DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 9 



What a wondrous gift is that which enables a child 

 to so quickly gather from voice and eyes the assurance 

 of protection ! This man had but one eye, remember, 

 but the sparkle of it, coupled with the music of his 

 kindly talk, blotted out his lengthy form and sooty 

 face, and I was soon quite close to him v/atching all his 

 movements. Mary was not a bit afraid either, although 

 her golden, frizzy head only reached a little above 

 his elbow% and, from the w^ay they laughed and talked 

 between his unhurried efforts to gather up the soot, 

 she even hked him. 



Dick Gibbs, the stableman, was ever after Marj% 

 and it was he v/ho disturbed the talk by bustling in 

 and saying, 'The missus be a-calhng 'ee, Mary.' 

 Instead of hurrying off she turned towards Gibbs 

 and said, 'Now why doan't 'ee make yer quarrels 

 up and shake hands ?' Pavey held his out but it 

 w^as not accepted. Gibbs said sullenly, *I be washed to 

 drive the maastcr into town. Will 'ee go, Phillie?* 

 I loved driving with my father to town, as that meant 

 sweets, and sometimes tops and marbles; but I refused 

 to go. Gibbs seemed to di\'ine my reason, for he 

 replied, 'I'd bide wi' 'un altogether if I be you and 

 Mary.' 'What's put 'ee out so, lad; baint 'ee well?' 

 was Pavey' s kindly question. But Mary spoilt its 

 purpose with the remark, 'I vea.r he've overwashed 

 hisself and zwallov.-ed the zoap.' 



This proved too much tor the man's quick temper, 

 and he retorted, 'Better be overwashed and zwaUov: 

 the zoap than be a dirty tooad like some folks that 

 stinks o' zoot,' 



I often saw Pavey after that, but I did not know 

 his purpose in coming our way in such fine clothes 

 until I heard Gibbs say to Mary : — 



Til go for a soldier or drown myself if you marry 

 that dirtv sweep. But I'U kill that blackamoor vust, 

 that I wiU.' 



' 'Ess sure you will ' said Mary, 'but do it vitty, 



