92 ON SURREY HILLS. 



will at once send, for your acceptance, one of the 



most costly Bibles that the town of G can 



supply ; and may peace and plenty rest on this house 

 for evermore.' Mother cried a bit, he brought it all 

 out so solemn like. 'Now, my kind friends,' he 

 finished up with, ' I am but a humble shepherd of 

 the flock, but you have my blessing. I will now 

 proceed to fish again.' There was some more stuff 

 about the partner of my joys, and he trusted of few 

 sorrows, and then he took his leave. 



"I went with him up-stream, telling him not to 

 fish in the other water, and then we shook hands. 

 As he pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his face, 

 out came a short, dirty clay -pipe, a regular pot- 

 house pipe, not even such a one as you and me 

 might use. That struck me curious like. ' I'll 

 watch you, my clerical gentleman, a bit,' I said to 

 myself, and instead of going home I slipped round 

 another way. Well, he was over on the other 

 ground, where he'd been told not to go, like a shot, 

 and had a fine one from there, quick. Then I 

 showed myself, and told him he'd no right there. 

 ' It's all right, my friend,' said he ; ' the owner of 

 this property is also a friend of mine. I will leave 



