Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-14

e"NANN dhu naHoWcQ tnat dlnky place.
TOOK on my hat as once more crossed
tho road.
Seeing The Bull" was not yet astlr
for the day was stil young las / say),
sat me down In the porch and sighed.
AND after 1 had sat there for some
while, with my chin sunk upon my breast,
and plunged in bitter meditation, I be-
came aware Of the door opening, and
next moment a tremuious hand was laid
upon my head, and. looking round. be-
held the Ancient.
Bless zee. Peter-bless zee, ladl-an' a
old mans blessin' be no light thing
specially such a old, old man as I be-
an IL bean't often as feels in a blessin
sperrtt-but oh, Peterl I were me as
found ye, weren't n7''
why, to be sure II was, Ancient very
nearly Ave months ago."
An be allus ready wi some noos for
ye, beatn't ~"
Yes. indeedv
Well got more noos for zee, Peter
CERT noosi'
And what is It this timer"
1 be allus full up O. noos, bean't To-
he repeated.
YES, Ancient" said ], and sighed; "and
what is your news7"
why. first of all, Peter, Jest reach me
my snuff-box, will 'ee?-'ere 1t be-in my
back Ind pocket-thankeel thanked"
Hereupon he knocked upon the lid with a
bony knuckle. IT du be that full o. noos
this marnin' that my innards be all of a
quake. Peter, all Of a quakel" he nodded,
saying which, he sat down close beside
me.
Peter"
Yes, Ancient?"
Some day-when that theer old stapil
be all rusted away, an these old bones
Is a-restin' In the churchyard-over 20
CranhrOOk pafar-VOn'll think
o the very old man as was always so full
o noos, won't ZEE. Peter7''
surely. Ancient, l shall never forget
YOU" said 1. and sighed.
AN now, Peter" said the old man, ex-
tracing pinch of snuff, NOW for the
noos-'bout Black large. II be-"
What of him, Ancient?' The old man
shook his head.
ut took eight on 'em to du II, Peter,
an now four on 'em 8 a-layin' in their
AN all over couple o. rabbits-though
theer be some fules as says they was
pa'tridgesv
"Why-what do you mean?"
why. ye see, Peter. Black large be
such a CERT, strong man Il we're much
such another when ! were young)-like a
lion, in is wrath, e be-ah!-a bull bean't
nothin' to Black large! An they keepers
come an found i'm under a tree fast
asleep-like David in the Cave of Adul-
lam, Peter wi a couple o. rabbits as ed
shared. An when they keepers tried to
TAX i'm, e rose up, e did, and throwed
some on 'em this way an some on 'em
that way-'t were like Samson an the
Philistines; II only ed 'appened to find
the jawbone of a ass lyin' andy, ED ha'
killed 'em all an got away, sure as sure.
But 1t weren't to be, Peter, no; dead
donkeys be scarce nowadays, an as for
asses jawbones-"
"Do you mean that George is taken
prisoner"
The Ancient nodded. and inhaled a
pinch OF snuff with much evident relish
ut be CERT news. bean't it, Peter?''
What have they done with him? Where
is he, Ancient?" But, before the old man
could answer, Simon appeared.
"Ah. Peter!" said he, shaking his head,
the CATERS been tellin' ye 'ow they've
took large for poschin', 1 suppose"
"Simon!' cried the Ancient, shut thy
mouth, lad-hold thy CAB an give thy
poor feyther a chance-I be tellin' i'm so
fast as / can! AS 1 was a-sayin', Peter
like a fur'us lion were large wi they
keepers-eight on 'em, Peter-like dogs.
a-growlln' an growlin', an leapin', an
worryin' all round 'im-ah!-like a lion q
were"
"Waitin' for chance to use lis right
dye see, Peter" added Simon.
Ancient-WP is eyes a-rolln' an ham-
in, Peter. an is name all bristiin-
Simon-Cool as any cucumber, Peter
Ancient-A-roarin' an a-lashing OF Is
tail
simon-And sparrin' for an openin' Pc
ter and when q sees one-downin is
man every time
Ancient-Leapin' In the air, rollin' in
the grass, wi they keepers clingin' to 'im
like leeches-ah! leeches-
Simon-And every time they rushed, tap
I'D go is left" and bang 'ud go lis
right
Ancient-An' up e d get. like Samson
again, Peter. an give isself a shake;
bellerin'-like a bull O. Bashan-
simon-Ye see, they fou't so close to-
gether that the keepers was afear'd 10
use their guns
Ancient dndignantly)-GunsI a
talkin' o. guns7 Simon. my bye-you be
allus a-maggin' an a-maggin; bridle thy
tongue. lad, bride try tongue afore 1t
runs away wi ye.
Simon (sheepishly)-All right, Old I'm
fire away!
But, at this juncture. Old Amos hove
in view. followed by the Apologize Dut-
ton, with Job and sundry others. on their
way to work. and. as they came, they
talked together. with much solemn wag-
ging OF heads. Having reached the door
OF "The Bull" they paused and greeted
US, and / thought Old Amos habitual
grin seemed a trihe more pronounced
than usual.
80 poor large as gone an done for
'isself at last. chr Oh. my soul! think
o. that. nowg' sighed old Amos.
"Allus knoWed as e wouldP' added
Job; "many's the time I've said as e
would, an you know it-all on you"
"Itll be the Barbados, or Austrayiey"
grinned Amos; transportation, it'll be-
oh, my soul think 20 that now-an' i'm
a Siss'n'urst mani
"An' all along o. a couple o'-rabbits"
said the Ancient. emphasizing the last
word with a. loud rap on his snuff-bOK.
"Pa'tridges. Ganer!-they was pa
tridgesl" returned Old Amos.
81 allus said as Black Jarge'd come
TO a bad end" reiterated Job. "an' what's
more-'e aren't got nobody 70 blame but
isselfY
"An' ali for a couple o. = rabbitsl"
sighed the Ancient, staring Old Amos full
IN the eye.
aPa'tridges. CATER. they was pat
ridges,-yOu, James Dutton-was they
pa'tridges or was they not-speak up.
James"