a fact"
We'll" said the agent, cheerfully,
well soon make things right for you,
anyway" He took out his notebook.
'To begin with, we'd better have the
thatch stripped and put tiles or states
on" he suggested. Its very ragged
up there"
do ye leave TIL patch to bide
where it bel" interrupted Father
William, sharply. "It amt armed
ye, as I'm aware. An don't we come
bringin' y'r nasty old tiles nor states
either, for I never couldn't abide
they. TIL Toof'll do, an it's me what
lives under it, an pies for ut
reglar."
Certainly, if you wish" replied
the agent, crossing through the note
in his book Il don't want to ar
ranges for anything YOU don't want
done. May come inside? The pony
will stand quiet"
DO ye both come in" said Father
William, depositing the rat on the
top of the close-clipped hedge, that
all who passed down the road might
see it. Il was Jest a-comin' from
pickin' up tn gret ole rat out o. me
trap, an it's very many on 'em |
catches, an nohody cant deny ut.
There's folks" he continued, after
a brief pause to recover wind.
there's folks what says, DO ye don't
leave they traps bout y'r garden,
Father William, cos they catches me
dogs An l say to sich as they,
IT'S the fault O. y'r dogs, or y'r get
fool of boy what don't look after
'em; it amt no concern O. mine, an
I'll set nae traps so long as there's a
nasty gre't rat left"
The old gentleman's fierce little
S.es were bent against me, but
made no sign.
Come in, both O. ye," he repeated
."I amt got nothin' to 'ide an nothin
to be shamed on. I'm open most all
tn time to rightfor men, an
wimmin, too, though I don't take
much count O. they, an that's the
truth. Ye can look into me parlor
an into me garden an see me wege-
bles CROWN, same as these lettuces
what I've just cut and fine 'uns they
be. There amt no concealment bout
me, an never was"
ly the ceiling was black, and Father
William had put hooks in every raft
er and had hung household treas
ures from them. Here was the frame
of butterhy-net, there was a piece
of waterproof, and l saw scissors and
gardening tools and crook that
looked twin brother to the one that
brought the old mans shepherding
staff to an end. The wall was deco
rated with pictures from various IL
lustrated journals presented by me
frcm time to time and pasted over the
paper.
Ceiling whitewashed?" queried
the agent.
faint likely" snapped the right
forward man. Il amt goin' to ave
all me things covered wi lime-wash.
I couldn't never abide that, an l amt
goin' to-"
Walls papered?" said my com
panion, successfully hiding smile
from the lawful tenant.
"Ye shan't touch they walls, an
don't ye try ut" said Father William.
Like to scrape away all me pictures,
doubt, an gle me suthin' what amt
as pretty. I'm s'prised on ye. Do ye
leave me walls alone, an see to tn
t'other things what wants doin' up"
well, let's go into the scullery
and upstairs" suggested the agent;
but before he could move more than
a couple Of steps in that direction
Father Williams hand anticipated
him with surprising energy and
barred the way.
Don't ye try ut" he cried; and
went on, with outsretched hand and
flashing eyes, do ye keep where ye
are, or go outside fore makes ye"
He spared for wind.
"Sixty years an more I've lived
'ere,' he cried, IAN pide me rent. an
well ye knows ut. An now ye come
'ere, an want to walk all n'er NJ
'Quse. same as 1t blenss 10 xe; an, 60