The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-09-26

about repairs to his cottage said
the agent, checking his dogcart.
"Can I give you a lift?"
agreed that he could, and we
Z drove together. Father William met
us by the gate. In one hand he eX-
hibited a rat that he had just taken
from the spring trap at the gardens S
end; the other hand nursed two fine
lettuces. He responded to the agents
greeting, but ignored mine, for I am
in, disgrace.
I've come about the repairs" said
4he agent, cheerfully.
"An' we'll We might" replied Faith
er William, in acid and reproachful
tone \"SiEty-five years I've lived
'ere an pide me rent reg'lar, an tn
place tumbling' to pieces. I'm shamed
on ye, an no mistake. Do We make
tn ole place fit f'r a man what's in
years fore we gifts another winter,
f'r feels tn cold, an that's fact. "
WELL" 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
thateh stripped and put tiles or states
on" he suggested. Its very ragged
up there"
do We leave tn patch to bide
where it be-" interrupted Father
William, sharply. 'It amt armed
ye, as I'm aware. Am don't ye come
bringin' y'r nasty old tiles nor states
either, for I never couldn't abide
they. Tn roof'll do, an it's me what
lives under it, an pies for ut
reg lar"
Certainly, if you~wish," replied
! the agent, crossing through the note
in his book. Il don't want to ar
range 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 gre't ole rat out O. me
trap, an it's very many on 'em I
catches, an nobody can't 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
8 dogs An I say to sich as they,
It's the fault O. y'r dogs, or y'r gre't
fool Of boy what don't look after
'em; it amt no concern O. mine, an
I'll set me traps so long as there's a
nasty gre't rat left. "
The old gentleman's fierce little
eyes were bent against me, but I
made no sign.
"Come in, both O. ye," he repeated.
81 amt got nothin' to 'ide an nothin'
to be shamed on. I'm open most all
6 tn time to rightfor'ard men, an
wimmin, too, though I don't take
much count O. they, an that's the
Z 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"
We entered the cottage Certain
.sly the ceiling was black, and Father
William had put hooks in every raft
3er and had hung household treas
ures from them. Here was the frame
of butterfy-net, there was piece
of waterproof, and saw scissors and
gardening tools and a 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
1ustrated journals presented by me
from time to time and pasted over the
paper.
Ceiling whitewashed?" queried
the agent.
'Taint likely" snapped the right
forward man. Il amt goin to ave
all me things covered wi lime-wash.
couldn't never abide that, an I ain t
goin' to-
Walls repapered?" said my COM
panion, successfully hiding smile
from the lawful tenant.
Eye shan't toach they walls, an
don't We try at" 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 We
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 We try ut" he cried; and
went on, with outsretched hand and
flashing eyes, DO ye keep where ye
are, or go outside fore l makes ye. y
He spared for wind.
Sixty years an more I've lived
ere he cried, ''an' pide me rent, an
we'll We knows Ut. An now ye come
'ere an want to walk all DER me