Nestleton Magna Part 20

"Halleluia! Nathan Blyth. That'll be a glorious teeal te tell, an' a glorious crood te lissen tiv it," said Adam Olliver, who had ridden up to the Forge to get a new supply of shoes for Balaam, whom he speedily tethered by his bridle to the iron hook driven into the wall for that purpose.

"Good mornin', Adam. What, is Balaam going barefoot?"

"Why, no, he is'nt exactly as bad as that, bud he's gettin' sae near t' grund 'at ah thowt it was better to tak' it i' tahme. Can yo' spare tahme te shoe 'im?"

"Hey, hey, old friend. I'll put him to rights for you. I have his size," said Natty, glancing along the rows of ready made shoes, "and I'll fit him in a twinkling. But what will you give me for my news this morning?"

"Why, ah deean't knoa. It mebbe isn't worth mitch."

"Hey, but it is. It's news 'at 'll warm your heart, or I'm a Dutchman."

"What, hez Black Morris turned up? Or is t' young squire better?"

Nathan Blyth's face clouded a moment, as he said, "I'm sorry to say I've nought so good to say of either. Still it's good news."

"Oot wiv it, then. 'Bad news'll keep, let good news peep.' Why, you deean't meean te say t' squire's gi'en us a bit o' land?"

"No," said Natty, "you'll have to wait a bit longer for that miracle to come to pa.s.s. But I've a miracle to tell you that's almost as big.

We've gotten another place to hold service in, an' it's best place in all the neighbourhood."

"Prayse the Lord. He nivver was woss then His wod yit. Wheer is it?"

"Why, it's in Midden Harbour!" said Nathan, whose eyes were twinkling with delight.

"You deean't say sae? Ah didn't doot 'at G.o.d wad oppen' t' way, bud ah didn't expect it quite sae seean. Wheease hoose is it?"

"It's n.o.body's house; it's"----

"What! Is it t' mautkill?"

"Hey!" shouted Blithe Natty, and he gave the haunch of the old donkey such a slap with his big, open hand, as who should say, "There, Balaam, what do you think to that?"

Balaam, for once in his life, was thoroughly astounded. He erected his ears, turned his wondering gaze on the triumphant blacksmith, and gave vent to a loud "Hee-ho" of most magnificent volume and a _crescendo_ force that was quite startling.

"That's right, Balaam," said Old Adam, laughing heartily. "It'll mak'

uthers c.o.c.k their ears an' oppen their mooth besides thoo. Halleluia!

Halleluia!"

Either startled still more by the old man's enthusiasm or else entering into the spirit of their triumph, Balaam gave tongue a second time, in a style that sent the two bystanders into such a fit of laughter that it threatened to endanger a blood-vessel.

"What in the world's up now?" said Farmer Houston, who suddenly appeared upon the scene.

"Oop?" said Adam. "Why, ivverything's oop! Methodism's oop! Piggy Morris is oop! an' oor sperrits is oop: mahne, an' Nathan's, an'

Balaam's, an' all!"

Mr. Houston's delight at the taking of Fort Midden Harbour was extreme, and it was agreed that information should be sent at once to Mr. Mitch.e.l.l, that the good work might be forthwith begun.

"We mun strike while t' iron's yat," said Adam. "Mah wod, bud weean't there be sum sparks! Bud we mun mind what we're aboot. We sall hae te be as wise as sarpents; we're gannin' te put wer heeads intiv a wasp's nest, an' if we deean't mind we sall get teng'd [stung] as seear as dayleet. Bud what's ah talkin' aboot? The Lord'll draw their tengs frev 'em, an' mak' 'em as 'armless as bluebottles."

"I cannot understand," said Farmer Houston, "how such a surly fellow as Piggy Morris, who never had a good word to say for us, has been won so completely over."

"Why," said Blithe Natty, "I believe its all owing to my daughter.

She's managed to get round him somehow. He gave me to understand that much at my own door."

"G.o.d bless 'er!" said Adam Olliver, "an' He will. Ah's as sartain 'at there's a breet futur' befoore that bairn as ah is 'at we sall seean hev a chapil. The Lord's fas.h.i.+onin' on 'er for a great wark, an' sae you'll see."

The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the stately form of Squire Fuller was seen riding up to the Forge on his favourite and beautiful chestnut mare. With a nod of recognition to Farmer Houston, and a kindly smile on Adam Olliver, he said,--

"Nathan Blyth, can I have a word with you in private?"

Nathan touched his forelock, as in duty bound, and led the squire through a door which opened on a narrow pa.s.sage leading to the house.

Farmer Houston and Adam Olliver exchanged glances of interest and wonder.

"The Lord's workin'," said the latter, simply. "Yance Natty Blyth had te gan tiv 'im. Noo, he 'ez te c.u.m te Natty Blyth. What's oop ah deean't knoa, but ah knoa 'at t' prayers o' G.o.d's people 's at yah end, an' 'at Nestleton chapil's at t'uther, an' the Lord's linkin' on 'em tegither."

"The old squire's looking very grey and haggard," said Farmer Houston, "and how bent and bowed he is!"

"Ah's freeten'd he dizn't knoa where te tak' his trubbles. If he wad n.o.bbut tak' 'em te t' Cross, that's the spot te get rid on 'em. At ony rate he wad get strength te bide 'em."

Nathan Blyth re-appeared for a moment to excuse his absence, and Adam Olliver, having led his donkey to the door, and mounted it, rode off in company with Farmer Houston. His last words to the silent and thoughtful blacksmith were,--

"Good mornin', aud friend! Remember what you were singin',--

Ah'll trust tiv His faithfulness, happen what may, Ah'll gooa tell the Lord all aboot it."

CHAPTER XXV.

NATHAN BLYTH IS IN A QUANDARY.

"Parental love, my friend, hath power o'er wisdom, And is the charm, which, like the falconer's lure, Can bring from heaven the highest soaring spirits."

_Anon._

"Almighty love! what wonders are not thine!

Soon as thy influence breathes upon the soul, By thee, the haughty bend the suppliant knee."

_Paterson._

Nathan conducted his unexpected, and, in truth, unwelcome visitor into his neat and tastefully furnished parlour, and the observant squire was much surprised to see so many evidences of refinement and artistic skill. On the walls, which were papered with a soft-hued pattern, hung a few first-cla.s.s engravings in broad maple frames; and here and there an original crayon sketch or water-colour painting, betokening considerable talent, was suspended between them. A dark rosewood piano stood on one side, open and with one of Beethoven's sonatas placed upon the music-holder. On the opposite side stood a couch, on which were placed antimaca.s.sars, cus.h.i.+ons, &c., in Berlin woolwork. The remainder of the furniture was all in keeping, and all were more or less adorned with the handiwork of female fingers, while books of a high-cla.s.s character were plentifully strewed on the table and gleamed in the book-case, through whose gla.s.s doors, the squire saw literary treasures which he had never a.s.sociated with the anvil and the forge.

Nathan handed his guest a chair, and stood waiting for an explanation of his visit. The squire asked him to be seated, and then said,--

"Nathan Blyth, I can well believe that my visit here is as unwelcome as it is unexpected. Our last interview, however necessary, was as unpleasant for you as it was distasteful to me, and I am willing to own that I had no desire that it should be repeated. I cannot charge myself with having said anything on that occasion that was not as courteous and conciliating as the circ.u.mstances would allow, and you must permit me to say that your own att.i.tude and deportment was all that could be desired. You spoke and have acted as a man of honour, and I was compelled to acknowledge to myself that I had to do with a gentleman where I did not expect to find one."