IN "THE GOOD OLD TIMES." 117 



along in a great waterproof coat. Catching sight 

 of me he said : " Ye're in a fix ; I know it wun't 

 leave off; we're in fur a night's' rain, an' ye'll git 

 soaked through an' through, an' git laid up per'aps. 

 Ye don't look as if ye could stan' it like me ; take 

 this 'ere coat o' mine we're both on us near the 

 same size." 



I bade him keep it ; he would get wet himself. 



" Well, an' if I do, it wun't hurt me, fur I'm 

 handy home, an' you've a good six mile to go afore 

 you gits there. I don't know yer name, but I knows 

 where ye're stoppin'. Ye can bring it back in the 

 mornin' ; I'm sure to meet ye." 



After that we became better acquainted, and he 

 gave me many bits of his personal history. 



" I don't let my old folks know my movements," 

 he said ; " fur ye see it works 'em if they thinks I'm 

 arter anything. Somehow or other I can't help it, 

 not when I thinks I'll hev a turn. When that fit 

 comes on I hev it, an' take my chance as a matter 

 o' coorse. They've had me a time or two, not 

 often, but quite enuf. Last time they med it a little 

 bit warm, just to mek a sample of me, as they said. 

 Them places ain't much to stop at ; the grub ain't 



