The Springfield herald., 1908-11-20

every man in the country ought TO he
tattooed to prevent smallpox. He got
so excited about 1t that old Sam 'ad to
promise i'm that he should be tattoocd
that very night, before he could pacify
i'm.
"Ginger was the last one TO wake up
in the morning, an before e woke he
kept making Il moaning noise. His
'ead felt as though 1t was going to
bust, is tongu, felt like brick, and
is chest was so sore e could 'ardly
breathe. Then at last 'e opened is
eyes and looked up and saw Sam an
Peter and IL little man with IA black
mustache.
"Cheer up Ginger, ses Sam, in u
kind voice. it's going on beautiful.
MY 'ead's splittin,' scs Ginger.
with groan, an I've got pins an
needles all over my chest
Needless ses the man with the
black mustache. I never use pins;
they'd pison the flesh
Ginger sat up in bed and stared at
i'm; then e bent is cad down and
squinted at is chest and next moment
'e was out of bed and all three of EN-
was holding i'm down on the floor to
prevent i'm breaking the tattooer's
neck which ed set is cart upon
doing, and explaining to i'm that the
tattooer was at the top of is profess
sion, and that it was only by Il stroke
of luck 'e had got i'm. And Sam re-
minded i'm wot e ad said the night
before, and said he'd live to thank i'm
for It.
Ginger gave in at last, and told the
man to go on with the job and finish
it, and e even went so far as TO do n
little bit O. tattoong 'imself on Sam
when he wasn't looking. 'II only made
one mark, becos the needle broke off,
and Sam made such fuss that Ginger
said anyone would ha' thought ed
hurt i'm.
"Owever 'e was done at last; his
chest and is arms and is shoulders,
and he nearly broke down when Sam
borrowed bit o looking-glass and
let i'm see hisself Then the tattooer
rubbed in some stuff to make is skin
soft agin, and some more stuff to make
the marks look a bit old.
room to see 'ow Ginger was to do IL,
and to discover the weak p'ints. Sam
worked up a squeaky voice. and pre-
tended to be the landlady, and Peter
pretended to be the sood-looking bar
maid.
They went all through ii over and
over agin. the only unpleasantness be-
ing caused by Peter Russet letting off
a screech every time Ginger alluded
to is chest wot set is teeth on edge,
and old Sam as the landlady offering
Ginger pots o beer which made is
mouth water.
I'VE shall go round tomorrow for
the last time ses Sam, as we told 'er
were sailing the day arter.'
Meantime ses Peter Russet, YOU
mustn't forget thnt you've got to send
us post Office money-orders every
week
Ginger said e wouldn't forget, and
they shock ands all round and 'ad a
drink together, and the next AFTERNOON
Sam and Peter went TO the Blue Lion
for a last visit.
"It was quite early when they came |
back. Ginger was surprised to see
EN-, and he said so, but 'e was more |!
surprised when e heard their reasons. |
1t come over us all at once as |
we'd bin doing wrong Sam ses, set. |
ting down with Il sigh.
Come over us like a chill. it did,
ses Peter.
doing wrong?' ses Ginger Dick, |
staring. 'Wot are you talking about?'
Something The landlady said
showed us as we was doin' wrong |
ses old Sam very solemn; 1T come
over us in Il flash I:
Like lightning, ses Peter. |