"
The dying eyes glowed with love; then with a restful sigh the life
passed out.
* * * * *
They had battened down the last spadeful of new-dug earth, and once
again there was a storm-bred mound in Trewithen churchyard.
The three old comrades stood together in silence looking down on it,
making little or no attempt to hide the sorrow that was theirs.
Then Tom Pemberthy said, drawing his hand across his tear-dimmed eyes:
"Us'll miss ur simple wa-ays, sure 'nuff!"
But it was given to "Clacking Joe" to speak the final words ere they
turned their faces homewards.
"'Twas awnly right that we laid ur 'longside o' Ben! When ur was a
little chile ur shrimped with 'n! an' when ur was a gert maiden ur
walked out with 'n! Please God, ur'll be the furrst tu spake tu 'n--cum
the aftermath!"
[Illustration: SPRING CLEANING.]
[Sidenote: A seasonable chant, possibly useful for recitation purposes.]
A Spring-time Duet
BY
MARY LESLIE
_1st Maiden._ "Oh, Spring is here, the golden sun
Has routed Winter's gloom!"
_2nd Maiden._ "Good gracious! Jane has not _begun_
To scrub the dining-room!"
_1st Maiden._ "And now the first sweet buds appear,
Symbolic of new hope."
_2nd Maiden._ "I didn't say 'carbolic,' dear,
I want the _yellow_ soap.
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