Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

BROTHER DUNSTAN AND THE CRABS. intrigue? But why choose so bright a night, and why carry so mysterious a _basket? 3 Had there been any, one about t see, Brother Dunstan's spotless repute might have been called in question. x * * x I suppose that never was man more soundly asleep after the day’s labors than was the farmer, Giles Aubrey, on this very evening. The sun had been still high above the horizon when he ended his work ahd, returning to his cottage, fell asleep over his bowl of porridge, roused himself to smoke his pipe, and falling asleep over that also, gave up the struggle. Barring his windows and locking his _ door, he pulled off his smock and fell upon his bed, muttering a prayer while his eyes closed; for Giles was a religi- ous man, and a true son of the church. At this late hour, then, he was so far sunk in slumber that it would have taken a mighty effort to arouse him even into partial consciousness. It was totally without his calcula- tions to be called up for any reason in the night. When the sun blazed into his face through the little window, he would stir, and grunt, and stagger up —but now! It was six good hours be- fore the sun would rise! Brother Dunstan, however, paused . outside the door of this heavy dream- er, and addressed himself to the task of rousing him. He rapped loudly upon the shutter, and, gaining no re- sponse, he thundered still more loudly upon the door. He called Giles Aubrey’s name loudly; and it may be that the voice of the church carries more penetrating insistence than any other, for, as Brother Dunstan persevered, Giles Aubrey did finally stagger to the door, and unbarring it stand there stupidly, with the moonlight on his blinking eyes, It took him one dazed moment to recognize the brother, and then he 2gt hastily crossed himself and began stammering. “ Holy mother, what have I done? IT have confessed. I have fasted. What _ is amiss? ”’ But Brother Dunstan held up a warning hand. “Do not alarm yourself, my good man,” he said, quietly, “I have not come to accuse you of sin. roused you for a different reason, and I must ask your pardon for having come thus late. You area faithful son of the church, and,” went on the brother, with some embarrassment, “* I have brought you with my own hand a little gift. It 1s in this basket. I beg you to accept from me a lot of very fine crabs newly out of the water.” Giles Aubrey’s eyes fairly goggled as the priest uttered these words; and indeed one 1n a more wakeful condi- tion than he might well have been sur- prised. That a monastery brother, in kilted frock and hatless, should call him out of bed at midnight to present him with a basketful of live crabs was the most astonishing thing that could well be conceived. And Giles’ honest soul de- lighted in crabs more than anything on earth, and his soup pot had not seen them for many a long day. “TI will set the basket inside your door,’ said Brother Dunstan, hurried- ly, “and return. Itis late. I hope that you will find their flavor good; and so good night.” But as he turned away, Giles, still petrified, caught at his sleeve. “ Ah, unfortunate man that I am,” he stammered, and he raised the heavy basket from the ground. “How can I tell you? And they are so good, the saints know, and I have not tasted one since Michaelmas! “But take them back, for I am under penance for venial sin, and noth- ing but my bread and my porridge must pass my lips until this day month.” : GOH GOOO I have SS CO