Runcorn Examiner. — 1893-06-24 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

BLUNT. Per 3-0 train to Altrinellam.  Then there was another similar label discovered Which alluded to "a per 3.45 p.m. train to Knutsford." It was a stupid- oversight on my part„ to leave these things ,on, and it caused the most amicable of my friends to regard me with a chilly suspicion. I tried to dispel this feeling by narrating the racing incidents which I had on the road with other better equipped cyclists. No matter how I exerted myself in this direction 1 couldn't raise a cheering look .; on the contrary, they seemed to shrink from me and look hurt—almost as though they suspected I was lying. We recommenced our journey and I was not left entirely behind this time. I kept up with a young fellow who had artificial legs and worked a tricycle with hand pedals. We had travelled perhaps eight miles by the time the shades of night had fallen—but Siddington didn't appear to be in the locality. Soon we were gladdened by the sight of an illuminated hostelry, which we entered with an idea of getting our reckonings. But there was a surprise awaiting us. The large room of the place was filled with ideal John Hodges —stout, burly farmer's men. They were seated along two long tables, and before each man there was a pot of beer and dish of gooseberries. It had been the annual gooseberry show. Now anyone who knows anything of Cheshire will be aware that in all villages almost, there io held a gooseberry , show,.which is regarded by the men as the greatest event of the year—except there be a funeral or a suicide or something more startnig. A certain nurr'ier of gooseberries grown by himself, are submitted by each competitor, and the three finest berries take the first three prizes. The prizes had been awarded before we arrived and the men were well on in the midst of one of those conversations which prove that the country labourershave hearts  1 and intelleCtsi though the latte.: ften is shaded by Ignorance. It was goad to see the hearty jolley way that those greet mute .devoted themselves all night long; to criticisms of geoseberries and other matter vof a like character. But amongst them all was coneVicuoifs one man wh;:.se face bore a gloomy look, so deep And so intense that I twice wanted to tconsole him won losing his wife and children. He ;Ilooked more G9wn-haarted and despondent than. a . sick monkey. By-and-by I asked him what was -thong. . . __ .  " *rung ! Nam, there isna moach_wrung Oh, ne3rl"  " Lost your younmt child, pe-rhaps?" •6 "range pup been killing the chickens?"' " !"  "What., then 7" " Wh:peoney this. I P. 4 tip for foolteen neiglts watching. the finest gosling as ever was, grow. watched it grow from thenize on a pely,and spreml! and spreatti till it wur bigger: a plumb. I watched by it as it it war a sick aboild—all he neight, through, tilt I war tired awt,. Last neight I said to Polly oi th,9tight we meight tkintst it till atis morning, and I west ter bed an dreamed oit awe neight." "Yes."  "And whentill wnirken up thib• morning it wur gone, ond (bending tioser) I con swear, by gosh I Icon, that that first; prize uu is the "me." He again Ja-p.sed into a medittitive silencet—a!.:ouching, civid-liko grief, and he brusited ;horn his manly clients a tear of disaplointment. 13ut inter on he got tobit brsher, and vowed that net year he'd have hgooenberry photo3raphed—then -•ihe'd detect thento . We stayed theryibrsome time and Alade the inhabitants glorious:lt haptpy by giving them tunes Os the piano, and 3inging evngs,and my 'friend with .the artifitial legs eren, paid for refreshments for them. As they got, freshet+. they treated', us more ramerently ;they grew, np,frsvm "Master "'to sur ;" then one of them in., 'alinet of submissi manner gatt to calling me " en they all did it. We leTh in time to catch the l'ast train home from Knintsford, and were- oseortedi by four of the men whainsisted upon" us along will) lanter. We could have been, 64- me lords," if he'd stayed longer, but even, graemitous presmts of titu:*r embellishments =lst be, lost; rather, than the /Jet train.