Huddersfield Chronicle (03/Apr/1852) - An Awkward Dilemma

The following is a transcription of a historic newspaper article and may contain occasional errors. If the article was published prior to 1 June 1957, then the text is likely in the Public Domain.

Local Intelligence.

An Awkward Dilemma.

A few days ago a tramping vagrant, with a wooden leg, presented himself at the door of a beerhouse, in the village of Lindley, and craved admission. Boniface did not like the appearance of the applicant, and prevented any intrusion upon the sacredness of his taproom by closing the door. This treatment was not congenial to the temperament of the applicant, and he resented the indignity by lustily kicking the door with his wooden leg. The siege was vigorously sustained, until at last the leg broke in two, amidst the jeers and laughter of a crowd of onlookers. In the meantime the parish Dogberry arrived on the scene of action, and insisted upon our hero beating a retreat. "How can I," he responded, "without a leg?" The reason was admitted on all sides to be sound, and the crowd seemed to enjoy the scene admirably. During the parley between the parish functionary and the vanquished hero sundry sage suggestions were offered in order that the poor fellow might be enabled to obey the command, "Move on,” until at last, one more 'cute than his fellows, suggested a beesom shaft as a substitute for the broken leg ; and forthwith a beesom shaft was procured and spliced on to the stump, when our hero obeyed orders and marched off amidst the ironical congratulations of the bye-standers.