THE PEEP O' DAY ON THE SALTINGS 



" Well, Doctor, an yow care to come a-flightin' wi' I 

 Noel-eve marnin', do yow be at the fall-gate, over the 

 great dick, at half arter six. P'raps us may get a duck 

 or two, and anyways an owd curloo," said " Long " 

 Perry, eel-catcher and professional wildfowler, as he 

 bade Dr. Carter, the local surgeon, " Good-night ! " and 

 then went clattering up the crooked High-street of the 

 old-time fishing town of Oozeleigh, towards his reed- 

 thatched cabin on the fringe of the neighbouring marshes. 



" Right you are. Perry. I'll be there, and won't 

 forget to bring a flask of your favourite ague-killer," 

 replied the Doctor cheerily. 



Then he went his way also — not to the warmth and 

 comfort of his own house, but to the poor cot of an octo- 

 genarian fisherman, who, enfeebled by the weight of 

 years and a severe attack of bronchitis, had begged the 

 kind-hearted surgeon to " patch up and keep t' owd craft 

 afloat through Noel-tide. Me mawther [daughter, or 

 young girl], Mary Jane, be a-comin' to see t' owd fay- 

 ther, an' I du count on seein' her purty face once again, 

 Doctor, won'erful." 



Thanks to the skill and care of the " medical ship- 

 wright," the world- and weather-beaten old craft was 

 kept afloat until after the arrival of Mary Jane, and 

 in lieu of a fee the Doctor received an orphan's 



blessing. 



248 



