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parish…clerk by Mr。 Crackenthorp’s desire； whenever your
infirmities should make you unfitting； and its one of the rights
thereof to sing in the choir—else why have you done the same
yourself？”
“Ah！ but the old gentleman and you are two folks；” said Ben
Winthrop。 “The old gentleman’s got a gift。 Why； the Squire used to
invite him to take a glass； only to hear him sing the ‘Red Rovier’；
didn’t he； Mr。 Macey？ It’s a nat’ral gift。 There’s my little lad Aaron；
he’s got a gift—he can sing a tune off straight； like a throstle。 But
as for you； Master Tookey； you’d better stick to your ‘Amens’： your
voice is well enough when you keep it up in your nose。 It’s your
inside as isn’t right made for music： it’s no better nor a hollow
stalk。”
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This kind of unflinching frankness was the most piquant form
of joke to the company at the Rainbow； and Ben Winthrop’s insult
was felt by everybody to have capped Mr。 Macey’s epigram。
“I see what it is plain enough；” said Mr。 Tookey； unable to keep
cool any longer。 “There’s a consperacy to turn me out o’ the choir；
as I shouldn’t share the Christmas money—that’s where it is。 But I
shall speak to Mr。 Crackenthorp； I’ll not be put upon by no man。”
“Nay； nay； Tookey；” said Ben Winthrop。 “We’ll pay you your
share to keep out of it—that’s what we’ll do。 There’s things folks
’ud pay to be rid on； besides varmin。”
“Come； come；” said the landlord； who felt that paying people
for their absence was a principle dangerous to society； “a joke’s a
joke。 We’re all good friends here； I hope。 We must give and take。
You’re both right and you’re both wrong； as I say。 I agree wi’ Mr。
Macey here； as there’s two opinions； and if mine was asked； I
should say they’re both right。 Tookey’s right and Winthrop’s right；
and they’ve only got to split the difference and make themselves
even。”
The farrier was puffing his pipe rather fiercely； in some
contempt at this trivial discussion。 He had no ear for music
himself； and never went to church； as being of the medical
profession； and likely to be in requisition for delicate cows。 But the
butcher； having music in his soul； had listened with a divided
desire for Tookey’s defeat and for the preservation of the peace。
“To be sure；” he said； following up the landlord’s conciliatory
view； “we’re fond of our old clerk； it’s nat’ral； and him used to be
such a singer； and got a brother as is known for the first fiddler in
this countryside。 Eh； it’s a pity but what Solomon lived in our
village； and could give us a tune when we liked； eh； Mr。 Macey？ I’d
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keep him in liver and lights for nothing—that I would。”
“Ay； ay；” said Mr。 Macey； in the height of complacency； “our
family’s been known for musicianers as far back as anybody can
tell。 But them things are dying out； as I tell Solomon every time he
comes round； there’s no voices like what there used to be； and
there’s nobody remembers what we remember； if it isn’t the old
crows。”
“Ay； you remember when first Mr。 Lammeter’s father come into
these parts； don’t you； Mr。 Macey？” said the landlord。
“I should think I did；” said the old man； who had now gone
through that complimentary process necessary to bring him up to
the point of narration； “and a fine old gentleman he was—as fine；
and finer nor the Mr。 Lammeter as now is。 He came from a bit
north’ard； so far as I could ever make out。 But there’s nobody
rightly knows about those parts： only it couldn’t be far north’ard；
nor much different from this country； for he brought a fine breed
o’ sheep with him； so there must be pastures there； and everything
reasonable。 We heared tell as he’d sold his own land to come and
take the Warrens； and that seemed odd for a man as had land of
his own； to come and rent a farm in a strange place。 But they said
it was along of his wife’s dying； though there’s reasons in things as
nobody knows on—that’s pretty much what I’ve made out； yet
some folks are so wise； they’ll find you fifty reasons straight off；
and all the while the real reason’s winking at ’em in the corner；
and they niver see’t。 Howsomever； it was soon seen as we’d got a
new parish’ner as know’d the rights and customs o’ things； and
kep’ a good house； and was well looked on by everybody。 And the
young man—that’s the Mr。 Lammeter as now is； for he’d niver a
sister—soon begun to court Miss Osgood； that’s the sister o’ the
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Mr。 Osgood as now is； and a fine handsome lass she was—eh； you
can’t think—they pretend this young lass is like her； but that’s the
way wi’ people as don’t know what come before ’em。 I should
know； for I helped the old rector； Mr。 Drumlow as was； I helped
him marry ’em。”
Here Mr。 Macey paused； he always gave his narrative in
instalments； expecting to be questioned according to precedent。
“Ay； and a partic’lar thing happened； didn’t it； Mr。 Macey； so as
you were likely to remember that marriage？” said the landlord； in
a congratulatory tone。
“I should think there did—a very partic’lar thing；” said Mr。
Macey； nodding sideways。 “For Mr。 Drumlow—poor old
gentleman； I was fond on him； though he’d got a big confused in
his head； what wi’ age and wi’ taking a drop o’ summat warm
when the service come of a cold morning。 And young Mr。
Lammeter； he’d have no way but he must be married in Janiwary；
which； to be sure； ’s a unreasonable time to be married in； for it
isn’t like a christening or a burying； as you can’t help； and so Mr。
Drumlow—poor old gentleman； I was fond on him—but when he
come to put the questions； he put ’em by the rule o’ contrairy； like；
and he says； ‘Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded wife？’ says he；
and then he says； ‘Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded
husband？’ says he。 But the partic’larest thing of all is； as nobody
took any notice on it but me； and they answered straight off ‘yes；’
like as if it had been me saying ‘Amen’ i’ the right place； without
listening to what went before。”
“But you knew what was going on well enough； didn’t you； Mr。
Macey？ You were live enough； eh？” said the butcher。
“Lor’ bless you！” said Mr。 Macey； pausing； and smiling in pity at
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