“What cheer, John!” cried the sailor, extending his hand and running forward to meet his old friend. “How are ye, my hearty? What, don’t you know me, John? My old chum! Why, I’m Sam—surely!”
“It can’t be, but it is!” and the farmer’s voice became husky. “I’ve thought ye dead this many a year. So you’ve actually returned, Sammy!”
“To settle in the old country, and to pitch my tent alongside o’ yours, John.”
“Look here, you sailor man,” cried Sally, “master belongs to me. We run this farm between us, we do, and we want no hornpipy sailor to join us.”
“And where does this band come from?” asked the farmer. The musicians, let me say, were trumpeting and drumming for all they were worth.
“Well, I brought it with me from Jarmouth. Look here, my hearties,” he called out, “change the tune to ‘Auld lang Syne’ and we will all join in the chorus.”
Which everybody did. Even Neddy sat on his haunches and “he-hawed” his loudest, of course, lolling his tongue round as usual, and throwing three-cornered glances in all directions. The limping calf was touched and was suddenly seized with a racing fit; and the chickens, no doubt thinking that the end of the world had come, turned somersaults and fought battles in all directions.
Poor Sally groaned aloud. “Ah! this is the end of everything,” she said. “I’ve cared for, and worked for master for many a year, and now what between the sailor, the band, the chickens, the bees and Neddy—well!”
“I think the whole stock has taken leave of their senses,” said Farmer John. “Why, Sally, lass,” he said, looking upon his woe-begone horse, and patting her on the shoulder, “do you think, old girl, that I have forgotten thee? No, no! Now, my good people,” flinging a coin to the musicians, “I thank you for your music, and good-day to ye. Don’t you see that you are frightening my animals. Neighbours,” he cried, addressing the crowd, “good-day to ye also, and Sam, my man—quick march into the house. Adieu!” he cried to the departing crowd. “This sort of thing don’t quite suit country folk—now do it, Sally?”