Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rudyard Kipling
new schooner’s bow, and Mr Springett was talking of barns A long pile of scaffold-planks ran down the centre of the
and houses he had built. He said he never forgot any stick or loft. Dan looked, and saw Hal o’ the Draft’s touzled head
stone he had ever handled, or any man, woman, or child he beyond them. [See ‘Hal o’ the Draft’ in Puck of Pook’s Hill.]
had ever met. just then he was very proud of the Village Hall ‘Be you the builder of the Village Hall?’ he asked of Mr
at the entrance of the village, which he had finished a few Springett.
weeks before.
‘I be,’ was the answer. ‘But if you want a job—’
‘An’ I don’t mind tellin’ you, Mus’ Dan,’ he said, ‘that the Hal laughed. ‘No, faith!’he said. ‘Only the Hall is as good
Hall will be my last job top of this mortal earth. I didn’t and honest a piece of work as I’ve ever run a rule over. So,
make ten pounds—no, nor yet five—out o’ the whole being born hereabouts, and being reckoned a master among
contrac’, but my name’s lettered on the foundation stone— masons, and accepted as a master mason, I made bold to pay
Ralph Springett, Builder—and the stone she’s bedded on four my brotherly respects to the builder.’
foot good concrete. If she shifts any time these five hundred ‘Aa—um!’ Mr Springett looked important. ‘I be a bit rusty,
years, I’ll sure-ly turn in my grave. I told the Lunnon architec’ but I’ll try ye!’
so when he come down to oversee my work.’
He asked Hal several curious questions, and the answers
‘What did he say?’ Dan was sandpapering the schooner’s must have pleased him, for he invited Hal to sit down. Hal
port bow.
moved up, always keeping behind the pile of planks so that
‘Nothing. The Hall ain’t more than one of his small jobs only his head showed, and sat down on a trestle in the dark
for him, but ‘tain’t small to me, an’ my name is cut and let- corner at the back of Mr Springett’s desk. He took no notice
tered, frontin’ the village street, I do hope an’ pray, for time of Dan, but talked at once to Mr Springett about bricks, and
everlastin’. You’ll want the little round file for that holler in cement, and lead and glass, and after a while Dan went on
her bow. Who’s there?’ Mr Springett turned stiffly in his chair. with his work. He knew Mr Springett was pleased, because
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