THRASHED AT FIFTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7, 13 May 1913, Page 8

THRASHED AT FIFTY.

To Country Fife a correspondent sends the following amusing account of a rural wayside incident:— “ 1 found him weeping by the roadside. He was a very good fifty, and the tears trickled over wrinkled cheeks to lose themselves in a grizzly beard. J paused to inquire what the trouble was. Tic blew bis nose loudly and resentfully before replying, T won’t work for ’m ! 1 don’t work for ’im ! He thrashed me, he did! An’ me with three grandchildren!’ “ ‘Who thrashed you?’ 1 asked in amazement, for lie was muscular, and in spite of 'his sobs appeared to be one whom men might respect. Feyther: That’s him over by they turnips, f won’t work for in, an’ so 1 told ’m.’

“1 looked in the direction indicated, and behold, an aged man leaning on a staff ! I decided to have a lewwords with him, and left his disconsolate son for that purpose. The ancient eyed me balefully as 1 approached.

“ ‘Look here,’ I began, trying to look as if it were ray business to interfere, ‘arc you the father of that man on the road there?’ “He bestowed a stern glance at the slouching figure below, and said briefly, ‘I be.’ “ ‘He says you thrashed him.’ “ ‘I did that, and I’ll do it again if he ain’t careful. I won’t have him speak disrespectful to his grandfather.’ ”