THE TRANTER'S.
23
I hold that that was cutting it very close, Reuben?'
'’Twas close, there's no denying,' said the general voice.
'Too close, ’twas,' said Reuben, in the rear of the rest. 'And as to Sam Lawson—pore heart! now he's dead and gone too!—I'll warrant, that if so be I've spent one hour in making hoops for that barrel, I've spent fifty, first and last. That's one of my hoops'—touching it with his elbow—'that's one of mine, and that, and that, and all these.'
'Ah, Sam was a man!' said Mr. Penny, looking contemplatively at a small stool.
'Sam was!' said Bowman, shaking his head twice.
'Especially for a drap o' drink,' said the tranter.
'Good, but not religious-good,' suggested Mr. Penny.
The tranter nodded. Having at last
