The Armourer's Apprentice — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HE little country town from which | | my ancestors cams has a legend of its own, which is weli known to many persons there, although I beheve it has never yet found printed record: yet it is In some respects so remarkable that I do not know why I should not tellit aftermy ownfashion. Full a hundred and fifteen years ago, when George the Second was king, there lived in this town a saddle-meker. This | _ gaddle-maker, whose name was Ranson, had - @ daughter, and he had an apprentice. Ever since there were stories or story-tellers, apprentices have loved their master's Pe ae Sale which, however common, is at all events a possible thing. So old Ranson’s apprentice, Richard Hayes, delight in seeing this daughter—in hearing _ her speak, or in exchanging a few words = with her—than . ever,old Kanson dreamed of, _ or that ever any one else dreamed of—not _ excepting the daughter or the apprentice himself. What old Ranson would have done if he had suspected it, I do not know. He would, probably, have thrashed his apprentice, and been by him knocked down for his pains, besides converting him into a fanatical Jover from that hour. As it was, the life of his apprentice was not a merry one; for old Ranson’s notions of the traat- ment proper for apprentices were derived from the glorious times of Queen Elizabeth ; _ haying been transmitted through a long. line of ancestors, till they came to a dead stop lt EN af, be IN aS aS ws 4 S's ancient form of xpprentisedhin indenture that bound | Richard Hayes to him, that all apprentices; when they were free from con- trol, took to gambling, or profuse sweari or drunkenness, with a hearty relish, e % =). A TALE. took more in his obstinate » He believed, like the believed that, if spies ser eyes were os i 74 5 oc = > ee. . agfry'« ‘ij - + te ‘ pa eo" Rw : - my ¥-: — “| > ss ; Pe: eS aK So 7) ee “ REE aE PON SPs Det . ai 4 Whe ‘ “as . aa . ° all ae gls - s ‘ J _* - , > . 4, : ; > ; Ao oe if ws . : P- J . dS tn *- p. Pin. ° a P : -, KA Se = *.. Wu om : , . “ , y _ GA j a" = * 4 , = ante © » . L + of ~~ . ‘ : e al , yy “ ~ "en . 5 Pe Ss ao os > 9 mA - - Sf, : C3 Ms gs ate : t ~ PF, one sa i” te " . = 7 w ; be 4 rer - SS S + Z constantly upon ches: they welt a o' f . 7 . from their work, or rob the till, or go ut and stop the mail. You might argue a as you would. Te Richard — was 2 steady, hon an ry industrious fellow; but about this time h mind was apt to wander from his we #60 oO that some damage was occasionally a Zon ae to the old saddler’s materials. tae “You are an idle villain,” said the m one morning early. “ You eat ‘and di here and render no return.” j Hayes made no answer, ‘though ¢ € wounded. He was no great hero, an 1d was still but alad. He did exactly wha other lads have done when offended—h fused to eat that day. When meal-ti came he said he would rather work on. Ranson bore this punishment + cheerfulness, He quoted old proverbs about a proud stomach. He set the room door open at dinner-time, that the ee Richa « * a“ ae oe ook eeply. ~ me Any ; he re- Ime might wander up the long shop, his refractory apprentice. ayes worked on; but sometimes, wlien the old” man made a joke at his expense, he fe E sed awhile and listened. Did she laugh at him or join in the persecution? If she did, he would starve himself to death, Br babe di 5 d id not; nor did he hear her speak a” the a That afternoon, when it was gettin du al ky and Richard Hayes was still at his ww ork c— while the master-saddler was smo se Mee) his little back room—Margaret stole thre ngh into the shop so gently that the £5) : ren AC ; did not hear her step until an stooc beside him. She had her hand u apy Mm.) ig e “Come, Dick,” she said, “ ) sake. I know—you have aes D roke mn fast G tone The | T have been called a o villai aut dont, cag Sea ee com cho oks. Ton ee Te ¥ .e > ya’ yea a ‘ a, +t. pe GN 5 5 NT oy er <a aa 7 es oe ee PG