Page:Wren--The young stagers.djvu/170

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152
THE YOUNG STAGERS

more. Then, one day, almost before Lucy's understudy was cold in his grave and the laughter-tears of the Simple Villagers dry upon their cheeks, this Member—or Limb—of Parliament suddenly sent for the headman and told him, through his butler, that he was going to confer another blessing upon the village. The poor headman fetched an awful groan at hearing this good news, and said he felt that they ought to name the village after their benefactor.

"‘To-day I saw one of those Dread Scourges of your rivers, a terrible reptile that has battened and fattened upon you and your wives, your sons and your daughters, upon your flocks and herds, your men-servants and your maid-servants, your oxes and your asses, for ages. Make arrangements, tie up a calf or a goat by the water-side, and I will also slay this monster,' said he. Then he told his 'Travelling-butler' to translate exactly what he had said.

"‘The Sahib wants to shoot a mugger. Make bundobust," said the butler.

"‘But there is only one mugger in these parts,' said the poor headman. 'There is only Grand-