"Sometimes," said I, without looking up.

"An' I be very old an' tired, Peter; my 'eart be all wore out wi'

beatin' an' beatin' all these years--'tis a wonder as it didn't

stop afore now--but a--a--stapil, Peter, don't 'ave no 'eart to

go a-beatin' an' a-wearin' of itself away?"

"No, Ancient."

"So 'ere be I, a-standin' in the Valley o' the Shadow, an'

waitin' for God's Angel to take my 'and for to show me the way.

'Tis a darksome road, Peter, but I bean't afeared, an' there be a

light beyond Jordan-water. No, I aren't afeared to meet the God

as made me, for 'the Lord is merciful--and very kind,' an' I

don't s'pose as 'E'll be very 'ard on a old, old man as did 'is

best, an' wi' a 'eart all tired an' wore away wi' beatin'--I be

ready, Peter only--"

"Yes, Ancient?"

"Oh, Peter!--it be that theer old stapil--as'll go on rustin'

away an' rustin' away arter the old man as watched it so is laid

in the earth, an' forgot about--"

"No," said I, without looking up, but slipping my hand into my

pocket; "no, Ancient--"

"Peter--Oh, Peter!--do 'ee mean--?"

"I mean that, although it had no heart, the staple was tired and

worn out--just as you are, and so I brought it to you," and I

slipped the rusty bit of iron into the old man's trembling palm.

"O Lord--!" he began in a fervent voice, "O dear Lord!--I got

it, Lord--th' owd stapil--I be ready to come to Thee, an' j'yful

--j'yful! an' for this mercy, an' benefit received--blessed be Thy

name. Amen!"

He lay very quiet for a while, with the broken staple clasped to

his breast, and his eyes closed.

"Peter," said he suddenly, "you won't 'ave no one to bring you

noos no more--why, Peter! be 'ee cryin'--for me? 'Tis true 't

were me as found ye, but I didn't think as you'd go to cry tears

for me--I be goin' to tak' t' owd stapil wi' me, Peter, all along

the road--an', Peter--"

"Yes, Ancient?"

"Be you quite sure as you aren't a dook?"

"Quite sure."

"Nor a earl?"

"No, Ancient."

"Not even a--barrynet?"

"No, Ancient."

"Ah, well!--you be a man, Peter, an' 'tis summ'at to ha' found a

man--that it be."

And now he feebly beckoned us all nearer.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024