on our selection-第26章

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The　Agricultural　Reporter。


It　had　been　a　dull；　miserable　day；　and　a　cold　westerly　was　blowing。　　Dave　and　Joe　were　at　the　barn　finishing　up　for　the　day。

Dad　was　inside　grunting　and　groaning　with　toothache。　　He　had　had　it　a　week；　and　was　nearly　mad。　　For　a　while　he　sat　by　the　fire；　prodding　the　tooth　with　his　pocket…knife；　then　he　covered　his　jaw　with　his　hand　and　went　out　and　walked　about　the　yard。

Joe　asked　him　if　he　had　seen　Nell's　foal　anywhere　that　day。　　He　did　n't　answer。

〃Did　y'　see　the　brown　foal　any　place　ter…day；　Dad？〃

〃Damn　the　brown　foal！〃and　Dad　went　inside　again。

He　walked　round　and　round　the　table　and　in　and　out　the　back　room　till　Mother　nearly　cried　with　pity。

〃Is　n't　it　any　easier　at　all；　Father？〃　she　said　commiseratingly。

〃How　the　devil　can　it　be　easier？。。。Oh…h！〃

The　kangaroo…dog　had　coiled　himself　snugly　on　a　bag　before　the　fire。　　Dad　kicked　him　savagely　and　told　him　to　get　out。　　The　dog　slunk　sulkily　to　the　door；　his　tail　between　his　legs；　and　his　back　humped　as　if　expecting　another　kick。　　He　got　it。　　Dad　sat　in　the　ashes　then；　and　groaned　lamentably。　　The　dog　walked　in　at　the　back　door　and　dropped　on　the　bag　again。

Joe　came　in　to　say　that　〃Two　coves　out　there　wants　somethink。〃

Dad　paid　no　attention。

The　two　〃coves〃a　pressman；　in　new　leggings；　and　Canty；　the　storekeepercame　in。　　Mother　brought　a　light。　　Dad　moaned；　but　did　n't　look　up。

〃Well；　Mr。　Rudd；〃　the　pressman　commenced　（he　was　young　and　fresh…looking）；　〃I'm　from　the　（something…or…other）　office。　　I'merafter　information　about　the　crops　round　here。　　I　supposeer〃

〃Oh…h…h！〃　Dad　groaned；　opening　his　mouth　over　the　fire；　and　pressing　the　tooth　hard　with　his　thumb。

The　pressman　stared　at　him　for　awhile；　then　grinned　at　the　storekeeper；　and　made　a　derisive　face　at　Dad's　back。　　　Then〃What　have　you　got　in　this　season；　Mr。　Rudd？　　Wheat？〃

〃I　don't　know。。。。Oh…hit's　awful！〃

Another　silence。

〃Did　n't　think　toothache　so　bad　as　THAT；〃　said　the　man　of　news；　airily；　addressing　Mother。　　〃Never　had　it　much　myself；　you　see！〃

He　looked　at　Dad　again；　then　winked　slyly　at　Canty；　and　said　to　Dad；　in　an　altered　tone：　　〃Whisky's　a　good　thing　for　it；　old　man；　if　you've　got　any。〃

Nothing　but　a　groan　came　from　Dad；　but　Mother　shook　her　head　sadly　in　the　negative。

〃Any　oil　of　tar？〃

Mother　brightened　up。　　〃There's　a　little　oil　in　the　house；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　don't　know　if　we've　any　tar。　　Is　there；　Joein　that　old　drum？〃

〃Nurh。〃

The　Press　looked　out　the　window。　　Dad　commenced　to　butcher　his　gums　with　the　pocket…knife；　and　threatened　to　put　the　fire　out　with　blood　and　saliva。

〃Let's　have　a　look　at　the　tooth；　old　man；〃　the　pressman　said；　approaching　Dad。

Dad　submitted。

〃Pooh！I'll　take　that　out　in　one　act！〃。。。To　Joe〃Got　a　good　strong　piece　of　string？〃

Joe　could　n't　find　a　piece　of　string；　but　produced　a　kangaroo…tail　sinew　that　had　been　tied　round　a　calf's　neck。

The　pressman　was　enthusiastic。　　He　buzzed　about　and　talked　dentistry　in　a　most　learned　manner。　　Then　he　had　another　squint　at　Dad's　tooth。

〃Sit　on　the　floor　here；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　won't　be　a　second。　　You'll　feel　next　to　no　pain。〃

Dad　complied　like　a　lamb。

〃Hold　the　light　down　here；　missisa　little　lower。　　You　gentlemen〃　（to　Canty　and　Dave）　〃look　after　his　legs　and　arms。　　Now；　let　your　head　come　backright　back；　and　open　your　mouthwide　as　you　can。〃　　Dad　obeyed；　groaning　the　whole　time。　　It　was　a　bottom…tooth；　and　the　dentist　stood　behind　Dad　and　bent　over　him　to　fasten　the　sinew　round　it。　　Then；　twisting　it　on　his　wrist；　he　began　to　〃hang　on〃　with　both　hands。　　Dad　struggled　and　groanedthen　broke　into　a　bellow　and　roared　like　a　wild　beast。　　But　the　dentist　only　said；　〃Keep　him　down！〃　and　the　others　kept　him　down。

Dad's　neck　was　stretching　like　a　gander's；　and　it　looked　as　if　his　head　would　come　off。　　The　dentist　threw　his　shoulders　into　it　like　a　crack　oarsmanthere　was　a　crack；　a　rip；　a　tear；　and；　like　a　young　tree　leaving　the　ground；　two　huge；　ugly　old　teeth　left　Dad's　jaw　on　the　end　of　that　sinew。

〃Holy！〃　cried　the　dentist；　surprised；　and　we　stared。　　Little　Bill　made　for　the　teeth；　so　did　Joe；　and　there　was　a　fight　under　the　table。

Dad　sat　in　a　lump　on　the　floor　propping　himself　up　with　his　hands；　his　head　dropped　forward；　and　he　spat　feebly　on　the　floor。

The　pressman　laughed　and　slapped　Dad　on　the　back；　and　asked　〃How　do　you　feel；　old　boy？〃　　Dad　shook　his　head　and　spat　and　spat。　　But　presently　he　wiped　his　eyes　with　his　shirt…sleeve　and　looked　up。　　The　pressman　told　Mother　she　ought　to　be　proud　of　Dad。　　Dad　struggled　to　his　feet　then；　pale　but　smiling。　　The　pressman　shook　hands　with　him；　and　in　no　time　Dad　was　laughing　and　joking　over　the　operation。　　A　pleased　look　was　in　Mother's　face；　happiness　filled　the　home　again；　and　we　grew　quite　fond　of　that　pressmanhe　was　so　jolly　and　affable；　and　made　himself　so　much　at　home；　Mother　said。

〃Now；　sit　over；　and　we'll　have　supper；〃　said　Dad；　proud　of　having　some　fried　steak　to　offer　the　visitors。　　We　had　killed　a　cow　the　evening　beforeone　that　was　always　getting　bogged　in　the　dam　and　taking　up　much　of　Dad's　time　dragging　her　out　and　cutting　greenstuff　to　keep　her　alive。　The　visitors　enjoyed　her。　　The　pressman　wanted　salt。　　None　was　on　the　table。　　Dad　told　Joe　to　run　and　get　someto　be　quick。　　Joe　went　out；　but　in　a　while　returned。　　He　stood　at　the　door　with　the　hammer　in　his　hand　and　said：

〃Did　you　shift　the　r…r…r…rock…salt　from　where　S…Spotty　was　lickin'　it　this　evenin'；　Dave？〃

Dave　reached　for　the　bread。

〃Don't　botherdon't　bother　about　it；〃　said　the　pressman。　　〃Sit　down；　youngster；　and　finish　your　supper。〃

〃No　bother　at　all；〃　Dad　said；　but　Joe　sat　down；　and　Dad　scowled　at　him。

Then　Dad　got　talking　about　wheat　and　wallabieswhen；　all　at　once；　the　pressman　gave　a　jump　that　rattled　the　things　on　the　table。

〃Oh…h…h！。。。I'VE　got　it　now！〃　he　said；　dropping　his　　knife　and　fork　and　clapping　his　hands　over　his　mouth。　　〃Ooh！〃

We　looked　at　him。　　〃Got　what？〃　Dad　asked；　a　gleam　of　satisfaction　appearing　in　his　eyes。

〃The　toothache！the　dd　toothache！。。。Oh…h！〃

〃Ha！　ha！　　Hoo！　hoo！　hoo！〃　Dad　roared。　　In　fact；　we　all　roaredall　but　the　pressman。　　〃OH…H！〃　he　said；　and　went　to　the　fire。　　Dad　laughed　some　more。

We　ate　on。　　The　pressman　continued　to　moan。

Dad　turned　on　his　seat。　　〃What　paper；　mister；　do　you　say　you　come　from？〃

〃OH…H！。。。Oh…h；　Lord！〃

〃Well；　let　me　see；　I'll　have　in　altogether；　I　daresay；　this　year；　about　thirty…five　acres　of　wheatI　suppose　as　good　a　wheat〃

〃Damn　the　wheat！。。。OOH！〃

〃Eh！〃　said　Dad；　〃why；　I　never　thought　toothache　was　THET　bad！　　You　reminds　me　of　this　old　cow　we　be　eatin'。　　SHE　moaned　just　like　thet　all　the　time　she　was　layin'　in　the　gully；　afore　I　knocked　'er　on　the　head。〃

Canty；　the　storekeeper；　looked　up　quickly；　and　the　pressman　looked　round　slowlyboth　at　Dad。

〃Here；〃　continued　Dad〃let's　have　a　look　at　yer　tooth；　old　man！〃

The　pressman　rose。　　His　face　was　flushed　and　wild…looking。　　〃Come　on　out　of　thisfor　God's　sake！〃　he　said　to　Canty〃if　you're　ready。〃

〃What；〃　said　Dad；　hospitably；　〃y're　not　going；　surely！〃　But　they　were。　〃Well；　thenthirty…five　acres　of　wheat；　I　have；　and〃　（putting　his　head　out　the　door　and　calling　after　them）　〃NEXT　yearnext　year；　all　being　well；　please　God；　I'll　have　SIXTY！〃




CHAPTER　XXIV。



A　Lady　at　Shingle　Hut。


Miss　Ribbone　had　just　arrived。

She　was　the　mistress　of　the　local　school；　and　had　come　to　board　with　us　a　month。　　The　parents　of　the　score　of　more　of　youngsters　attending　the　school　had　arranged　to　accommodate　her；　month　about；　and　it　was　our　turn。　And　did　n't　Mother　just　load　us　up　how　we　were　to　behaveparticularly　Joe。

Dad　lumbered　in　the　usual　log　for　the　fire；　and　we　all　helped　him　throw　it　onall　except　the　schoolmistress。　　Poor　thing！　　She　would　have　injured　her　long；　miserable；　putty…looking　fingers！　　Such　a　contrast　between　her　and　Sal！　　Then　we　sat　down　to　supperthat　old　familiar　repast；　hot　meat　and　pumpkin。

Somehow　we　did　n't　feel　quite　at　home；　but　Dad　got　on　well。　　He　talked　away　learnedly　to　Miss　Ribbone　about　everything。　　Told　her；　without　swearing　once；　how；　when　at　school　in　the　old　country；　he　fought　the　schoolmaster　and　leathered　him　well。　　A　pure　lie