An' how
I did so, you shall hear.
"Wan day I tuk a consait as 'twud be a game to take away the
scarecrow's eye an' see what happen'd. So, late 'pon a Sat'rday
night, down I goes an' digs out the eye wi' my jack-knife, an' lays
et careful down 'pon the ground beside et, an' so off to bed.
"Nex' mornin' I were down waitin' some time afore the rooks was due,
an' by-'m-by, about 'leven in the forenoon, 'long they comes by the
score, an' takes the sittin's 'pon the pea-sticks. They was barely
settled, when out steps my ould rook an' walks up to the scarecrow to
lead off same as ushul.
"He gives a shake o' the head to set hes jawin'-tacks loose, casts a
glance up'ards t'wards the eye, jes' to fetch inspirashun, an' starts
back like as ef shot. You cou'd see the 'stonishment _clinch_ 'n,
an' the look o' righteousness melted off hes face like snow in an
oven. For that bird had _gifts_, sir; an' wan o' these was a power
o' fashul expresshun. Well, back he starts, an', with the same,
cotches sight o' the eye lyin' 'pon the ground an' starin' up all
heav'nly-blue an' smilin'.
"There was a pause arter this, jes' about so long as you cou'd count
twenty; an' the rest o' the congregashun began to fidget an' whisper
round that suthin' was up, when all 'pon a sudden my ould rook
straightens hissel' up an' begins to cuss and to swear.
Pages:
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138