Mind you, _I_'ve no grudge agen the
man. I liked his dare-devil look, the only time I saw en. I'm only
sayin' what I think--that you'm all afeard."
"I don't b'long to the parish," remarked a Landaviddy man, in the pause
that followed, "but 'tis incumbent on Lanihale, I'm fain to admit."
The Lanihale men fired up at this.
"I've a tin-kettle," said Calvin Oke, "an' I'm ready."
"An' I for another," said Elias Sweetland. "An' I, An' I," echoed
several voices.
"Stiddy there, stiddy, my hearts of oak," began Old Zeb, reflectively.
"A still tongue makes a wise head, and 'twill be time enough to talk o'
shal-lals when the weddin'-day's fixed. Now I've a better notion.
It will not be gain-said by any of 'ee that I've the power of logic in a
high degree--hey?"
"Trew, O king!"
"Surely, surely."
"The rarity that you be, crowder! Sorely we shall miss 'ee when you'm
gone."
"Very well, then," Old Zeb announced. "I'm goin' to be logical wi' that
chap. The very next time I see en, I'm goin' to step up to en an' say,
as betwixt man an' man, 'Look 'ee here,' I'll say, 'I've a lawful son.
You've a-took his name, an' you've a-stepped into his shoes, an'
therefore I've a right to spake'" (he pulled at his churchwarden),
"'to spake to 'ee'" (another pull) "'like a father.
Pages:
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96