Lancashire Idylls (1898) by Marshall Mather
page 55 of 236 (23%)
page 55 of 236 (23%)
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leading from his garden to Folly Clough, and thus secured the
quiet ever found in those deeply-wooded seams that plough into the very heart of the moors. Following the water-worn path which wound in tortuous ascent under clustering trees and between slopes of bracken, the two soon gained the head of the Clough, and climbed towards the banks of the Green Fold Lodge, a stretch of water into which drained the moisture of vast tracts of uplands, its overflow rushing through flood-gates and pouring its volume through the Clough to feed the factories below. Seating himself on the bank of the Lodge, he recalled the day when he rescued his dog from its chill deeps, and, turning to Captain, he said: 'It wor welly bein' thi grave once, owd lad. Aw wonder why it wor aw saved thee. Thaa's getten many a lickin' (thrashing) sin' then on my accaant.' Whereupon the dog bounded round his feet, and held up its head for one of those caresses which Moses was never known to extend save to his dog. As they rested together Moses continued: 'Thaas noan a bad sort, Captain; and thaa'd ha' done a deal more good if aw'd a let thee. Thaa wor awlus fond o' childer', bud they'd never let thee alone. It wor happen as weel if aw'd a bit more o' thi spirit i' me, owd lad; but if there wor more fo'k like thee there'd be less like me.' And at this Captain wagged his tail with delight, and rubbed his cold nose under the palm of Moses' hand. |
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