THE MAID of the MO UNTAIN 



wat I 'av' for say," and Charlo pointed to a man in 

 the next cot, but whose back was turned to us. 



I drew my chair nearer to Charlo's bedside and 

 he went on : 



" Two — tree day, mebbe, h'after I come h'on 

 dis place I spik h'on dat man. 'E h'ole H'lrish- 

 man wat 'av' de pneumone but 'e go for get bettar. 

 I h'ax 'im who he was, and 'e say 'e was wan of 

 dem fellers wat fight for de Queen, but 'e not 

 fight h'any more, but look for 'e's wife wat was 

 los'. Den I h'ax 'im 'ow for 'e lose 'is wife, an' 

 'e say, * It ees long story for tell. I was married 

 man h'on de regiment wat come to Montreal from 

 H'Englan'. My wife she come too. She was 

 great woman for mak' de work h'on de h'officers' 

 house an' for de wash. Bime-by she say, " Pat, 

 you 'av' tree month more for serve h'on de regi- 

 ment den we go buy de Ian' for mak' farm at 

 Quebec. I 'av' four huner dollar wat I save." I 

 feel so good h'over dat news dat I mak' beeg spree 

 de night tam h'on de canteen. Den I mak' de 

 beeg fool and keeck h'up wan grand row. De 

 h'officer h'of de night tam come for see who mak' 

 dat row, but I feel so bully for fight I strike 'im 

 h'in de face tree, four tam. Dat's bad ting for 

 do, h'an' I go h'on the lock-up. Nex' day wam 

 I 'm sobre I feel verra bad, but no matter I 'av* 



307 



