The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-05-27

Sophia were g. fine lass. Ye see. she
believed in lettin' Mattha have all t
rope he needed. But at t. same time
she were layin' the plans o. diplomacy,
cause she weren't the sort o. woman
weren't Sarah Ditchison, to see a young
lass step in an take t. place 'at she'd
held ever since her mother died-and
that were forty year before
mo, sir, of course" said Mr.. Merrill
"She'd naturally feel 'at she'd taken root
theer until t. time came to be cut down. y
can So" continued Mr.. Poskitt, "she
bided her time until it were the right
moment to bring off what the diplo-
matists term the coop-de-tatt. Now,
that come i this way. Mattha an
nounced to her one night AT him an
Burton an Sophia were all goin' to York
fair durin' the following week, an 'at
if she liked she could 90 with 'em. How
sumiver, Sarah didn't see the use o.
throwin' brass away like that, an she
made an excuse. AM it were very likely
at the diplomatic idea entered into her
ovid head then-anyway she told Mattha
AT of course he'd be expected to buy
Sophia a fairin'. An Mattha said at
he wo'dn't object to owt in reason-a
bit O. ribbon or owt like that, an 'at
he naturally expected it. AM he went
about for t. next week thinkin' at even
if he did lay out shillin' or two on a
fairin' it 'ud pay him in the long rum
"He had an eye to t. main chance,
seemingly" remarked Mr. Merrill.
''He niver had an eye to owt else"
said Mr.. Poskitt. "Well, durin' that
week Sarah made an opportunity o.
goin' down to Burton's farm to buy a
sittin' o. ducks eggs, and she sat talkin'
to Sophia for bit over glass O. cow
slip wine. An she said to Sophia at
she understood Mattha was goin' WI
'em to York fair, an, of course, he'd
want to buy Sophia fairin'. An then
she said WI nod an a wink, confiden-
tial like, 'at Mattha was very gen.
erous man, an liked to spend his money
free, an 'at Sophia was to choose owt
she liked, never mind what it cost-it
'ud please Mattha. An after that she
went home VII t. ducks eggs, well
suited"
"Deary me-deary mel" sighed Mr..
Merrill
"Now, then, this is what happened"
said Mr.. Poskitt. "T' fair day came
jill DuTUOu duu MdCGud anu OOpuld
landed i York, an i course o. time
Burton met some friends and went off
VII 'em, and Mattha and Sophia were
left to theirsens, and so he said he'd
buy her fairin'. They were i Coney
street at t. time-t' fashernablest street
theer-an' Sophia turns into hat shop
and picks out fine hat, trimmed WI
imitation heliotrope. AM before Mattha
knew wheer he were he'd had to part
VII two golden guineas"
"Nay-ye don't say!" exclaimed Mr..
Merrill.
"Aye-he had!" said Mr.. Poskitt.
can, of course, it were all over then.
He said 'at a lass 'at 'ud put two
guineas' worth o. finery on her head 'ud
ruin him i twelvemonth. An he went
home an told Sarah AT he'd made up
his min 'at he'd never marry. 1 don't
know 'at Sarah ever did laugh in her
life, but sh'd occasion to then. How
sumiver, clever as she'd been, she
laughed t'other side of her mouth afore
long"
'How were that, STRIP asked Mr.. Mer-
rill.
"Why," said Mr.. Poskitt, finishing off
his glass, cit came out 'at Sophia had
been engaged to a young man in an
other neighboorhood all t. time 'at Mat
tina had been maxim up to her!"-J. S.
Fletcher in the London Mail.