2.7: Another nasty letter

A week goes by. Now that it is nearing the end of August, there is more of a sense of Autumn. The sun sets early enough that some of the evening is now properly dark. There is talk of lighting one of the two stoves in the Potting Shed, soon. Masongill, in his muddy hollow, spends the middle of the night, at least, in blackness but, in truth, he does most of his night ‘watching’ of the Potting Shed by feeling for vibrations in the ground and through his keen sense of smell.

One morning, Alcock looks through the new edition of the local newspaper not expecting to find anything. But there is, in fact, another nasty letter from ‘Herbert’. It seems that the editor may have been unsure about publishing it but there it is.

Sir,

A lot of people are saying more bad and sad things about the loser Barman of the Swan Hotel. It pains me to report them but right minded readers of this newspaper will wish to know, before the elections, who is running (into the ground) one of their fine local pubs. Lock him up! Let’s make the Swan Hotel Great Again!

The Barman follows little bears

With pockets of jingling coins

Advancing age

Cannot assuage

The yearning in his loins

and

The Barman never wipes his bum.

It smells, as well it might... [DON’T PUBLISH THIS FILTH! ED.]

Herbert, honest reader