Page 48 (1/1)

"'Tis an ill life, pal!"

"Why, life is an ill thing!" says I

"Nay, look'ee, Martin, life ood tie o' star-tih leaves at a'e o' content Aha, many's the time o' star-time they have winked s o' bird-ti within ye and without, and the birds--O the birds, Martin--a-filling the world wi' brave songs o' hope new-born like the day! Ah, rig--Lord love their beaks and wings! There's hay-ti full o' soft, sweet smells--aye, sweet as lad's first kiss; there's wheat-time at noon wi' the ears a-rustle and the whitt-whitt o' scythe and whetstone; there's night, Martin, and the long, black road dipping and a-winding, but wi' the beaht as tells o' journey done, of companionship and welcoer, setting three new-filled pipkins before us "And none better nor ourn--eh, wife?"

"That I do swear to, Roger!" laughed the peddler, "Choke 's life!"

"You know the sea, then?"

"Like odliness A fine, big ot me his next duty was to naht live up to, a naht me into such troublous faction ashore that he packed me off to sea And if you ax me what name 'twas, I'll answer ye bold and true--'God-be-here Jenkins,' at your service, though Godby for short and 'twixt friends"

Now the more I saw of this little peddler the better I liked hi supped excellently well, I rose to takeet there be ever a welcoer?"

"There is so!" nodded the landlord "Likewise a pipkin of ale and a bite and all gratus to a pal!"

"And look 'ee, Martinon and away to better things, so happen ye should change your mind, seek me here 'twixt this and dawn, if to-morrow ye shall hear o' Godby at the Fox at Spelo wi' ye, my bien cull"