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The only discontented person in our little circle was Joe Braggs, who had caught the dace that caught the jack, and so started me out of my jog-trot yeoman's round into the great world of life and adventure. Joe had done well while I had been away; our fields had yielded fruitfully under his care as bailiff; and, having had a favourable harvest, we were much money in hand on the year's working.
Ask that bugler to tell you where he found, in his glorious career as a wind instrument in the Spanish war, any Grants, Shermans, Sheridans, Logans, Pap Thomases, McClellans, Kilpatricks, Custers, McPhersons, Braggs, and hundreds of such heroes. What has the bugler got to show for his war? Shafter! And Alger!
"I've got one of them rabbits you sent me last market day by that lozzicking Joe Braggs, but he's a good gorby is Joe" here her voice softened, and madam smiled agreement "and this frost has kept it as sweet as a nut. If you're not too hungry to wait, I'll make you some rabbit-stew." "Rabbit-stew? I'll wait for that, and I'm sure Mistress Waynflete will," said I.
Braggs had called in the morning, but, finding that her aunt Vashti was at chapel, he had followed her there, intending to return with her. But he had not been seen since the service, and had evidently returned to the Mission. But when she reached Deacon Shadwell's house she was received by Mrs. Shadwell only.
But here the sound of footsteps without startled her; she glanced hurriedly through the open window, and saw the figure of Elisha Braggs suddenly revealed in the moonlight as he crossed the path behind the chapel. He was closely followed by two peons, whom she recognized as his servants at the Mission, and they each carried a pickaxe.
She held up my sopping cap, and laughed merrily. "It's ruined for best," said I, "but it will do for market days. And now, madam, it's cold enough to freeze askers, as Joe Braggs says, and for toilet you must e'en be content with first a shiver and then a shake. I will await you at the yard gate, and pray close the door behind you. The quicker the better." She rejoined me in two or three minutes.
She did not know what ideas young gals had nowadays, but in HER time she'd been fit to jump outer her skin at such an offer from such a good man as Elisha Braggs. And he was a rich man, too. And ef he was goin' to give her an edication free, it wasn't goin' to stop there.
Here, in the "Bull and Mouth," Mother Braggs ruled by day and Master Joe by night, and here beyond a doubt the stranger lady had tarried while her father had gone on with the horses to the nearest smithy at Milford. There was ample time to get to the Hanyards, but still, for safety's sake, we kept behind hedges as far as possible.
"But what of YOURS, Elisha Barker YOURS that has made you sham death itself to hide it from them? What of YOURS spent in the sloth of your ill-gotten gains! Turn, sinner, turn! Turn, Elisha Braggs, while there is yet time!" "Belay there, Brother Seabright; we're not INSIDE your gospel-shop just now! Keep your palaver for those that need it.
Braggs, for that was what his visit that morning to West Woodlands meant, and to be personally complimented on her improvement by the famous Brother Seabright, all within twelve hours, was something to be proud of, even although it was mitigated by her aunt's illness, her suitor's abrupt departure, and Brother Seabright's momentary coldness and impatience.
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