A Farmer’s Life 
occasional rattle of their chains. Mr. Smith 
sat with his head butted into the flank of a cow. 
The son came to the light, emptying new milk 
into a larger pail; then said: 
“I hear they been rough-musickin’ young 
Fred Stoner.” (He named, not by that name 
indeed, an employer of the neighbourhood.) 
Mr. Smith raised his head from the cow’s 
flank to say, “Eh?” And his son repeated, 
‘““T hear they been rough-musickin’ young Fred 
Stoner.” 
“Oh? When was that?” 
“Last night and the night before. They 
went all round his house the first night; but last 
night I understand he had the police there. I 
don’t know whether they copped the ringleader 
or no.” 
“What was it for, d’ye know?” 
Nos) CL didimieiear. i, fu 1217 
‘“* Ah, well, we shall hear. It'll all come out 
in time. But it shows a man ain’t very popular, 
don’t it?” 
Discussion of Mr. Stoner’s deserts followed, 
and of the possibility of his having “ come out” 
to meet the mob. His deserts were not rated 
high. As to the possibility, Mr. Smith, pushing 
back his stool (for the milking was done), said: 
‘““T don’t suppose he’d face ’em. But ’tain’t 
much of fun, if he don’t come out to ’em.” 
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