An' even when her got 'n to lave et off, her used
allays to put a tay-cup 'pon top o't afore closin' an eye.
"So et went on, sir, till wan Sunday mornin', when the Lawyer was
fairly warmin' to hes work over the weckedness o' backsliders an' the
wrath to come, he whacks the cush'n more'n ord'nary vi'lent, an' I
reckon that made the eye work loose. Anyway, out et drops, and
clatters down along the floor o' the Meetin' House.
"Now Deacon Hoskins i' them days had charge o' the Sunday-school
boys. He was a short-sighted man, the Deacon, tho' that were hes
misfortun'; but he had faults as well, an' wan o' these was a
powerful knack o' droppin' off to sleep durin' sarmon-time.
Hows'ever, he managed very tidily, for he knawed he was bound to wake
hissel' so soon as he began to snore, an' then he'd start up sudden
an' fetch the nighest boy a rousin' whistcuff 'pon the side o' the
head to cover the noise he'd made, an' cry out, 'I've a-caught 'ee
agen, ha' I? I'll tache 'ee to interrup' the word o' Grace wi' your
gammut [8] an' may-games!'--an' he'd look round like as ef he'd say,
'Sorry to interrup', brethren, but desceplin' es desceplin'!'
Many's the time I've a-seed 'n do this, an' you may take my word,
sir, 'twas so good as a play!"
Now this morning Deacon Hoskins was takin' forty winks as ushul, when
the clatter made by th' ould Mennear's eye makes 'n set up,
wide-awake an' starin'.
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