The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-08-30

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the agent, checking his dogcart.
"Can i give you a 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 garden S
end; the other hand nursed two fine
lettuces. He responded TO the agent
greeting, but ignored mine. for am
in disgrace.
i've come about the repairs" said
the agent, cheerfully.
AN we'll We might" replied Faith
er William, in acid and reproachful
tone. "Siyty-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"
We'll" said the agent, cheerfully,
well soon make things right for you,
anyway" He took out his notebook.
ITO begin with, we'd better have the
thatch 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. 1T amt armed
ye, as I'm aware. An don't We come
bringin' y'r nasty old tiles nor states
either, for / never couldn't abide
they. TIL roofll do, an it's me what
lives under it. an pies for ut
regular"
Certainly, ii 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 l come inside? The pony
will stand quiet"
do We 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 1t. Il was jest a-comin' from
pickin up tn gre't ole rat out O. me
trap, an it's very many on 'em
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
dogs An | 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
EN- il amt no concern o mine, an
I'll set me traps so long as there's a
nasty gre't rat left" A."
The old gentleman's fierce little
eyes were bent against me, but
made no sign.
Come in, both o ye," he repeated
II amt got nothin' TO 'ide an nothin'
to be shamed on. I'm open most all
tn time TO rightfor ard men. an
wimmin, too, though / 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"
We entered the cottage. Certain
ly the ceiling was black, and Father
William had pnt books in every raft
er and had hung household treas
ures from them. Here was the frame
OF butterfy-net, there was a piece
Of waterproof, and saw scissors ans
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 H.
lustrated 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. II amt goin' TO ave
all me things covered wi lime-wash.
| couldn't never abide that, an amt
goin' to-"
walls papered?" said my com
panion. successfully hiding a smile
from the lawful tenant.
"Ye shan't touch they walls, an
don't ye try ut" said Father William.
Like 10 scrape away all me pictures,
! doubt, an gle me suthin' what ain Z
as pretty. I'm s'prised on ye. DO ye
leave me walls alone, an see 10 tn
t'other things what wants doin' up. %
well. let's 90 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 We
are. or go outside fore / makes ye. "
\ He spared for wind.
sixty years an more I've lived
ERE he cried, "an' pide me rent. an
/ well ye knows ut. An now ye come
ere an want 20 walk all Ger me
'ouse, same as II b'longs to ye. an so