disparaging him after an open confession, but because it was an accepted
thing that Leaf didn't in the least mind having no head, that deficiency
of his being an unimpassioned matter of parish history.

"But I can sing my treble!" continued Thomas Leaf, quite delighted at
being called a fool in such a friendly way; "I can sing my treble as well
as any maid, or married woman either, and better! And if Jim had lived,
I should have had a clever brother! To-morrow is poor Jim's birthday.
He'd ha' been twenty-six if he'd lived till to-morrow."

"You always seem very sorry for Jim," said old William musingly.

"Ah! I do. Such a stay to mother as he'd always ha' been! She'd never
have had to work in her old age if he had continued strong, poor Jim!"

"What was his age when 'a died?"

"Four hours and twenty minutes, poor Jim. 'A was born as might be at
night; and 'a didn't last as might be till the morning. No, 'a didn't
last. Mother called en Jim on the day that would ha' been his
christening day if he had lived; and she's always thinking about en. You
see he died so very young."

"Well, 'twas rather youthful," said Michael.

"Now to my mind that woman is very romantical on the matter o' children?"
said the tranter, his eye sweeping his audience.

"Ah, well she mid be," said Leaf. "She had twelve regular one after
another, and they all, except myself, died very young; either before they