The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-21


 was out of proportion to the amount of jam.
 YIGH up in the church tower hung an old chime of bells. Centuries \ \ ago these bells had been baptised bv bishops; so many centuries ago that The record of their baptism had been lost and no one knew their names. They had had their godmothers and their god fathers. these bells-and doubtless their silver mugs, too But time had moved down their godfathers and godmothers and Henry VIII had melted down their silver mugs. And now they hung mug less and nameless in the church tower. and Trotty Week, the weazenest ticket porter who stood below near the church door all day waiting for customers, de- clared that when they rang they talked to him.
 His real name was Toby--and noth- ing except a special act of parliament could make anything else of 1t except Tobias-but people would call him Trot- ty because of his gait, which was a short trot. Trotty might have walked just as fast, but when he trotted 1t pleased him to think he was making terrific speed. Rob him of his trot ant Toby would have taken to his bed and died. It bespattered him with mud in dirty weather; 1t cost him world of trouble. But that was one reason for his clinging to it so tenaciously. A weak. small, spare old man, he was very Hercules in his own good inten tions He loved to earn his money. he delignted to believe-and Toby was so poor he couldn't afford to part with delight--that he was worth his salt. With a small parcel in his hand which he was to deliver for a shilling, or perhaps IS pence. his courage, always high, rose higher.
 AS he trotted on he would call to the fast postmen ahead of him to get out Of the way, devoutly believing that in the natural course of things he must inevi- tably overtake them and run them down And he had perfect faith, not often tested, that he was able to carry anything mortal man could lift. When he did not have job and seemed likely to have none that day the /chimes up in the steeple helped keeyhis courage up by calling out to him: .Toby Week.. Toby Week.; job coming <son, Toby. Toby Week., Toby Week, job coming soon. Toby just that way.
 As Toby stood under the church tower he heard the chimes ring noon. There is nothing" thought he. "more regular in it's coming round than dinner time and nothing less regular in its coming round than dinner. I wonder now if that observation is worth anything. But Lord, f1I Of nh Parliament. Here's last weeks paper now" He took a very dirty one from his pocket and holding it at arms length said aloud: Full of observations, full of ob servations. l like to read the papers, but bless you, 1t goes against my grain these days-it almost frightens me. don't know what we poor people arc coming to-I don't. Lord send we may be coming to something better in the New Year just nigh. But I'm afraid we :. are bad lot. ain't had much schooling myself, and for the life of me I can't make out whether we have any business on the face of the earth or not. Some times think we have and then again I am afraid that we are just introducers. I can bear up as well as another-better than most men, for I am as strong as a lion and most men ain't. But supposing- just supposing-that we ain't got any right to New Year and really are intrud- ing-'
 Father, father" said a pleasant voice, and old Toby turned to see his daughter Margaret, with a basket on her arm. Comedy was Meg with bright, dark eyes that would bear a world of looking into before their depths were fathomed; eyes that were beaming with hope-hope so young and fresh. Why said Toby, kiss ing her, whats to do? I didn't expect you today, Meg" Neither did I expect to come, father" the girl replied, Out here am, and guess whats in the basket" "Why, you don't mean to say that you-' Smell 1t, father, only smell it.' Toby was going to lift the cover all at once, but Meg gayly interposed with ''No, no-lengthen 1t out. I'll lift the cor ner just little. tiny way. Now smel..'
 'Why, it's hot!" cried Toby. Its burn- ing hot" cried Meg. 'Ha, haw laughed the old man, "it aint. I suppose, polo nies?" (After a sniff.) Its melower than polonies.' Then, taking more sniffs. he went on: "It's too decided for trotters It improves every moment Liver? Not There's a mildness about 1t that don't answer to liver. It aint faint enough for pettitoes. And I know 1t amt sausage. It's chitterlingsr' NO it ain't, no it ain't," laughed Meg in burst of delight fits tripev And she uncovered the bas- ket, Maybe Toby did not go into ecstacies over that basin of tripe. There was a potato with 1t. too. and half pint of beer in . bottle That was a feast. Toby took his banquet to the steps of a neighboring house and sat down to eat it in q gastrc- homie rapture while Meg watched him with beaming eyes.
 i've had my dinner, father" said Meg, with Richard. Ills dinner time is too early and he brought his dinner with him when he came to see me and We've had 1t together, father. And Richard says, fAther''-then she stopped and blushed end was silent. After pause the old man said: Richards a long time in say sug it. He says. fathAr," resumed Meg,