"Yes, sir," said the postmaster, producing one"fourpence."

The gentleman paid the fourpence postage, and left the shop with his letter.

"Here's a letter for the squire," said the postmaster; "you've to pay me elevenpence postage."

"What 'ud I pay elevenpence for?"

"For postage."

"To the devil wid you! Didn't I see you give Mr. Durfy a letther for fourpence this minnit, and a bigger letther than this? and now you want me to pay elevenpence for this scrap of a thing. Do you think I'm a fool?"

"No; but I'm sure of it," said the postmaster.

"Well, you're welkim to be sure, sure;—but don't be delayin' me now: here's fourpence for you, and gi' me the letther."

"Go along, you stupid thief!" said the postmaster, taking up the letter, and going to serve a customer with a mousetrap."

While this person and many others were served, Andy lounged up and down the shop, every now and then putting in his head in the middle of the customers, and saying, "Will you gi' me the letther?"

He waited for above half an hour, in defiance of the anathemas of the postmaster, and at last left, when he found it impossible to get common, justice for his master, which he thought he deserved as well as another man; for, under this impression, Andy determined to give no more than the fourpence.

The squire in the meantime was getting impatient

for his return, and when Andy made his appearance

asked if there was a letter for him.

"There is, sir," said Andy.

"Then give it to me."

"I haven't it, sir."

"What do you mean?"

"He wouldn't give it to me, sir."

"Who wouldn't give it you?"

"That owld chate beyant in the town-wanting to charge double for it."

"Maybe it's a double letter. Why the devil didn't you pay what he asked, sir?"

"Arrah, sir, why would I let you be chated? It's not a double letther at all: not above half the size o' one Mr. Durfy got before my face for fourpence."

"You'll provoke me to break your neck some day, you vagabond! Ride back for your life, you omadhaun, and pay whatever he asks, and get me the letter."

"Why, sir, I tell you he was sellin' them before my face for fourpence apiece."

"Go back, you scoundrel! or I'll horsewhip you; and if you're longer than an hour, I'll have you ducked in the horsepond!"

Andy vanished, and made a second visit to the post-office. When he arrived, two, other persons were getting letters, and the postmaster was selecting the epistles for each from a large parcel that lay efore him on the counter; at the same time many shop customers were waiting to be served.

"I'm come for that letther," said Andy. "I'll attend to you by-and-by."

"The masther's in a hurry."

"Let him wait till his hurry's over."

"He'll murther me if I'm not back soon." "I'm glad to hear it."

While the postmaster went on with such provoking answers to these appeals for dispatch, Andy's eye caught the heap of letters which lay on the counter: so while certain weighing of soap and tobacco was going forward, he contrived to become possessed of two letters from the heap, and, having effected that, waited patiently enough till it was the great man's pleasure to give him the missive directed to his

master.

Then did Andy bestride his hack, and in triumph at his trick on the postmaster, rattle along the road homeward as fast as the beast could carry him. He came into the squire's presence, his face beaming with delight, and an air of self-satisfied superiority in his manner, quite unaccountable to his master, until he pulled forth his hand, which had been grubbing up his prizes, from the bottom of his pocket ; and holding three letters over his head, while he said, “Look at that!" he next slapped them down under his broad. fist on the table before the squire, saying

"Well! if he did make me pay elevenpence, by gor, I brought your honour the worth o' your money anyhow!"

NORTHERN FARMER.

OLD STYLE.

BY ALFRED TENNYSON,

I.

WHEER 'asta beän saw long and meä liggin' 'ere aloän?

Noorse? thoort nowt o'a noorse: whoy, Doctor's abeän an' agoän:

Says that I moänt 'a naw moor yaäle: but I beänt a

fool:

Git ma my yaäle, for I beänt a-gooin' to break my

rule.

II.

Doctors, they knaws nowt, for a says what's nawways

`true :

Naw soort o' koind o' use to saäy the things that

a do.

I've 'ed my point o' yaäle ivry noight sin' I beän

'ere,

An' I've 'ed my quart ivry market-noight for foorty year.

III.

Parson's a beän loikewoise, an' a sittin 'ere o' my

bed.

'The amoighty's a taäkin o' you to 'issén, my friend,'

a said,

An' a towd ma my sins, an's toithe were due, an' I gied it in hond;

I done my duty by un, as I 'a done by the lond.

IV.

Larn'd a ma' beä. I reckons I 'annot sa mooch to

arn.

But a cost oop, thot a did, 'boot Bessy Marris's

barn.

Thof a knaws I hallus voäted wi' Squoire an' choorch an' staäte,

An' ' the woost o' toimes I wur niver agin the raäte.

V.

An' I hallus comed to 's choorch afoor moy Sally wur

deäd,

An' 'eerd un a bummin' awaäy loike a buzzard-clock* ower my yeäd,

An' I niver knaw'd whot a meän’d but I thowt a 'ad summut to saäy,

An I thowt a said whot a owt to 'a said an' I comed awaäy.

VI.

Bessy Marris's barn! tha knaws she laäid it to

meä.

Mowt 'a beän, mayhap, for she wur a bad un,

sheä.

*Cockchafer.