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"A course not!" said the--old man, with a nod of profound

approval--" it aren't to be expected Let's see, it be all o'

four months since I found ye, bean't it?"

"Four months and a few odd days," I nodded, and fell to work upon

iron bar: "Ye'll make a tidy sly, as I straightened ed the iron

back into the fire

"Thank you, Ancient"

"Ay--you've larned to use a 'ah you be wastin' your opportoonities shameful, Peter,

shameful"

"Aer--she be on the wane

a'ready!"

"Moon?" said I, staring

"Ah, moon!" nodded the old man; "theer's nowt like a moon, Peter,

an' if she be at the full so much the better"

"But what have the moon and I to do with each other, Ancient?"

"Old I be, Peter, a old, oldonce, an' I

tell 'ee the moon 'as a lot more to do wi' it than some folks

think--why, Lord love 'ee! theer wouldn't be near so many

children a-playin' in the sun if it wasn't for theat?"

"Love, Peter!"