THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. FROM TIMBER TO TOWN Down in Egypt BY AN EARLY SETTLER CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG AND COMPANY 1891 COPYRIGHT BY A. C. McCLURG AND CO. A. D. 1891 TO THE PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, WHO REMAIN, AND TO THE MEMORY OF THE DEPARTED, THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED. 554976 CONTENTS. CHAPTER. PAGE. I. HOW I COM' TER 'R.ITE IT - - - 9 II. WHY WE MOVED TER A NEW KUNTRY 16 III. A MOVIN' 23 IV. POST OKE FLAT 31 V. Miss' GRIGS'ES .... 39 VI. THE FUST SUNDY - 48 VII. THE JONES'ES 53 VIII. OUR FUST YE'R IN THE NEW KUNTRY 61 IX. OUR FOKES ... 71 X. OLE DADDY SUGGS'ES FOKES - 81 XI. THE SETTELMUNT FOKES 90 XII. LISHY MENDEN'ALL, THE HARD SHELL 99 XIII. MEDDLERS MAKE A MATCH - - 104 XIV. LISHY'S Dora's - 114 XV. OUR MEETIN' HOUSE - ... 122 XVI. BLAZES AN' THE POST OKE FLATTERS 128 XVII. CAMP MEETIN' 138 XVIII. CAMP MEETIN' CONTINOOD - - 147 XIX. CAMP MEETIN' SUNDY - 155 XX. A GYARDEN THE CAMP GROUN' - 162 XXI. THE ATTACT AN' THE VICT'RY - - 170 XXII. PAUL WHEELRITE'S CLOSIN' SARMINT 182 XXIII. THE GRAN' MARCH AN' THE WINDIN' UP o' CAMP MEETIN' - - - 191 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER. PAGE. XXIV. CAMP MEETIN' EFFEC'S - - - 195 XXV. Mis' MENDEN'ALL'S VISIT - - 200 XXVI. THE CORN SHUCKIN' - - - 205 XXVII. THE DINNER - 214 XXVIII. 'PON 'ONOR 219 XXIX. PISGY 232 XXX. CRIPPLED AN' DISH'ARTEN'D - - 237 XXXI. MY FEVER AN' OUR NABURS - 249 XXXII. FATHER WINS - 257 XXXIII. OUTEN DARKNESS INTER LITE - - 266 XXXIV. TOWN FOKES AN' KUNTRY FOKES - 271 XXXV. ME AN' KIZZY - - - - 283 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. I. HOW i COM' TER 'RITE IT. One day, arter me an' mother wus a livin' by ourselves agin, our chillern all marri'd an' gon', one o' them ar scribblin' fellers step'd in wi' a paper he wanted me ter sine, a settin' forth thet he wus a gittin' the names o' the leedin' c'aracters o' the kounty wi' the intenshun o' ritin' a passel uv 'em up es ripresentives o' the balence, an' bring 'em out in a big book tergether wi' ther rale steal plate picturs. An' thet a havin' heern o' me es monstr'us well off, an' the bes' specumen uv a self-made man in the 'hole state, he'd call'd ter git my fotograf an' enny littel items ur fam'ly secrets not ginrally know'd, an' ud he'd me off an' rig me out in sich gran' style I'd scursely know my own self when he onct got me inter print, an' thet the book ud cost ten dollars, more ur less, 'cordin' ter the kiver, wi' a trifel extry fur the steal portrates. An' when he'd talk'd hisself cleen outen bre'th I tole him I wusn't a hankerin' arter a bein' sot up es no sorter specumen whatsomdever, thar a bein' plenty o' fittener'n men'n musself fur this 9 10 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. 'ere 'onor, ef they tuk it thet a way, whech I didn't, an' I sed them thet giv' me in es a self- made man wus monstr'us mistuk, sarcumstances an' uther fokes a havin' don' a site ter innocence my ways an' mo'ld me inter what I wus, good, bad ur indef'rent. An' I sed onct when I wus a lyin' low an' helpless, Providens tuk my tangeld affa'rs inter han' an' stratened 'em out 'an got 'em inter a thousan' times better shape than I'd a dar'd hope fur, ur wus in enny wise wurthy ter receeve. An' I tole him I'd never gon' off a sarchin' arter no fortin, thet whatsomdever sur plus I mout possess hed com' an' hunted me up, an' I cudn't say but I'd a bin better satisfide wi' less an' my ondevided farm then ter a seed it all cut up inter bildin' lots, an' thet the ole peece an' quiet ud a bin more ter my noshun then the noise o' the hissin', shreekin' injins an' the big masheen shops. An' thet when the Raleroders sent our Jeems ter ax fur rite o' way, I tole him I 'low'd ter fite ter the last agin enny change, fur mother's sake more'n my own, thet she'd allus stud up fa'r an' squar' an' don' more'n her sheer ter make the farm what it wus an' desarved ter live thar ondistarbed ter the eend o' her days. An' then mother sed mebbe 'tud be better fur ^is ter giv' in an' drift 'long sorter e'sy wi' the times then ter oppose 'em, kase the Ralerode wus boun' ter com' some-whars, an' the stren'th o' two ole fokes like us a tryin' ter keep back the new improvemunts, wudn't be o' no more fors HOW 1 COM 1 TER 'RITE IT. II then a cuppel o' straws agin the current o' the roarin' Massissippy in high water. An' I sed et this ere pint our Jeems, thet is a member o' the Legislator', he cheered his mother an' sot her ter a laffin' an' got inter sich high glee over her ilokence hisself it roused me inter a fit o' laffture, two, an' when we all sober'd down and talked things over agin, I tuk a defrent v'ew an' agreed ter grant rite o' way thru' my farm, an' thet ar wus how the Raleroders floor'd me. An' the scribbler sed he'd heern " Mr. Jeems Dean" wus a monstr'us pop'lar man an' allus run a long ways ahed o' his ticket. I agreed thet in this 'ere purtickler pint he'd been ritely informed an' thet I wus boun' ter say thet in a speechifyin' my boy hedn't menny ekals; an' thet whendever I crep' up onter the aidge o' the crowd teer heer him I ginrally hed ter back off, all uv a suddent, kase when he got warmed up onter one o' his tetchies' stranes, 'twus mos' enuff ter draw teers outen the hardes' an' onfeelinest rock; but I furder remark'd thet I wudn't a menshun'd this 'ere fac', ef the boy favor'd me, whech he didn't, a bein' patterned pine blank arter his mother's side o' the house. An' the scribbler peerin' ter be more intrusted in a makin' littel dots an' scratches onter a peece o' 'rappin* paper a lyin' on the tabel then in my talk, I sez: "Ef you've heern me (et whech he smiled an' nodded) ye know by this 'ere time I aint got no trumpet ter be blow'd ; an' es fur a pictur', 12 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. non' o' me aint never bin draw'd an' I aint a gwine ter run the resk o' smashin' nobody's masheen by a havin' narry one tuk now!" While I wus a talkin' he wus a fumblin' roun' 'mong a pile o' ole doggerytipes on the tabel, an' a haulin' out one 'o Brother Mose he declar'd 'twus pine blank like me, 'cep'the forrid, an' ax'd me ter squar' roun' an' keep stiddy an' he'd soon show me the defrence. An' in less'n no time he scratched off somethin' in his littel book mon strous like me, 'cordin' ter his own noshun an' mother's thet she beg'd him ter t'ar out an' giv' her, whech he promis'd ter send her arter a copyin' off the ritin' on tuther side when he got home, and ter do him jestis I mus' say he wus es good es his word, an' mother keeps it in her bible ter this 'ere vary day. But we cudn't make out what he call'd 'ritin', its a bein' more like bird tracts 'n ennything else. Wei', the pictur' wun mother over compleete an' when she ax'd ef I hedn't better sine fur the book I 'low'd I hed, a bein' convinc'd 'twusn't no use ter set up no argyments agin it, kase in the eend 'tud be a losin' bizness. Arter a satisfyin' musself that the yung man hed fell in wi' all I sed agin thar a bein' enny thing wuth 'ritin' up in my past doin's I sot my ortergraff down onter his paper in a big plane han' that mout a bin red cleen 'crost the room .an' tole him ter soot hisself 'bout the kin' o' kiver he clap'ed onter my book, and no complantes ud HOW I COM' TER 1 RITE IT. 13 be made when pay day com' roun', thet 'peered ter tickle him monstr'us. Then arter a foldin' up the 'rappin paper keerful like, he put it in side tuther'n an' a shovin' 'em both inter his brest pocket, he backed hisself down our frunt steps an' tuk off up the big rode, whech they now call " The Avenoo." Wei', a long time arterwurds, when I 'low'd the projec' o' 'ritin' fokes up hed fell thru, a stranger brung me a big, clumsy book an' show'd my name sined onter the ole paper thet I re cognized an' pade off my oblugashun an' started out squar' wi' the worl' agin. Arter supper, while mother wus out in the kitchen a washin' up her chany, a job she allus 'ten's ter herself, I sot musself down wi' the book, a thinkin' I'd like ter see what they said 'bout leedin' men, an hedn't more'n turn'd the fust leef when I kotch site o' my own portrate made arter the one the scribbler draw'd, a standin' out bole an' oncon- sarned like in the forgroun'. An' a lookin' furder I com' onter what I'd menshun'd ter the feller sketched out an' twisted roun' an' palaver'd over, a puffin' me up a site bigger'n life an' a thousan' times more onnateral, a paintin' me out es the sole o' truth an' 'onor, thet frum boyhood up hed allus putt my affa'rs inter the han's o' Providens an' never wus know'd ter utter what wusn't so, nur ter do a ac' o' injestis ter nobody; a pa'r o' wings an' a halloo bein' all thet wus needed ter blossom me out inter a full fledg'd angel. The 14 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. more I red, the redder I felt musself a gittin' in the face ontell the fi'ry sperrit o' my y'uth, thet I 'low'd hed gon' outen me ter stay, com' back, an' all uv a suddent I rased the book in both han's an' flung it, wi' full stren'th agin the furdes' wall, an' then mother com' a runnin' in an' axed ef somethin' hedn't drap'd. I said " more'n likely " an' pinted ter the book thet lay scatter'd on the flore, the back an' leaves a havin' parted comp'ny, an' tole her not ter sile her han's wi' thet ar trash. But peerin' not ter a heern me, she lifted the peeces up an' a puttin' 'em tergether monstr'us keerful like, lade the book onter the tabel, 'thout no quest'on nur remark. 'Twus some time arter a bein' brung out thet a way, 'fore I ventur'd ter face the publick, but purty soon a passel thet hed got ther books com' ter me wi' congratoolashuns, a mortifyin' an' ag- gervatin' me ter thet ar pitch I call'd my fam'ly tergether an' tole em somethin' hed ter be did. My y'unges' boy sed I orter file a cross bill by a 'ritin' musself up, an' et this 'ere they all jined tergether an' clamur'd fur me ter peece inter one big narrutiv' all the 'counts o' the ole pineers an' 'arly days I'd give 'em when they wus littel, an' putt musself in es leedin' man. An' I sed thar wus a monstr'us site o' defrence 'twix' tellin' a story an' a 'ritin' one out fur tother fokes ter reed, an' I cudn't ondertake nuthin' o' this 'ere kin' 'thout help, an' then Jeems up an' volunteer'd HOW 1 COM* TER 'RITE IT. 15 ter " ordit the 'counts ef father'll make 'em out," an' thet ar putt 'em all inter a monstr'us good 'umor. I tricle ter make 'em ser'os by sayin' when I 'rote musself up things mout com' out they'd ruther never a know'd, kase I wus boun' ter make a cleen bre'st o' ever'thing; but they only laffed louder'n ever, an' sed they wus all willin' ter take the resk. The upshot wus I bought me a quire o' paper an' putt on my studyin' cap an' started out ter 'rite wi' the idee I cud tell all I know'd an' turn the 'counts over ter Jeems ter be totch up in a few weeks; but I wus monst'rus mistuk, fokes an' sarcumstances a crowdin' in ontell now I've been a puttin' in the bigges' part o' my spar' time fur I dunno how menny ye'r an' jis reech'd the eend. But Jeems never wated fur me ter finish, a takin' holt from the vary start a stickin' ter me thru thick an' thin, a slingin' ink rite an' left hisself, a pepperin' in a site o' dots onter ever' page, a markin' off stoppin' places, an' a he'din' up startin' pints. Ter be es exac' es possubel I mout say I cut an' hewed all the raw materal an' got the bildin' inter shape, and Jeems putt on the finishin' tetches. A havin' bin druv inter takin' up my pen es a weepon o' self defens, I now lay it down agin wi' the satisfacshun thet et las' the truth hes bin tole an' jestis did, an' com' what may I aint a struttin' roun' in no cote o' ondesarved pra'se. II. WHY WE MOVED TER A NEW KUNTRY. Reckon ef father hedn't a bin a Purfesser we mout a lived in Ole Kaintuk ter this 'ere vary day, what's left uv us, onless we'd a emu- grated furder south, es som' o' our kin done, an' a busted up wi' the Confed'acy. I've heern tell o' them es bleeves what's a gwine ter happen is jes boun' ter happen eunyhoiv, an' ye can't man- oover ter git roun' it, no way, whatsom'dever, kase 'twus foreknow'd an' foreordaned from the beginnin'; but I've heern, two, that these 'ere uns deffers 'mong therselves ''bout the foreknowin' an' foreordanin', som' holdin' 'em ter be the same thing an' tutherns a contendin' it don't roller kase a thing wus foreknow'd 'twus foreordaned, two. They call this 'ere 'kin' o' fokes "Pur- destinaturs," an' say they're monstr'us stiff neck in whechever side o' ther own doctrin' they've tuk up wi'; but all I know 'bout 'em is frum heersay, a bein' a Methodis' musself, in full standin' fur a gwine on sixty ye'r. An' my bleef is, or orter be, thet man's a free agent left ter hisself ter choose 'twix' good an' evil, but some times it peers es ef a onseen power wus a actin' on sarcumstances an' a drivin' him inter one way ur tuther agin his own will. When I hinted 16 MOVED TER A NEW KUNTRT. l^ this 'ere idee ter our preecher he sed when a body started in ter speculatin' thar wasn't no tellin' whar he'd come out an' 'twus best ter keep a firm grip onter things we wus shore uv an' let tuthern's slide, an' thet es we hed ter walk by faith an' not by site in this 'ere trubbelsom' worl' 'twus best ter take things on trust an not bother our branes wi' what we don't onderstand. But wi' all his reasonin' I cudn't help a wonderin' ef our movin' hed bin foreknow'd ur foreordaned, an' how it mout a turn'd out ef purdestinated som' uther way. I'd heern father a talkin' things over wi' mother 'fore they'd made up ther min's ter leave ther ole home an' it peer'd ter me 'twusn't no free agency but a bein' druv by sar- cumstances. Wei', es I sed a bein' a Purfesser an' a havin' a monstr'us high temper allus a lyin' in wate ter pounce out onawares an' git the upper ban' when he wus aggervated, wus the cause o' father's movin' us off ter the new kuntry. I can't never forgit how when I was a chunk uv a boy, not more'n ten yer ole, he com' home late one nite arter us chillern wus in bed an' 'sposed ter be soun' asleep an' sot down ter his supper an' kep' a foolin' roun' his plate, a rattlin' his knife an' fork ter sorter purtend, but not a eatin' a single bite. Then he haul'd his cher inter the f urdes' corner o' the big fireplace an,' sot down an' drap'd his hed inter his han' 'thout a openin' uv his mouth. Mother wash'd up the deeshes, not a venturin' no remark nuther, her a knowin' 1 8 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. father never wanted ter be bother'd non' wi' questuns an' thet all creashun cudn't a got a word outen him, nohow, ontell he tuk a noshun ter speek hisself. Arter mother got thru the deeshes she swep' up the hath an' then tuk her knittin' an' sot herself off in tuther korner clost ter the jam whar she'd stuck our little lamp. Then father tuk down his han', all uv a suddent, an' a lookin' et mother monstr'us arnest axes* " Murlindy, what did I marry ye fur?" An' a speakin' up es esy an' naterales ef they'd bin aconvarsin' on this 'ere vary subjec' fur a hour mother sez: " Kase ye liked me a monstr'us site better'n enny gal ye'd ever seed afore in all yer born'd days ur 'spected ter see ef ye lived ter be a hunderd." " My pine blank words, but I'd cleen forgot 'em ! " sez father. "An' ye bleeved me?" "It f oilers I bleeved ye when ye sed it so monstr'us affectin' like an' blong'd ter the church inter the bargin ! " sez mother. "An' ye aint never hed no reeson ter change yer min' an' 'low I marrid ye fur what I kalc'lated I'd git 'long wi' ye?" " O' corse not!" sez mother, a spunkin' up. " Ef ye'd a bin arter propety thar was plenty o' rich gals in the settelmunt an' 'twus well know'd my sheer uv the farm ud not be much when 'twus divided up 'twixt me an' the two boys!" "Wei', Murlindy!" sez father, " the boys waylade me et the cross rodes terday an' flung inter my teeth thet I marrid ye fur yer sheer, a makin' me thet 'rothy I wus putt up ter all I know'd, a holdin' both fists clinch'd tite in my MOVED TER A NEW KUNTRT. 19 pockets ter keep frurn a givin' 'em both somethin' ter remember me by ter the eend o' ther days, an' thet ud a brung a reflecshun! 'Twus monstr'us hard ter stan' ther imperdence an' hole in, but I don' it, a tryin' ter argefy ter musself thet they wus both in licker. Then I left 'em a howlin' ther abuse arter me an' went ter ole Kernal Whitesides fur advice an' he sez, " Law 'em, ef it takes the farm, whech it's more'n likely 'tull do! " " But I cudn't bar ter think," sez father, " o' lawin' off the ole homested whar ye was all brung up, an' so menny o' yer fokes a lyin' berried thar in the ole orchard, an' hev it go inter the han's o' strangers fur nuthin'. Seems a pity the boys is so hot he'ded an' onreasonabel when all we ax is a settelmunt, the farm ter be 'praised by men es aint got no preference, the boys ter giv' ther j'int note fur yore sheer ter run es long es they say, an' ter pay in pussonal propety, ur money, frum yer ter yer, us ter giv' 'em our bond fur a deed ter yer sheer et fust, an' a quit clame when they take up ther note, an' then arbutrate furder on a dividin' up the nig gers. Ever'body thet's giv' a' pinyun sez we're a makin' 'em two good a offer, but wi' all my ree- sonin' and pursuadin' I aint never likely ter git nuthin' outen 'em but a fite, an' ef they crowd me two clost they may git more o' thet outen me then enny uv us barg'n fur!" An' then father's he'd fell inter his han's agin an' mother sez, " The boys orter be 'shamed o' therselves arter all you've don' ter help improve an' keep up the farm a 20 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. leavin' yer own work ter grub an' take in thet 'ar north fiel' when they wus off a frolickin'. But thet wus when they wus singel an' y'ung fokes mus' hev ther 'musement, an' we cud inflooence 'em a littel then, but arter they'd brung strange wimmin fokes inter the fam'ly 'twus def'rent, but I wudn't hint ter them o' ther wives faults for the worl', they've got ter live \vi' 'em an' not me, an' its my pinyun when fokes makes a bad barga'n in marryin' they orter stick the closter ter it ! " Father tuk down his ban' agin an' sez, " I 'low thet ar's the reeson ye're a stickin's so clost ter me, Murlindy!" Et this 'ere mother smiled an' shuk her he'd a keepin' rite on wi' her talk. " Rube's wife," sez she, " peers ter be sich a self will'd an' cravin' critter actooally a begredgin' me thet ar little chist o' things mother left me thet bed bin hern an' her mother's 'fore her an' thet she wanted allus kep' on the wimmin's side o' the fam'ly es airlooms, them a bein' nuthin' but a passel o' ole fash'on weddin' does, no arthly use ter nobody 'cep' es airlooms an' thet too arter her an' Jess'es wife hed tuk possesshun o' ever' other blessed thing thet blong'd ter mother an' me never a axin' 'em fur nuthin' nur a lettin' on how bad my feel- in's was hurt. An' Jess'es wife she tuk sides wi' Rube's an' argyd thet I orter devide. I didn't want ter be selfish but jis cudn't hev the hart ter act agin mother's will an' her gone, an' then she'd putt all o' them ar things inter the chist fur me, 'bout the las' day 'fore she tuk her bed fur good. MOVED TER A NEW KUNTRT. 21 Peers ter me when they're don' tormentin' us they're a gwine ter hev a split up 'mong ther- selves, onless Jess'es wife gives in ter Rube's, an' the wimmin 'ull agg the men on an' one fam'ly ur tuther ull hev ter move offen the ole plaice!" " I don't keer who aggs on nur what they do 'mong therselves ef we're not drug inter it!" sez father. " Ef I cud hev my way we'd move cleen off an' git shed o' the last one uv 'em!" " Thar wudn't be no missin' on narry side ef we did go!" sez mother, " them never a comin' neer'd us sense we've bin a tryin' ter settel an' me never a gwine nowhars onless shore uv a welcome!" " Mur- lindy ! " sez father, " I've bed som' monstr'us ser'os tho'ts sense the boys attact me ter day. Nex' time I moutn't be abel ter grip an' hole on ter musself an' things mout happen we'd all be sorry fur ter our dyin' day! You know the Bowies an' Carters begun ter quarrel over devidin' a peece o' land in ole Virginny an' its bin kep' up in two ur three ginerations an' a site o' blood's bin spilt 'twixt 'em, som' a bein' kill'd an' tuthern's crippeld an' the furs still a gwine on an' no tellin' whar 'tull eend. An' I've thot es all our four chillern is boys it mout be a good thing ter move off ter a new kuntry 'way frum hard feelin's an' let Rube an' Jess keep the farm. It can't run way nur be sold 'thout yore witness'd mark an' es the niggers is all kin ter one nuther an' I've heern ye say ye didn't want 'em siperated, let the boys keep them too. Wi' a willin' hart an' my strong pa'r o' ban's I 22 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. ken make a good livin' fur us all 'thout a havin' no flouts nur nuthin' an' show the boys I'm inde- penden', This 'ere's what I'd like ter do, but am afeer'd you'd think the hardships two grate ter ondergo, Murlindy, but I want ye ter reflec' it over fur a month ur two an' ef ye make up yer min' thet a way I'll do all I can ter make things esy fur ye!" While he wus a talkin' mother peer'd ter be a studyin' monstr'us hard, then she roll'd her knittin' tergether, sorter slow, an' a slip- pin' the ball onter the eend o' the needles riz an' a tip toein' stuck it up inter a high crack in the wall outen reech o' the littel uns fingers, then a turnin' roun' she sez, " Moses, no plaice aint a gwine ter be too hard fur me thet ull keep us all outen trubbel an' in the rite tract, an' ef ye say the word we'll pack up an' start off termorrer!" Et this 'ere father sprung up es ef a bomb bed exploded onder his cher an' a grabbin' both mother's ban's sez, "Hurra, Murlindy, ye've got the rite pluck an' air a wummin uv a thousan'!" III. A MOVIN'. The new kuntry fever'd raged in our nabur- hood, rite smart, an' a few scatterin' kases lied been tuk off wi' it, an' them thet moved 'em an' tuther'ns whech hed gone long outen curos'ty ter see the lay o' the land, com' back wi' big reports. An' when it got noised roun' thet the diseese hed struck father these 'ere uns use' ter com' an' lofe roun' our house ontell midnite, lots o' times, a spinnin' uv ther long yarns a picturin' out the purrarys monstr'us purty, the timber good, rivers an' criks a runnin' ever'whars handy, never falin' springs a gugglin' outen hills an' all sorts o' wile game es thick es muskeeters in Augus' a makin' ever'thing jis perfec' wi' no drawbacks, ontell father got ter a thinkin' 'tud be a wastin' time ter live enny longer in ole Kaintuk. An' ter putt the capsheef on, one man sed he'd heern tell o' plaices furder on whar thar wus pon's o' straned hunny an' flitter trees a growin' in the middel an' all a body hed ter do wus ter nock on a tree wi' one o' the poles, thet wus a lyin' thar handy, wi' a hook on the eend an' the flitters ud tumble off inter the pon' an' turn therselves over an' smeer up wi' hunny an' ye cud jus fish 'em out an' etc 'em. All 23 24 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. the fokes they mos' split ther sides a laffin' et this 'ere whopper, me es well es the balence, but our Jim thet wus the nex' younger'n me, he jis tuk ever' word fur gorspel truth a havin' ter be lick'd 'fore he'd giv' up an' take father's word thet the man wusn't only a funnin'. Wei', the crysis it arriv wi' father an' he begun on his priperashuns fur ter start. A rite smart o' them thet brag'd up the new kuntry hed giv' him ter onderstan' thet they wus a gwine ter take ther fam'lys an' go long two; but as the time draw'd nigh fust one an' then nuther back'd out ontell our fokes wus the only uns left. But thar never wusn't no back down nur back out ter father. Whendever he sot out ter do a thing it hed ter be done, 'thout thar wus som' monstr'us good reeson fur the contrairy an' in this 'ere kase ever'thing peer'd ter be a pintin' ter the new kuntry. Movin' 'taint no joke, es ever'body '11 bar witness thet's tried it. When we begun ter pull up stakes, tho' we hed so few things, I'd heern mother say offen, she was push'd ter git on wi 'em, now, all uv a suddent they peer'ed ter be sorter a growin' an' a multiplyin' onter our ban's. An' some two good ter throw 'way an' not good nuff ter giv' nobody an' no room ter pack 'em an' thar was a quan'dry. Our big kiver'd waggin was druv up an' left a standin' 'fore the dore so's mother cud superinten' the packin' an' hev things konveenent like when needed. Granny's littel chist wi' the reliks went in fust, sorter eendwise, an' our black warnut stan' A MOVIW. 25 nex', bottom up'ards on some ole quilts, the legs fill'd in wi' pillars, an' then nuther chist an' more beddin', mother 'rangin' 'em all monstr'us neet an' ord'ly like ontell father, a gittin' outen patiens, handed up things thet thick an' fast, 'twus'nt no time 'fore the waggin wus cram full an' lots o' truck still on the groun' Then father he sez, " Murlindy, ye see 'taint no use a gwine on thet a \vay. Ef ye spec' ter hev a plaice fur ever'thing an' ever'thing in its plaice, ye'll need a waggin es big es all outen dores! Git down an' /'// fin' room fur all o' these 'ere traps!" Mother clum' out a lookin' monstr'us diskurig'd an' father got in an' tuk holt o' things wi' a will, a stompin' on some an' a jammin' tuther'ns down an' a wedgin' in more purmiskis like ontell ever' blessed thing was pack'd an' a bed on top, whar mother an' the littel uns cud sleep when we hed ter camp out on the rode. Then he clum down onter the waggin tung ter rest hisself an' wipe the prespirashun offen his forrid, a lookin' tired but monstr'us well satisfide. An' mother a comin' outen the house he sez ter her, "Ye ken see, Murlindy, it takes a man purson ter fix things rite arter all. Wimmin fokes they's good nuff ter potter roun' an' ten' ter ther own littel chores in the house whar thar aint no kalcl^itin' nur nuthin', but when it comes ter a plannin' hed work like a lodin' up fur a move, they aint no 'count whatsomdever!" " But whar's the cookin' utenshils thet 'ull be needed three times a day on the rode?" axes mother, a sarchin' 26 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. all roun' thru the aidge o' things 'thout a findin' uv 'em. An' then it leeked out they'd all bin stow'd inter the bottom o' the waggin an' ever' solutary trap father'd pack'd jis hed ter be haul'd out an' loded in agin, a makin' uv him thet agger- vated his temper ud a bust out, afful, ef thar'd a bin ennybody ter blame but hisself. It peer'd cur'os ter me then, thet when father wus in sich a peck o' trubbel mother jis turn'd her back on him an' walk'd inter the house wi' sich a monstr'us cheerful countanance, but it's com' over me def 'rent sense I've got older an' hed rite smart o' expeerence wi' wimmin fokes musself. By noon we wus reddy fur ter start an' all our bes' fren's an' naburs they wus on ban' ter wisht us luck on our jurney, but none o' Uncle Rube nur Jess'es fokes never show'd ther faces on the plaice. When the water an' tar buckets wus hung onder the waggin an' the las' cher stack'd on wi' the balence behin', father he geer'd up two o' the fines' specumens o' boss flesh thet hed ever bin own'd in ole Kaintuk ter that ar per'od. Then mother clum in an' tuk the lines an' the three littel boys hus'led therselves up back o' her, an' father he le' down the bars an' turn'd our two cows an' calfs out an' a takin' his gun onter his sho'lder blow'd his horn, a bringin' all our houn's a jumpin' an' a caperin' roun' him wi' deef'nin' howls. Then our pursesshun tuk up the line o' march, me a"n' father a drivin' the stock an' a bringin' up A MOVIN\ 27 the r'ar an' the naburs a cheerin' ontell we pass'd over a hill cleen outen site. The fust nites we slep' in log cabins, thet we foun' ever' few mile on the rode, but arter a crossin' uv the river by the rope ferry we hed ter camp out in lonesome crik bottoms, whar we heern wile varmints a howlin' an' a screemin' in the dis tance, them sometimes a comin' neer'd 'nuff ter make our critters r'ar' an' plunge, es ef they'd brake loose frum the waggin wheels, whar they wus tied fur the nite. Father allus heap'd up plenty o' ded logs an' kep' 'em a blazin', a sendin' ther lite inter the dark woods a rite smart peece, him a knowin' nuthin' wud'n't com' two neer a fire. Them times we wus monstr'us glad ter see day- brake, an' arter brekfus an' feedin' wus over 'ud start on, a hopin' ter reech some sorter settelmunt 'fore nite, but ud offen travel days an' days 'thout a seein' a singel sole, an' then come' onter a clarin' in the timber whar thar wus a cabin an' a corn fiel'. Some o' them es lived in these 'ere plaices, peer'd cheerful like, a makin' the best o' ther sur- roundin's, an' tutherins wus monstr'us diskuridg'd an' wisht therselves back agin whar they'd started frum. Them es hed settled on swampy groun' or neer'd a crik bottom wus allus yaller es punkins wi' the mallary. But the wust thing wus the milksick, us sometimes a comin' whar fokes hed lost ever' hed o' ther stock wi' the diseese an' some o' the fokes hed tuk it from milk an' butter o'sick cows an' died. Nobody peer'd ter know what 28 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. caus'd the milksick, some 'lowin' 'twus a pisen yarb cattel got in a grazin' an' tutherens jis shore 'twus a min'ral in the salt licks. The prospec' wus monstr'us dishertnin' ter father, him never a heerin o' none o' these 'ere drawbacks 'fore he left ole Kaintuck, 'lowin' he cud make his home enny- whars in the new kuntry an' hev all its advantiges; but he'd bin mistuk an' thar wusn't nuthin' fur him ter do but jis push on an' fin' out things fur hisself es he went. All the fokes we met a comin' back from the fronteer peer'd ter agree on thinkin' a high ridge o' timber jis beyant the fust purrary wus monstr'us he'lthy, wi' rich sile, good springs an' a littel settelmunt started. Arter a heerin' o' this 'ere plaice father made up his min' ter lay his clame thar, ef it sooted him, an' j'urney'd on in better sperrets. One day while we wus a layin' by fur dinner we heern our dogs bark an' our critters nicker an' a lookin' seed two men a ridin' up outen the timber. A comin' neer they pass'd the time o' day wi' father an' tole him in a trav'lin' sorter crost kuntry they'd lost ther way, but a strackin' the rode et this 'ere plaice know'd by some ole blazes they pinted out on a big hick'ry an' a pin oke thet now they wusn't fur from Kiar Smith's in the Post Oke Flat. One o' the men wus a monstr'us big feller, 'peerently not more'n twenty yer ole, dark complect wi' snappin', rollin' black eyes an' long black ha'r a hangin' low down on ter his sho'lders an' he rid a he'vy iren gray. Tuthern 'A MOVIN\ 29 vvus a sandy he'ded feller 'peerin' ter be skeer'd o' the big un, never a takin' his yallerish blue eyes offen him, a stoppin' short in the middel uv enny- thing he started out fur ter say an' a takin' uv it back an' a mumblin' somethin' a body cudn't make out ef tuthern didn't chime in wi' him et onct, an' he rid a flisky, littel bay. They both wore buckskin huntin' shirts all fringed out roun' the aidges an' brown jeans pants ragged roun' the bottom an' ole slouch hats an' ther strong lether belts wus chuck full o' knives an' pistels. Father axed 'em ter lite off an' sheer our dinner o' corn bre'd, fride squir'l an' coffee, which they 'peer'd monstr'us willin' ter do, a eatin' es ef they hedn't tasted vittals fur a week. Then they tuk a look et our teem, examinin' both critters from hed ter foot, a openin' uv ther mouths an' a lookin' et ther huffs an' peerin' ter be struck wi' a monstr'us likin' fur the yunges' they banter'd father fur a trade a offerin' ter swap the gray fur him. Father not a fallin' in wi' the idee, they tride argyfyin' an' sed 'twus a pitty ter drive sich a fine anumal in a hevy waggin an' brake him down, thet he wusn't fit fur nuthin' but the saddle, thet the gray wus jis his age an' cud do more'n dubbel his work an' ud be wuth a duzzin o' ourn fur plowin' an' fam'ly use, him a bein' gentel es a lam' an' tuthern peerin' two high strung fur chillern ter han'le. Father still a holdin' off they offer'd boot an' sed ef he'd jis set his price, an' 'twusn't two steep, they'd take him up. Mother'd got the cookin' 30 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. things pack'd inter the waggin an' wus a standin' back o' the men, whar father cud see her, an' him sorter hesitatin' like she giv' him a monstr'us strate look thet settl'd his min' et onct an' he tole 'em he cudn't trade on no turms, whatsomdever. "Then," sez the big un, " es ye won't part wi' yer critter fur good, stranger, an' we're all a gwine the same rode, sposin' ye work mine es fur es Kiar Smith's an' I'll ride yourn an' give him a rest." Father 'peer'd ter be a konsiderin' this 'ere offer when he look'd mother's way agin an' her a frownin' an' a shakin' uv her he'd he kotch up his geerin' an' flung it on ter his critter in a hurry, an' sez, " Much obleege fur yer offer, but mine ud keep up sich a trubbelsome nickerin' ef siprated from his mate ye'd take no comfurt in a ridin' uv him!" 'Fore anserin' the big un swung hisself onter the gray an' a turnin' ter father sez, " Mebbe ye'll change yer min' 'fore we meet agin, 'kase I've tuk a monstr'us likin' ter yer critter an' ef I don't own him sometime 'twont be my fault!" Tuthern wus jis a bustin' out a laffin' when the big un shot him up, by a givin' the bay a cut wi' his whop an' both gallop'd up the rode 'thout no sorter " good by " nur thanks ter no body fur ther dinners. Arter they wus outen site mother sez, " I don' like the looks o' narry wun uv them ar men an' I'm mon str'us glad we're likely ter sleep in a settelmunt ter nite. IV. POST OKE FLAT. We druv inter the Post Oke Flat 'bout a 'our by sun, a fotchin up 'fore a log cabin bodiatiously kiver'd wi' wile varmint skins naled ever'whars, even onter the dores. The bildin' stud inside a cornfiel' clost ter the big rode, wi' a pannel o' the rale fence flung down low nuff fur a body ter step over, an' thar wus a log stabel 'crost the rode 'thout narry fence 'tall. The post oke trees wus monstr'us thick, but a bein' no onderbresh nur nuthin' a bodv cud see a long ways off on ever'side. On the north wus a stretch o' bar'n land extendin' milds an' milds an' then a eendin' up et a monstr'us high ridge o' timber. This 'ere wus one o' them ar purrarys we'd heern uv, an' it did peer monstr'us cur'us ter see sich a whoppin peece o' open kuntry a lyin' all tergether. But we hedn't much time ter look 'fore a pack o' dogs tore outen the cabin a yelpin' an' a makin' et our houn's fur a reg'lar pitch battel. Et the fust bark a crowd o' bushy he'ded wimmin fokes an' chillern fill'd up the dore, an' the nex' secant a quar lookin' man wi' a big club in his han' push'd his way thru 'em an' laid the licks rite an' left onter the dogs, a drivin' 'em back o' the house; 32 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. an' then two boys 'bout my size an' Jim's run out wi' sticks an' hel' the dogs et bay. They all wore buckskin soots an' koonskin caps, wi' the ring tales a hangin' down ther backs. The man wore lether moccasins but the boys wus b'arfooted an' ther cloes wus all shrunk an' srivelled es ef they'd bin wet an' got dried in the sun. When the dogs wus quieted down the man com' out ter the waggin' an' shuk han's wi' father an' sez " Howdy ! " " Howdy yerself ? " sez father. " Sorter middlin' ! " sez he. "Whar d' ye com' frum?" " Ole Kain- tuk!" sez father. "An' whar ye gwine?" "Ter hunt me a home in the new kuntry ! " sez father. " Ye've foun' the rite plaice!" sez the man. "What mout yer name be?" "Moses Dean!" sez father. "An' what's yourn?" Som' fokes calls me ' Post Oke Smith' ! " sez he, " but my rale name's ' Kiar'! Lite out wi' yer fokes an' bring in yer beddin'. My bunks is full but thar's room fur ye all on the flore, an' mebbe ye won't min' a hard bed ef its onder kiver. My fire place is big enuff fur all han's ter cook by an' no charges, ef you've got yer own purvishuns. An' mebbe you've got somethin' ter swop us fur a mess o' deer meet an' som'thin' else fur a drap o' peach brandy arter I've giv' the fust treet! I'm shore, stranger," he sez, " thet ye'll want ter lay yer clame in Post Oke Flat!" While the talk wus a gwine on mother'd bin a eyein' the dore whar bushy he'ds kep' a dodgin' back'ards an' forrids, an' new faces a mixin' in et POST OKE FLAT. 33 ever' change, an' she whispers ter father: "Less don't go in thar! One more nite a carnpin' out aint a gwine ter hurt us non'!" Then father stra'tened up an' tuk a good look et the crowd in the dore hisself thet made him jine in wi' mother 'thout no argyfyin', an' he thank'd Smith fur his horsepitality an' tole him he wus a gwine ter drive 'crost the rode an' onhitch an' make his fire an' then look 'rotin' an' git sich purvishuns es he cud spar' an' com' back an' swop 'em fur meet. While he wus a lookin' father jump'd often the waggin an' then he kotch holt o' the neer critter's bridel an' he'ded the teem fur a big hick'ry log not fur frum the stabel. Smith, a seein' father wus a man thet knowed his own min', jis' star'd a minnit an' then went an' fotch out a big shuvel o' live coles an' bilt us a rousin' fire agin the log, an' help'd father ongeer the critters an' tie 'em ter the waggin wheels. By this 'ere time mother'd got all the coffee an' salt we cud spar' reddy ter be traded off, an' father went ter Smith's house an' swopped 'em fur a ven'zon ham, an' me an' Jim brung water frum a spring in the fiel'. Our supper was cooked an' sot on one eend o' the log an' we wus all a drawin' up ter eat when we heern a loud clatterin' o' bosses huffs thet brung Smith's dogs out a barkin' wuss'n ever an' a runnin' towards the eend o' the big rode we'd com' by. An' purty soon we seed 'bout a duzzin men wi' guns on ther sho'lders ride up ter Smith's cabin, ther critters all in a lather. The fo'must, a mon- 3 34 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. str'us detarmin'd lookin' feller, peer'd ter be the leeder an' he hed a big quile o' rope on the horn o' his saddel. By the time they com' ter a halt father wus 'crost the rode wi' me an' our Jim et his heels an' Smith wi' his club an' boys wus a havin' a big row wi' ther dogs an' ourn thet hed jined, agin two fierce lookin' houn's a follerin' the strangers. When all the brutes wus silenc'd, the leeder ax'd Smith ef he'd seed ennybody on a big iern gray ur a littel bay pass by ter day. Smith pinted 'crost ter our teem, an' sed them wus the only critters thet hed bin 'long thet a way fur two days. 'Fore the stranger hed time ter open his mouth agin, father step'd up an' tole all he know'd 'bout the gray an' bay an' the men a ridin' 'em, a windin' up by a sayin' he'd bin mos' shore o' findin' 'em et Smith's. "We've tract 'em mite nigh heer!" sez the man, "but lost ther trail et the rocky branch et the corner o' the fiel' whar a passel o' cattel peer'd ter a gon' arter water an' made a lot o' fresh tracts. Them ar men tied one o' the river sett lers ter a tree an' left him ter starve an' stold his teem, an' som' o' the naburs foun' him more ded 'n alive an' the hue an' cry's bin rased agin the theeves fur an' nigh. Two days ago we com' onter whar they'd b'ilt a fire in a crik bottom an' then rid a long ways thru the water ter hide ther tract, but we foun' it agin, an' com' out onter the rode whar movers hed camp'd. Recon 'twus this POST OKE FLAT. 35 'ere man an' his fokes, an' the hoss theeves can't be fur off!" One o' Smith's boys thet wus a lis'nin' wi' mouth an' yers wide open spoke up an' sed two men bed com' thar a walkin' an' got drink an' vittals an' hedn't mor'n left when our fokes arriv'. Smith tride ter shet his boy up, but the leeder o' the gang shot him up, ontell they got a descripshun o' the men outen the boy thet agreed pine blank wi' the one father'd giv'. Then Smith brung his wife out an' him an' her sed both the men wus littel an' hedn't no purtickler complec' nur nuthin, not a bein' black ey'd nur sandy he'ded, but sorter midd- lin' like, an' Smith woun' up a sayin': " Ef ye'll foller the purrary rode ter the Widder Grigs'es ye'll fin' them ar two men a puttin' up et her house! They sed ther critters hed giv' out 'fore they left the river an' they wus a gwine ter let 'em rest thar ontell they went back frum ther visit ter one o' the furdes' fronteer settelments whar ther kin lived !" " A purty story ! " sez tuthern. " It's my pinyun these 'ere's the vary men we're arter! Git out yer critter, Smith, an' bring 'long yer dogs ter help ourn in the s'arch." " Lite off fust an' let my ole wummin cook ye up a bite an' hev som'thin' ter drink," sez Smith. " We've got our snack," sez tuthern, "but ye may giv' us a drap o' som'thin' ter wash the dust outen our throtes, an' then hurry up an' saddel yer critter! We'll take yer dogs an' this 'ere boy ter gide us an' see whech way them fellers tuk." 36 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. 'Twusn't long 'fore they wus off, Hank Smith an' the dogs in the leed, an' soon the dogs begun ter yelp an' howl es ef they'd struck a trail clost ter the rocky branch. Then Post Oke Smith, peerin' ter be in a monstr'us flurry 'bout som'thin', got onter his critter an' rode roun' tuther side o' the fiel' in a ded gallup. Es he rid off I overheern father tell mother the men wus reg'laters, an' 'twus his pinyun Smith wus a hidin' the hoss theeves; an' a drappin' his voice ter a whisper he sed som'thin' thet made mother look monstr'us skeerd, an' she sorter holler'd out: " Oh, no! no! not thet /" An' then he tried ter take back what he'd sed an' got mother ter go an' see Smith's wimmin fokes. 'Twusn't long 'fore she com' back an' sed thar wusn't no room in thet ar house fur visiters, 'kase fore big fam'lys wus a livin' thar wi' the Smiths, in ther one room, ontell ther own cabins wus b'ilt, an' they all peer'd ter hev ther siperat' lot o' cats an' dogs a mixin' in wi' the bushy he'ded chillern, a snarlin', scratchin' an' a fitm' tergether. Mother 'low'd Smith's wife mout a don' middlin' well ef she'd a hed a chance; but she 'peer'd monstr'us low sperreted an' dejected like, a lis'nin' ter ever' soun' an' sometimes a br'akin' off in the middle o' her talk an' a runnin' ter the dore ter look out. Tuther wimmin wus ruther def'rent, mother tho't, but the pore things all seem'd diskurig'd ur desprit, an' 'twusn't no wunder, 'kase ther ole men wus all a drinkin', carousin' set, frum what she cud gether, an' the POST OKE FLAT. 37 chillern a growin' up wile tergether like a passel o' ill weeds. When our beds wus reddy me an' father lay down onder the waggin, es usooal, an' tuther'ns inside. It was a monstr'us brite an' purty nite, the full moon a shinin' and the spring frogs a singin' in chune an' outen chune. Dunno what wus the matter, but non' o' our fokes 'peer'd ter be in the 'umor fur sleepin'. Me an' father kep' a rollin' an' a tossin' all nite, an' 'bout daybrake mother clum outen the waggin an' sot ter onkiverin the coles ter make the fire, but father got ahe'd wi' thet ar job an' then fed his critters while she cook'd brekfus'. When father was a geerin' his teem fur a airly start, the reg'laters rid up a leedin' the littel bay an' the iern gray, but the theeves wusn't wi' 'em. I looked fur the quile o' rope, but 'twusn't on non' o' the men's saddels, nur ther critters nuther. Smith brung up the r'ar, a ridin' 'long wi' his eyes on the groun', not a tetchin' his bridel nur a knowin' whar he wus a gwine ontell he wus brung cleen up agin his stabel, an' then he kotch up his ranes an' g'ided his critter ter whar tuther'ns wus a litin offen theirn. Father tole me an' Jim ter stay whar we wus, an' went an' had a talk wi' one o' the men, an' then 'com' back an' 'thout a sayin' nuthin' 'bout what he'd heern, 'peer'd ter be in a monstr'us hurry ter git us started on our j'urney. 'Twusn't long 'fore we sot out an' soon the rode fotch us onter a littel rise frum whar we cud see 3^ FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. the 'hole purrary from one eend ter tuther, an' 'twus a monstr'us purty site. The high ridge on the furder side stretch'd cleen 'crost, a formin' a backgroun' ter the land thet wus a rollin' like cleen over ter the Post Oke Flat side, whar 'twus midd- lin' level. An' thar wus the rode a windin' an' a windin', sometimes los' ter v'ew an' then a comin' inter site agin ; two narrer paths wi' a littel green strip in the middel, whar the new grass hed com' up, gwine over an' 'roun' one littel hill arter 'nuther, an' then a long strate peece a sorter bridgin' the hills tergether. Es we druv on we com' ter plenty o' yaller willers a growin' 'long the branches, but never seed no uther trees ontell we com' ter a lone sicamore, 'bout a mile frum the Ridge by the side o' the rode clost ter a cl'ar littel spring whar movers allus 'peer'd ter stop, a jedgin' frum the litter scatter'd 'roun'. 'Twus a gittin' on inter the arternoon when we reech'd this 'ere plaice, but father onhitch'd his critters an' fed 'em an' mother peec'd out all the odds an' eends o' pur- vishuns she hed left an' giv' us a tol'ble meal. An' then we pack'd up an' started on agin, a hopin' ter fin' fokes wi' vittals ter spar' an' a rufe ter shelter us fur the nite. V. MIS GRIGS'ES. A pushin' on we com' arter while ter a corn fiel' extendin' inter the aidge o' the purrary an' a follerin' the rode thet led 'long the left side o' the rale fence we passed thru a fine growth o' timber an' out inter a clarin' on top o' the Ridge, whar in a lookin' back a body cud see the hole purrary cleen ter Post Oke Flat. In the upper eend o' the corn fiel' thar wus a peech orchard, in full bloom, an' two log cabins 'bout twenty foot apart, an' a big smokehouse wi' the rufe a perjectin' out in front an' a formin' a shed, an' onder the shed a lot o' geerin' an' things wus a hangin' an' on one side o' the smokehouse thar wus a dubbel row o' beegums an' on tuther'n a rite smart o' koon an' deer skins wus naled up, but non' on the cabins. In frunt o' the bildin's the fence wus stake an' rider'd an' thar wus a neet pa'r o' bars, an' purty neer 'em a big waterin' troft' made outen a enormus log hew'd monstr'us wide an' deep, an' a long line o' littel trofts jined tergether brung the water frum a spring back o' the houses. An' crost the rode wus a good size log stabel an' crib wi' 39 40 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. a shed twixt 'em surround' by a high fence wi' bars an' in the r'ar a pastur full o' trees. Es we druv up we seed a monstr'us ple'sant lookin' wummin a warpin' a peece o' cloth agin the oldes' cabin, whar she'd sot up her warpin' bars, an' two peert lookin fellers, narry one much bigger'n me, a rakin' up the dry leeves an' chips in the yard inter littel heeps fur burnin'. When they seed we wus a gwine ter halt, the boys kotch ther dogs an' shot' em up in the smoke house an' the wummin le' down one o' the bars an' a creepin' thru com' a smilin' out ter us an' shuk ban's all roun' es fr'en'ly es ef she'd know'd us all our lives an' bin expectin' us a month. Father ax'd ef she wus the Widder Grigs an' she sed " Yes " an' then he ax'd ef we cud git ter stay all nite, an' she sed we wus a thousan' times welcom' an' ter unlode sich things es we'd need over Sundy an' then fur father ter drive crost the rode onder the shed an' her boys ud help him ter git feed fur his critters. While mother wus a rumagin' thru the waggin ter fin' ever'thing she wanted, Mis' Grigs kep' up her talk wi' father, a tellin' him her an' the boys wus a livin thar 'thout no man person nur nuthin' roun', wi' no comp'ny but the dogs, an' wus allus monstr'us glad ter see movers com' 'long. She sed she bed twin brothers settel'd a peece back in the timber, but not neerd miff ter be no purtecshun ter her an' the boys ef they needed it, whech she low'd they didn't, kase the dogs wus so monstr'us feerce MIS 1 GRIGS'ES. 41 o' nites, but sometimes 'twus lonesom' like an' allus a treet ter see fokes. Then father not ter be outdid tole his name an' whar he com' frum, an' giv' a rite smart o' uther infurmashun 'bout hisself, an' by thet ar time mother'd got all her traps hunted up an' Mis' Grigs tuk holt an' help'd us ter pack 'em inter the newes' cabin. The fust thing thet kotch my eye, es we passed thru the open dore, wus the tea-kittel a hangin' frum a big iern hook fasten'd outer a high wooden crane, an' a bilin' over inter the fire. Mis' Grigs ax'd mother ter se' down an' then, arter a shovin' the tea-kittel back, went out an' tuk her warpin' offen the bars an' hung it in the smokehouse an' com' back wi' a big wooden tray full o' corn meal an' a side o' bakin an' sot 'em onter the table, an' then sharpen'd up a butcher knife on one o' the jam's. Arter a gittin a good aidge onter the blade, she turn'd roun' ter mother an' tole her she wus monstr'us sorry thet she hedn't a grane o' coffee in the house ; thet 'bout two weeks afore a sick nabur a livin' back in the timber hed sent over an borry'd her cleen out, an' thet she'd hed ter substitoot home made drinks ontell her brothers cud git time ter go off ter a littel store et " The Forks " wi' ther prodjuce an' hern an' buy coffee an' things. She sed thet ar a bilin' in the tea-kittel wus red sarsi- fack root tea thet she used turn 'bout wi' sage tea, herself, but kep' the boys on the sarsifack alter- gether, kase 'twus sich a monstr'us good thing fur chillern in the spring o' the ye'r ter bring out enny 43 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. sorter 'umors thet mout be a hangin' 'roun 'em. She sed som' fokes giv' brimstone but her boys cudn't stummick it, an' peer'd like a pitty ter giv' truck thet went agin the grane when thar wus somethin' else thet ud do the work jis es well, an' thet she'd obsarved y'ung uns ud take holt o' mos' ennything thet wus giv' 'em es vittals an' thet red sarsif ack tea fix'd up wi' milk an' sweetnin' wusn't a drink ter be grin'd et by nobody. Then she pinted et our two littelst an' sed they look'd sorter puny, an' peeked like an' she hedn't no dou't whatsomdever, thet the tea ud bring 'em out mon- str'us peert in less'n no time. Mother 'low'd she was rite an' thet her bigger boys ud relish the tea monstr'us well two, thet I wus glad ter heer mother say, kase thar wus a good sorter odure a comin' frum the spout o' the tea-kittel an' a fillin' the room. Then mother brung a Dig sack o' parch'd coffee an' nuther o' shugger an' laid 'em onter the tabel an' tole Mis' Grigs ter help herself, an' Mis' Grigs 'peer'd monstr'us tickeled an' sed they'd splice an' hev a tip top supper; thet she bed plenty o' aigs an' meal an bakin. Then mother roll'd up her sleeves ter help wi' the cookin' an' kotch up the butcher knife an' a whackin' inter the bakin sed she bed a long handel'd fryin' pan an' ud cook the meat. When she'd got the fust slices on ter fryin' she filled up Mis' Grigs'es mill an' sot me ter grindin' coffee, an' then went an' turn'd the bakin thet wus a sizzlin' an' a brownin' over the MIS' GRIGS 'ES. 43 iiot fire. Mis' Grigs wusn't behin' ban' wi' her part, nuther, a mixin' the meal wi' milk an' aigs an' a heetin' up her skillet an' ourn on red hot coles, an' a meltin' lard in 'em she turn'd it bilin' hot inter the tray an' a givin' the dough a quick stir pour'd it inter the skillets an' kivered 'em wi' the leds thet bed bin on the fire, an' putt big shuvels o' coles on top o' them. Then Mis' Grigs wash'd out her bre'd tray an' hung it up outside the dore, an' a takin' the coffee pot offen a peg onder the dresser, she putt the coffee I'd groun' inter it an' broke a hole aig, shell an' all in, an' arter a shakin' an' a mixin' it well wi' the coffee, she pour'd the pot full o bilin' water an' sot it onter a pile o' hot coles; an' then she drug the tabel inter the middel o' the flore an' sot it wi' her blue aidged plates an' ourn thet match'd pine blank. Mother she went on a fryin' meet, a pilin' up one panfull onter nuther in layers, sorter cross- ways, on a big deesh 'fore the fire, ontell 't peer'd cs ef she'd cook'd nuff fur half a dozen fam'lys es big es ourn an' Mis' Grigs'es putt tergether. When the las' slice wus don' brown she tuk it up an' pored inter the hot fat a mixter o' aigs an' milk thet sizz'd an' sputter'd an' wus shuk roun' an' then turn'd out inter a big yaller bole, sich gravy I've never seed the beet uv ter this 'ere vary day noivhars. Then Mis' Grigs tuk the hooks an' swung up the skillet leds an' turn'd the ashes off an' sot 'em agin one of the jams ter cool, an' then 44 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. she run a knife roun' the bre'd an' lifted it out, brown an' steemin' hot, onter two plates an' sot 'em on the tabel 'long side o' the gravy bole. Then mother putt the big meet deesh in the center, an' Mis' Grigs sot the coffee pot on Mother's side o' the tabel an' a big pitcher o' red sarsifack tea on hern, an' by this 'ere time father an' Mis' Grigs'es boys bed com' in an' all ban's wus ax'd ter " set up ter supper," the big uns a occerpyin' chers an' the littelest uns a standin' ter bring ther- selves up ter a level wi' the tabel. When all wus in ther plaices, Mis' Grigs drop'd her he'd an' ax'd a blessin' an' when father jined in on the "Amen" she 'peer'd monstr'us well pleesed an' sed she'd bin on the pint o' callin' on him ter ax the blessin' hisself, but a havin' bin refused so offen, an' some times in a sorter disrespec'ful way, she'd got ter beein' keerful wi' strangers ontell she know'd, fur certing, w r hich side they wus on. Mis' Grigs wus a cuttin' the bre'd while a talkin' an' the meet deesh wus a surculatin' roun' the tabel f oller'd clost by the gravy bole, the red sarsifack tea an' the coffee a bringin' up the r'ar, no time a bein' lost, an' when ever'body wus sattusfide a cleen sweep hed bin made o' the las' blessed thing Mis' Grigs an' mother'd cook'd. Arter supper me an' Mis' Grigs'es Dave an' Nate tuk a walk roun' the yard. The whupperwills wus a hollerin' s'rill 'nuff ter split ther throtes an' thar wus a smell o' burnin' chips, the smoke a makin' the a'r hazy an' a big ring wi' fore stars inside surcel'd roun' the moon, MIS 1 GRfGS'ES. 45 thet Nate sed show'd thar'd be fallin' wether in fore days shore onless the sine failed. 'Bout then thar wus a gin'ral dog fite over the cole water corn dodgers Mis' Grigs hed cook'd an' throw'd out. Our ole liver color'd houn' " True '* an' Mis' Grigs'es black an' tan "Sound" they he'ded the scrimmage, narry one a givin' in ontell we'd mos' broke ther he'ds wi' the cloes paddels,. an' arter thet ar nite these two dogs wus allus monstr'us good fr'ens. Our ole " True " he got his name fur allus a bein' ded shore 'fore a startin' on a trale, sometimes a sniffin' an' a huntin' roun' ontell tuther dogs wus ha'f a mile off 'fore a startin' hisself, but they wus gin'rally on the tract o' somethin' not wuth follerin', but when " True " giv' his deep yelp an' started a body know'd thar wus game ahe'd, an purty soon tuther dogs hed ter sneek back an' set out ag'in behin' him. Mis' Grigs'es boys sed the way the'r dog got his name wus kase he allus sounded the alarm when wile varmints com' roun' o' nites arter the chickens an* they allus bedded him onder the hen-house, an* onct he got inter a tussel wi' a wile cat an' hel' on ontell Dave brung his gun an' shot it. By the time we'd got the dogs sorter riconciled ter eatin' ther corn dodger tergether in peece, Jim wus sent out ter fotch us ter prayers. When we went in' an' all wus seeted, Mis' Grigs ax'd father ter leed, an' he got up an' a facin' roun' hel' onter the back o' his cher wi' one han' ter sorter stiddy his self, an' giv' out a him an' pitch'd it an' Mis' Grigs 46 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. an' mother jined in, an' when they'd sung it thru we all knelt down an' father started out on his prayer. 'Fore he got well onder way I know'd he'd bin tuk holt uv, kase he putt in sich a power o' new words. Dunno es I orter call 'em new words, nuther, a seein' he'd bin a usin' uv' 'em off an' on ever' sense I cud fust ricollec'; but, them ar words wusn't never putt inter no ever'day pur- tishuns, but jis sorter saved up fur onooshal oc- cashuns. An' when father started out wi', "Frum everlastin' ter everlastin' " I know'd 'tud be long, an' ever' blessed word boun' ter com', an' a bein' tired, I jis settled down onter one foot still an' patien' like, a knowin' father wus monstr'us thank ful thet our j'urney'd eended et sich a good plaice, an' wus a doin' his level best ter show his grati- tood. 'Fore father'd pray'd ten words, I seed Jim prick up his yers an' lis'en, then 'peerin' ter a made up his min' how 'twus a gwine, he kotch up Mis' Grigs'es cat an' went ter a foolin' wi' it ter kill time. But father, bleevin' in watchin' es well es prayin', was on the lookout an' a reechin' over he giv' Jim a sudding cuff on the yer thet made him south ter set down in the kingdom prepar'd fur 'em frum the foundashun o' the worl'. Arter they'd sung an' march'd a long spell Paul Wheel- rite stop'd an' when Joel an' the ex'orter com' roun' they he'ded in an' the bigges' part o' the fokes wus got inter the alter an' onter the benches, 13 194 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. then Paul stud up in the stand an' purnounced the benedicshun, but by this 'ere time the shoutin' hed got ter thet ar pitch monstr'us few heern him. Then his critter wus brung in frunt o' Lishy Menden'all's camp an' arter a puttin' his Bibel an' him book inter his big trav'lin' bags, he flung 'em enter the saddel an' strap'd his overcote in a roll behin'. Then a mountin' he rid off, a site o' fokes a follerin' him ter the big rode whar he stop'd an' a liftin' up his ban's purnounc'd nuther blessin' on 'em an' canter'd off to'ards the purrary, a leevin' tuther preechers ter ca'm down the fokes an' win' up the meetin', but the fust cudn't be did, an' a site o' wimmin fokes hed ter be loded inter wag- gins a shoutin' an' rejoicin', an' som' o' the men started off home a drivin' ther oxens an' a singin' et the top o' ther voices. XXIV. CAMP MEETIN' EFFEC'S. 'Twus days 'fore camp meetin' soun : s 'peer'd fer die out an' weeks 'fore fokes got settel'd down agin inter ther ole life. Ever' beller uv a oxen, ever' howl uv a dog ur blate uv a lam' sounded in a body's yers like singin' an' shoutin' an' 'twus a monstr'us releef ter hev this 'ere over an' ever'- thing nateral like onct more. Our Jim fell inter father's ways, never a givin' him a grane o' onee- siness nur trubbel no more frum the nite he pur- fessed, an' the naburs 'peer'd ter forgit he'd ever don' 'rong an' soon he wusn't nuthin' but a gin'ral favoright in all the settelmunt. An' whendever Paul Wheelrite com' roun' he made our house hedquarters, peerently ter be wi' Jim; an' he organized naburhood prayer meetin's ter sorter bring all y'ung convarts forrids an' help 'em ter take up ther cross in public an' git well started in the good way they'd sot out ter travel. Some times Paul stop'd an' preech'd a sarmint in Post Oke Flat an' then made reg'lar 'pintments thar fur Ole Daddy Suggs, ever' two weeks, an' 'twusn't long 'fore the bigges' part o' the Flatters wus tuk inter meetin' an' then they went an' plow'd up ther tract an' non' uv 'em wus never know'd ter 196 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. boss race agin. Lem Tanksly he got inter trubbel on the river, 'bout a helpin' kidnap a passel o' free niggers, an' a sellin' 'em down south, an' wus ja'led som'whars in Tennysy, an' the hoss theeves never show'd ther faces in non' o' the settelmunts agin. 'Twusn't long 'fore a monstr'us good fam'ly moved in an' lade ther clame not fur frum Kiar Smith's an' thet ar wus the beginnin' uv a better kin' o' fokes in Post Oke Flat. The oldes' son' o' these 'ere new comers ust ter ride over ter our meetin's ever' Sundy wi' Bird Wadkins an' the Smith boys an' him an' Becky Suggs tuk sich a monstr'us likin' ter one nuther, frum the fust, 'twusn't no time 'fore they wus promis'd an' thet ar 'peer'd ter start up a site more ter 'rangin' ther matteramonyal affa'rs. Josiar Simson' hangin' roun' arter Kizzy made Zurrildy Prigmore spunk up an' fling him overbord altergether, a givin' Tobe the pref'rence, a takin' ban's an' a startin' off wi' him ter the spring while Josiar hisself wus a talkin' ter her. Then Wesly Suggs an' Sally Ann Jones com' out bole an' inderpenden' like an' Elick Jones he made up ter Patsy Briggs an' thet ar agged on tuther'ns an' thar got ter be sich a big purceshun a gwine ter the spring holdin' ban's, 'twix' meetin's, a body bed ter back out inter the bresh an' stan' thursty a long time 'fore they all got ther turn et the gourd an' started back ter meetin' agin. The fust Sundy arter camp meetin' I wus on the groun' 'arly fur privat' reesons not know'd ter CAMP MEETIN 1 EFFECTS. iqj nobody but musself. Arter a hitchin' Blazes I sot clown onter a ole log commandin' a good v'ew o' the big rode on the Menden'all side an' 'twusn't long 'fore I seed a passel o' fokes a comin', Lishy Menden'all a steppin' high an' dry 'twix' two wimmin fokes, his big brass buttons a shinin' an' his tung a waggin', es I know'd by the way his hed kep' a turnin' frum one side ter tuther, pine blank like a bird a lis'nin' fur thunder. Es they com' neerder I seed 'twusn't Kizzy wi' him an' Mis' Menden'all, but her mother thet moved like a y'ung gal wi' her hed monstr'us high an' thet proud an' hau'ty 'peer'd es ef she disdaned the groun' she walk'd on. I got back by a short cut 'fore they com' inter meetin' an' when Josiar Simson seed 'em he drap'd his hed an' 'peer'd so monstr'us disappinted an' downh'arted it sorter riconciled me ter the absens o' Kizzy. Her mother tuk her seet 'thout turnin' her hed rite ur left an' kep' her sparklin' cole black eyes fix'd on Ole Daddy Suggs thru the 'hole sarmint, but didn't 'peer es ef she seed him but wus obsarvin' some- thin' a fur ways off in the distans. When meetin' wus over she went back up the big rode by her self 'thout sayin' nuthin' ter nobody, fokes a lookin' arter her es ef they seed a appurishun. Lishy an' Mis' Menden'all hed brung ther snack, like most o' tuther'ns, an' stade fur evenin' preechin'. Arter the usooal marchin' ter the spring an' back fokes went inter meetin' an' while the fust him wus a bein' lined off I seed Kizzy step over the dore sill 198 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. w' a chunk uv a boy thet favor'd her monstr'us. She hed on a white dress an' a white ruffled sun- bonnet tied behin' wi' a blue ribbing an' wus sorter flush'd up frum a walkin' fast an' a fannin' her self wi' her hankicher dubbled over a withe bent inter a bow. Josiar Simson hed jis stretched his mouth ter sing when he kotch site o' Kizzy an' then he britened up ter thet ar pitch it mos' run me distracted, an' ter make matters wuss, when Kizzy sot down he moved 'roun' ter whar he cud look inter her face, an' me off in the furdes' eend o' the meetin' house not a gittin' a glim'se o' nuthin' but the blue ribbing on the back o' her bonnet. Then they stud up an' sung, but Josiar's voice wus thet hateful an' agger vatin' ter me I cudn't think uv its bein' like nuthin' but a big, drony bumbel bee a buzzin' in a hogsit, only louder. Lishy an' his tenurs wusn't much better nuther, all uv 'em 'peerin' ter be a singin' outen chune, but mebbe I wus outen chune musself, fur when the tribbel struck in an' Kizzy's voice flo'ted sweet an' cl'ar 'bove the rest it lifted me up cleen outen all my hateful feelin's an' made me want ter be a better man an' more wurthy o' her, kase I jis know'd one thet cud create sich hevingly music mus' be good an' true herself. Arter meetin' Josiar got a invite frum Lishy ter go home wi' him an' they all started off tergether, Josiar a leedin' his critter an' a tryin' ter sidel up ter Kizzy. They passed me es I wus ontyin' Blazes an' Kizzy giv' me a monstr'us fr'en'ly look thet nobody CAMP MEETIN' EFFECTS. 199 obsarved but musself, an' then somehow she got in 'twix' Mis' Menden'all an' her brother, a leevin' Josiar no choice but ter accommerdate hisself ter Lishy's comp'ny all the way home. When the prayer meetin's wus started our Jim got thet ilokent ever'body wonder'd how a pore backwoods boy thet cudn't reed a word in the Bibel cud putt up sich purtishuns. An' a site o' fokes com' ter father an' tole him it bed bin sorter impress'd on 'em thet our Jim orter be a preecher, but father ax'd 'em never ter menshun the subjec' ter Jim, a holdin' thet ef he wus ter be call'd ter preech the gorspel he orter heer the onmistakabel summuns hisself, an' not hev nobody else a heerin' uv it fur him. Dunno what Paul Wheelrite tho't, but arter corn getherin' time he got father's con sent fur Jim ter travel roun' an' ten' meetin's wi' him fur the winter, a promisin' ter larn him his books. XXV. MIS' MENDEN'ALL'S VISIT. One monstr'us purty day in October Mis' Menden'all she mounted her critter an' com' over ter make our fokes a visit. She hed a site ter say 'bout camp meetin', the good it don' an' how lucky 'twus fur her thet Mis' Reed an' Kizzy happen'd 'long 'bout then, them a bein' abel ter turn ther han's ter ennything an' a takin' holt f rum the vary fust es ef they'd allus bin uster the plaice, never a wantin' her ter tetch a blessed thing. An' she sed when they got onter the camp groun' Kizzy kep' things a gwine on thet smooth a gittin' up ever' mornin' soon arter daybrake, allus a shuvin' the work ahe'd an' never a lettin' it git behin' ter push so it 'peer'd thar wus time fur ever'thing. An' she sed Kizzy allus sent her out ter preechin' when the horn blow'd, a sayin' she cud heer all the sing- in' while she wus a cl'arin' up the brekf us' things an' set behin' the blanket et the dore an' peel her taters an' turnups fur dinner an' ketch might' nigh ever' word o', preechin'; an' thet ef a lot more fokes than wus expected com' in et meal time an' the vittals wus likely ter run short Kizzy'd stur up a pan o' batter an' peece out wi' flitters an' fry up a passel o' aigs in no time, 'thout the scurcity 200 MIS' MENDEN'ALL'S VISIT. 2OI ever a bein' notis'd. An' she sed 'twus onpossibel ter tell all the good she got outen meetin' jis kase Kizzy wus so forehanded an' tho'tf ul uv her, never 'lowin' her ter be bother'd 'bout nuthin'. Then a turnin' ter me all uv a suddent she sez: " Thar's the gal fur you, Jack!" The remark flustrated me monstr'us, but mebbe I cud a ans'er'd some- thin' ef when I look'd up I hedn't a seed our Mose a bracin' hisself agin the dore facin' a grin- nin' an' a pokin' his tung out et me. I frown'd, monstr'us cross, an' then he kick'd up his heels, like a y'ung colt, an' bolted outen the house. Recon they all tho't I wus mad thet Mis' Menden'all hed banter'd me thet a way, kase father spoke up quick an' sed he s'posed Jack was cut out fur a reg'lar ole bach'lor, kase he never seem'd ter keer nuthin' fur the soci'ty o' y'ungsters. Then mother ax'd whar the Reed's com' frum, an' Mis' Menden'all sed frum one o' the furdes' frunteer settelmunts, thet the father died out thar an' the fam'ly wus a makin' ther way back ter ole Kaintuk ter Mis' Reed's peepel, thet wus in good sarcumstance, thet they'd got som' fokes a gwine the same way ter move 'em, an' while they wus on the rode the littelest Reed boy wus tuk down wi' fever'n ager an' they hauled him ontell the joltin' o' the waggin mite nigh run him distracted an' then they reech'd her house an' stop'd. An' she sed tuther fam'ly wated a few days, an' a seein' the boy wusn't likely ter be no better soon, started on arter onlodin' the Reed's littel han'ful o' househole utenshils an' bed- 202 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. din', An' thet ever'thing thet b'longed ter 'em wus neet es a pin an' ther few cloes well made an' mended up mos' like new. An' she declar'd she'd never com' crost sich larned fokes in all her born'd days, ever' one uv 'em, even down ter the littlest boy, a bein' abel ter reed in the Bibel thet glib it mos' made a body's he'd swim ter heer 'em, an' they know'd a power o' hims by hart an' cud all sing, but what wus the stranges' thing, she sed, this 'ere book larnin' hedn't spiled 'em non', all uv 'em a bein' tip top workers. Mis' Menden'all sed she kinder tho't the father didn't know much but books, an' thet the mother'd bed ter do weevin' an' all sich work ter keep up the fam'ly, an' thet onct when she ax'd Mis' Reed whar she'd larnt ter do so menny things she sed one plaice an' nuther sense she wus marrid, thet her fokes bed lots o' niggers an' she wusn't brung up ter work. Mother ax'd Mis' Menden'all ef the Reeds wus a gwine ter winter wi' her an' Lishy an' she sed she wus afeer'd not, tho' she'd argy'd over an' agin 'tud be bes' fur all ban's ter keep 'em rite on in tuther house, but Lishy sed they'd bin thar long nuff an' ef he purtended ter keep tavern the ole house ud be needed fur movers, an' she'd sed they cud take the fam'ly in wi' them an' let the boys sleep in the loft, but Lishy sed thar wusn't no rufe in the 'hole worl' big 'nuff ter kiver two fam'lies an' she didn't know but he wus more'n ha'f rite, ennyhow men fokes never liked ter be con/raried non' an' 'twus better ter giv' in than ter try ter " MENDEN'ALL'S VISIT. 203 upset him. An' Mis' Menden'all sed Lishy 'low'd ter take Mis' Reed's boys down ter the ole house in Papaw holler an' help 'em chink an' dob it over agin an' move the fam'ly in an' let 'em take her wheel an' loom 'long wi' 'em an' make up a lot o* cloth fur her an' Lishy, while they wus thar, an' the boys cud chore roun' fur him an' pick up plenty o' de'd wood ter keep ther fire a gwine 'thout takin' time ter chop fresh timber. An' Mis' Menden'all sed sense the Reeds hed com' she'd got her " Mornin' Star " don' an' 'low'd ter hev it quilted when Lishy hed his big corn shuckin' he'd bin a layin' off ter hev ever' sense he'd com' inter the settelmunt. When the sun begun ter sink down to'ards the horizun, I brung out Mis' Mend- en'all's critter an' she got on an' rid off home her visit a havin' don' us all a site o' good, me in pur- ticklar a bein' monstr'us sot up ter know thet Kizzy wusn't a gwine ter leeve thet winter. Shore nuff Lishy Menden'all never giv' nobody no rest ontell he got the Reeds moved inter the ole tumbel down caben in Papaw holler wi' cracks left big 'nuff ter a flung a middlin' size dog thru arter all the patchin' up wus finish'd. Mis' Menden'all lent 'em ever' thing she cud spar' outen the house ter make 'em comfurtabel an' the boys never went home frum chorin' roun' fur Lishy 'thout a bein' loded wi' purvisyuns o' som' kin' ur nuther. The wimmm fokes went ter work wi' ther spinnin' an' weevin', a doin' the bes' they know'd how ter try an' be independen' like. Papaw holler wusn't fur 204 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. frum the meetin' house an' Kizzy never faled ter be on han' ter help out \vi' the singin' ever' Sundy an' no sorter we'ther, whatsomdever, cudn't never keep Josiar Simson et home frum meetin', tho' ^cordin' ter my noshun he cud a bin spar'd mon- str'us well. 'Twusn't diffucult ter gess who the attracshun wus thet draw'd him, but es fur thet.. ever'body tuk a likin' ter Kizzy 'fore she'd bin two munth in the settelmunt, an' no wunder, nuther, kase she allus hed a kin' word an' fr'en'ly smile fur ole an' y'ung an' sich purty modes' ways, never 'peerin' ter think no more o' herself ur her bewty than som' sweet littel wile posy a growin' a fur ways off by itself in the timber. XXVI. THE CORN SHUCKIN'. Fall went by an' winter'd got well onder way an' no sines o' Lishy Menden'all's long promis'd corn shuckin', an' all the y'ungsters settel'd down inter the b'leef thet it hed eended in talk es usooal. But mebbe Mis' Menden'all a bein' 'shamed o' her ole man's braggin' yer arter yer o' how fur he'd gon' ahecl o' ever'body else a ra'sin' big craps an' how he 'low'd ter show 'em off, hed manoover'd roun' an' brung him et las' ter keep his word. Ennyhow, all uv a suddent, he sent fur Tobe Jones an' Wesly Suggs an' sot a day fur the shuckin' an' ax'd 'em ter ride roun' an' giv' the invites, instruc- tin' uv 'em ter skip over all week an' puny y'ung men in fam'lys an' pick out only good workers. But Tobe flar'd up, monstr'us, an' tole him ef he low'd ter slite an' insult fokes, thet a way, he'd hev ter do his own invitin', kase him an' Wes' wudn't hev no han' in sich low life bizness. Lishv tride ter smooth it over by sayin' he didn't want nobody ter resk ther he'lth by a comin' out in the cole ter shuck corn fur him, but ef the boys tho't def'rent they mout giv' the invites ter soot ther- selves. This 'ere bein' settel'd, Mis' Menden'all call'd Tobe ter one side an' tole him while he wus 205 206 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. 'roun' invitin' the y'ung men fur Lishy, ter ax all the gals ter her quiltin', the same day, an' not ter take nobody's workin' qualit'es inter considera- shun, fur 'twusn't offen the y'ung fokes got ter- gether an' she wanted 'em all ter hev a rale good time. An' Tobe sed she mout dipen' on him ter make a cleen sweep o' ever' gal in the 'hole settel- munt, ole an' y'ung, purty es a pink, ur ugly es sin, an' ef he foun' enny y'ung widders a lookin' down harted an' lonesom' like he'd ax them ter com' 'long two. Mis' Menden'all laffed over this 'ere ontell she jis cried an' tole Tobe he wus the beetinest han' wi' his tung she'd ever seed an' no body cudn't stay lonesom' nur downh'arted long wi' him roun'. When the 'pinted day fur the shuckin' an' quiltin' roll'd roun' 'twus thet bitter cole ever'body mos' friz on ther way ter Lishy's. O' corse the gals went inter the house, et onct, but Lishy stud outside o' his bars all bundel'd up frum hed ter foot, an' wi' his big fur cap pull'd down over his yers, an' sent all the boys ter warm up et a big fire he'd bilt neer'd the cribs. But 'twusn't o' much use, the win' a shiftin' roun' an' a drivin' the smoke inter a body's eyes whichsomdever side they went. An' es more y'ungsters arriv' thar wus sich a crowd the fust comers hed ter stan' back 'fore a gittin' the num'ness outen ther fingers. Then Lishy 'peerin' monstr'us oneesy an' onpatient fur us ter begin work, a hintin' thet 'twus late an' the days short, we all spoke up an' sed we wus reddy. He THE CORN SHUCKIN\ 207 step'd off brisk an' tuk us inter his bigges' crib an' we all sot out wi' a will an' I don' 'low the same 'mount o' corn wus ever pull'd outen shuck in so short a time 'fore or sense, fur we'd got sorter des'prit like wi' cole an' som' a havin' left home 'fore daylite wus monstr'us hungry. We'd all expected ter be tuk inter the house ter warm up an' git a littel bite o' somethin' ter eat when the fust crib wus don'. But in this 'ere we wus mon str'us mistuk, fur Lishy hurry'd us inter nuther'n an' sed we'd better finish our stint while our han's wus in an' we wus harden'tl ter the cole. Ter do him jestis it can't be denide thet Lishy work'd hard 'nuff hisself when he wus thar, but he made a site o' trips inter the house, 'peerently ter see what wus a gwine on, allus a comin' back wi' big reports o' what the gals wus a doin' a urgin' uv us ter work faster an' keep ahed o' them, when we wus alreddy a doin' our level best 'thout no pushin'. Then he'd try ter cheer us up wi' the prospec' o' havin' a lot o' fun wi' the gals arter the shuckin' wus all did. A body mout a hoped fur som' ricompense fur all we wus endoorin', wi' fingers mite nigh friz an' feet thet num' we scursely know'd 'em apart es we flung 'em roun' onder the shucks ter keep up the circoolashun. But we wus a gritty set o' y'ungsters an' tho' our dander wus up et Lishy's onfeelin' conduc', no compla'nte wusn't made, but es the day wore on a sickly lookin' y'ung feller, blue wi' the cole, ax'd Lishy ef he didn't think the work ud go on faster ef we 208 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. went inter the house, a passel et a time, an' warm'd up a littel. Lishy tole him he 'low'd thet ar wus only a dodge ter git a look et the gals, an' ef he'd work up a littel brisker, 'twudn't be long 'fore the shuckin' wus don' an' he cud go in an' stay wi' 'em. A faint laff went 'roun' et this 'ere, but thar wusn't much sperrit in it an' ever'body re lapsed inter glumness, the y'ung feller thet spoke a blowin' on his ban's ter git 'em limber'd up. Lishy wns es sharp es a steel trap an' a gessin' our tho'ts sed it hed bin a purty cole day, but the wether wus a moderatin', the win' a havin' got roun' inter the south. Nobody a responding Lishy tuk a look roun' the surcel an' sed mebbe a drap o' somethin' hot wudn't com' amiss, an' the big- ges' part o' the countenences a britenin' et the idee, he sed he'd go ter the smokehouse an' see what he cud hunt up. Then he went off an' stade a long time an' fotch out a big jug wi' a corn cob stopper an' sot it down in a korner an' sed he 'low'd ter shuck a few yers ter sorter ketch up wi' tuther'ns 'fore a passin' it roun'. Ever'body know'd this 'ere wusn't nuthin' but a excuse fur a holdin' onter the licker ontell the las' minnit, kase he begredged it. This 'ere meenness o' Lishy's 'peer'd ter rouse up Tobe Jones thet hed bin mon- str'us still an' onnateral all day, som' 'lowin' he'd hed a spat wi' Zurrildy. Howsomdever thet mout a bin he now riz, slow an' deliberat' like, an' went an' tuk a long look et the jug, then bent over an* smelt o' the stopper, an' shuk his hed mo'rnful THE CORN SHUCKIN\ 209 like, an' et las' begun ter clap his ban's back'ards an' forrids onter his brest, a remarkin' ter Lishy thet es a v'ewin' the jug an' a smellin' the corn cob hedn't warm'd him up non' he'd try a littel exercisin' while Lishy wus a shuckin'. The roar o' laffture thet went up et this 'ere let out ter Lishy what the boys tho't o' him, ef he hedn't foun' it out afore, an' a lookin' monstr'us whopp'd out he riz an' pass'd roun' the jug 'thout a openin' his mouth, ontell he reech'd me an' Josiar Simson, thet wus the two las' in the surcel. Tuther'ns all 'peer'd ter relish the licker, monstr'us, an' us a refusin' it altergether Lishy sed he'd drink fur us an' po'red down a whoppin' swig fur me an' a bigger'n fur Josiar, a sayin' 'twus his dewty ter see we wusn't stinted. Then he tilted the jug up fur his own dram an' kep' the bottum in the a'r sich a long time Tobe Jones sed 'peer'd like he didn't 'low ter stint hisself nuther. Three sich drinks ud a upsot mos' men, but Lishy a havin' bin brung up a Hard Shell cud stand a monstr'us site o' licker an' keep his ekilibrum. 'Twus sed he'd promis'd ter giv' up drink 'fore the Widder Grigs ud agree ter marry him, but only stop'd ontell arter the surumony, then tuk his dram on the sly an' arterwurds com' out bole an' allus kep' his licker on han' by 'holesale. Even them times rite smart o' the Methodis' wus agin sperrits, tuther'ns a holdin' 'twusn't no harm ter take 'em in modera- shun, purticklar ef a body wus subjec' ter enny kin' o' dispepsy spells, even Ole Daddy Suggs a 4 210 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN hold in' thar wusn't no Scripter agin takin' a littel som'thin' fur the stummick's sake. 'Twusn't long 'fore a passel o' the boys got purty lively, an' Tobe Jones thet hedn't more'n totch his lips ter the jug hisself, sed 'twusn't no wonder, kase a dram o' Lishy's licker wus ekal ter a pint o' ordunary sperrets an' the jug orter be labul'd " Ded Shot, warrunted ter bring down its man et forty yards." Et this 'ere Lishy frown'd monstr'us but the boys cheer'd Tobe, a clappin' an' a hollerin' thet loud me an' Josiar shuv'd back a peece ter git outen the racket, an' he tuk the oppertunity ter ax why I didn't take no licker, an' ef I bed screwples. I tole him I'd never bed no hankerin' arter drink an' no screwples nuther, but my fokes wus agin it, an' 'twusn't no use ter try ter create a appertight fur licker jis ter keep out the cole. An' then I ax'd why he didn't drink an' he sed his'n wus a con/rairy reeson, thet he hanker'd two much an' ef he tuk his dram ter help him bar the cole wether he'd want it ten times wuss ter bolster him up in hot wether, thet he cud allus fin' plenty o' excuses fur a porin' it down an' thet licker wus sich a mon str'us hard master, when it got the upperhan', the the only way wus ter shut down onter it fust an' last an' ter stay shet down. While Josiar wus a talkin' I obsarved Lishy a turnin' his bed our way ter lis'en an' purty soon he called out ter me an' sed the dinner wus a gwine ter be monstr'us good, kase somebody him an' me know'd wus a makin' the pies an' thet I orter see her nimbel fingers a THE CORN SHUCK IN\ 211 pinchin' roun' the rims an' ef I did thet he 'low'd I wudn't think they needed no sweetnin'. 'Twusn't hard fur nobody ter gess who wus a helpin' Mis' Menden'all wi' the cookin' an' I felt musself a flushin' iip monstr'us ter be pitch'd onter, thet a way, but a chancin' ter look sideways et Josiar, I seed his face wus a site redder'n enny o' them es hed drunk the licker an' it give me kurridge ter speek up an' tell Lishy I 'low'd he'd bin mistuk in his man an' me'nt somebody else. But I mout a know'd 'twusn't no use, kase he talk'd up louder an' sed he know'd who he wus talkin' two, an' / know'd monstr'us well who he wus a talkin' ''bout. I sed it didn't consarn us what nobody wus a doin' inside, our bizness wus ter hurry up an' git thru our own work. Then Josiar got a grip onter him in som' onderhanded sorter way an' changed the subjec'. 'Twus cur'os es well es aggervatin' thet Lishy'd got a inklin' o' my pref'rence an' hinted et it then fur the fust time, kase my tho'ts hed bin on Kizzy the 'hole day, an' ever' sense I'd know'd the shuckin' an' quiltin' wus ter take plaice I'd lade off ter go home wi' her thet nite an' fin' out whether she wus my way o' thinkin' ur not, an' try ter put a eend ter all my oneesiness 'bout Josiar, an' giv' her a chance ter say I'd bin mistuk an' mout travel my own rode 'lone so fur es she wus consarned ur the contrairy. I'd kep' my word wi' Mose, an' Blazes wus broke ter carry dubbel, but I didn't know but she mout brake our necks while we wus 'bout it, kase not a knowin' 212 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. what ter make o' this 'ere onusooal purseeclin' she'd run an' r'ar an' kick an' do her bes' ter fling us, but I watch'd her movemunts clost an' acted 'cordin', an' Mose he wus thet tick'led ter ride he'd grip holt o' me an' stick on like a leech. Blazes wus safet 'nuff, now, an' I 'low'd ter ax Kizzy ter ride home behin' me an' when we got started ter make my filly prance an' whirl roun' es I'd larnt her an' tell Kizzy ter hole on tite ter me an' then begin on the purty talk I'd got all cut an' dride fur the occashun. An' dunno but I orter record thet I aint never heern o' no y'ung feller's stickin' ter what he sot out ter say onder sarcum stances o' this 'ere kin'. Fur's I ken tell gals, wi' som' few ex- cepshuns, is monstr'us skittish like an' onsartin, an' 'fore ye know what they're arter an' 'peerently, 'fore they've foun' it out therselves, ull shy roun' all uv a suddent an' upset ever' one o' yer plans, an' ye've got ter go ter work an' bild 'em over agin an' mebbe not git the gal arter all yer panes. Well, arter while Lishy went ter pleggin' Tobe Jones an' they bed it up an' down, whittity what, fur a long time, but Lishy not a makin' no hedway got sorter diskuridg'd an', ter make him shet up his jaw, Tobe tole him the jug wus a gittin' lite an' he'd better fill it agin. Arter a monstr'us show o' reluctings, Lishy went off an' brung more, but this 'ere time never tuk no dram fur me nur Josiar, nur fur hisself nuther, but kep' a moseyin' in an' out so offen Tobe 'low'd he'd sot up a privat' grog'ry in the smokehouse vvi' hisself es the only THE CORN SHUCK IN \ 213 custumcr, an' he 'peer'd ter be a carry in' on a middlin' lively bizness. When the boys com' ter try the secant fillin' o' the jug they sed the licker \vus monstr'us week an' they jis know'd it bed bin water'd, but a jedgin' frum the silly way Lishy's tung kep' a runnin' they didn't 'low his^n bed bin water'd a bit. We'd putt in our time well, a hopin' ter git thru 'arly, an' thar wusn't one thet hedn't 'arned his dinner a duzin times over, but 'twus duskish like 'fore our job wus don' an' the las' nubbin raked out frum onder the shucks, an' Lishy jis bed ter acknowledg' 'twus the bigges' day's work he'd ever know'd don' in the settel- munt, or even back thar in Tennysy. An' then he let out thet dinner'd bin reddy an' a watin' more'n two 'ours an' he'd bed a monstr'us hard time ter keep Mis' Menden'all frum a comin' out herself an' a takin' us frum our work ter eat it, but he'd made her b'leeve we'd ruther stay an' finish up 'fore a gwine in, so's we'd not hev ter be siperated frum the gals agin. An' he tole us they'd don' a power o' work too, a gittin' the quilt outen the way 'fore the tabul wus sot, but he didn't tell, what we foun' out arterwurds, thet Mis' Menden'all bed basted the quilt inter the frames two or three weeks afore, an' putt in all her spar' time on it ever sense, so thar wus precious littel fur the gals ter do when they com' but ter enjoy therselves. XXVII. THE DINNER. We shuk an' bresh'd the dry corn silks offen our does an' went inter the house. The big fire- plaice tuk up one eend o' the room an' the ple'sur' o' seein' the monstr'us logs a roarin', a cracklin' an' a blazin' up the wide chimbly mos' riconciled us ter the cole we'd endoor'd thru the day. An' a rushin' in 'thout a lookin' rite ur left we crowded onter the brawd ha'th an' the comfurtabel heet shot out an' warm'd us up in less'n no time an' then we turn'd roun' an' tuk a look inter the room an' thet ar don' us 'bout es much good es the fire. The gals wus all huddel'd tergether, som' a settin' on the beds an' tuther'ns a standin' up a leenin' agin one nuther, all but one, an' I ricollected thet she'd help'd wi' the cookin', thet more'n likely 'd bin don' in tuther house, an' es Mis' Menden'all wus a miss'n I 'low'd the two hed stay'd back ter putt the finishin' tetches onter som' deesh. In the middel o' the long tabel thet tuk up the senter o' the room stud a roasted shote thet look'd mos' es nateral es life, wi' a yer o' corn in its mouth an' a ring o' tumblers full o' biled custard wi' littel dabs o' red jell on top a surclin' roun' it. An' piled on ever'whar's on the outside o' this 'ere wus ven'zon 214 THE DINNER. 215 an' wile turkey an' jole an' cabbage an' punkin butter an' cowcumber pickles an' biskits an' smok- in' hot corn aigy bred an' stacks o' all kin's o' pies an' cakes know'd ter pi'neers an' a smell o' fride ham an' coffee a purvadin' thet putt on the cap sheef an' made us ten times hongrier'n ever. Mis' Menden'all bed the name o' bein' the bes' cook an' freest wummin wi' her purvisyuns in all the settelmunts, an' now she com' in wi' more daint'es an' stud et one eend o' the tabel, dress'd in her neet brown linsy, wi' a white silk han'kicher tide over her cap, a smilin' et us, an' a sayin' she wus monstr'us sorry we'd hed ter be so late a gittin' our dinners, an' ter set down 'thout no furder delay, an' her an' the gals thet hed hed ther dinners 'arly ud wate on us. No secant invite wusn't needed an' all the boys rush'd ter the tabel. While Mis' Menden'all wus a talkin' I'd pick'd out a plaice clost ter som' o' my fav'rite vittals an' wus a makin' fur it when the clore open'd an' Kizzy stud behin' Mis' Menden'all wi' the big coffee biler in her ban's: then all tho'ts o' eatin' flew cleen outen my he'd an' all uv a suddent, I jis' drap'd inter the fust cher I com' ter. I mout a sed she putt me in min' uv a pictur', but them ar times I'd never seed non' 'cep' the sassy lookin' y'ung wim- min fokes dress'd in green an' red, wi' eyes a follerin' wharsomdever you went, pa'nted outer the clocks the Yankee pedlers hed begun ter dis- tribit thru the settelmunt. Ennyhow the imag' o' Kizzy a standin' thar in her blue homespun dress, 2l6 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. wi' som' sorter thin white fixin' over her shol'ders, her goldish brown ha'r a wavin' roun' her white forrid an' her blue eyes so brite an' her cheeks so rosy, wus stomped onter my memury in colurs thet aint never faded yit. I hedn't me'nt ter hev more'n one good look, but somehow my eyes wudn't turn no uther way an' when the boys bed all sot down she glanc'd 'long the tabel an' a seein' me a starrin' et her turn'd es red es a poppy an' mos' drap'd the biler. Jis' then Lishy Menden'all clar'd his throte an' I diskiver'd he wus a settin' et the eend o' the tabel ter the rite o' me a tryin' ter attrac' my attenshun. When he kotch my eye he giv' me a tremenjus wink an' holler'd ter Kizzy ter bring on her coffee an' she started roun'. It tuk Josiar Simson a monstr'us long time ter git his cup fill'd ter his noshun an' then he kep' Kizzy thar a talkin' when tuther'ns wus a watin', a tellin' her he'd heern she made the pies an' ef she'd biled the coffee two, he didn't 'low ter tetch nuthin' else but pie an' coffee, but I obsarved thet he did pile in more kin's o' fodder then ennybody else, 'cep' Lishy, an' Massy sakes! how the purvisyuns did disappeer roun' him. An' then Tobe Jones mus' hev his say. I know'd he wusn't only a tryin' ter torment Zurrildy, thet stud et the back o' his cher, kase she'd led him sich a wile goose chase 'fore a givin' in, but, fur all thet ar, it bother'd me rite smart ter heer him a runnin' on an' a jokin' wi' Kizzy. She'd anser'd up Tobe's nonsense purty THE DINNER. 21J lively, a givin' back es good es he sent an' when she got ter me I started in wi' the same sort o' fool'ry, whech not a bein' my stile, she mus' a tho't I'd bin a tamperin' wi' the jug, fur a lookin' monstr'us surpris'd she fill'd my cup 'thout a word an' hurrid on ter the nex'. A realizin' I'd made a grevyus mistak' I mos' scalded my throte a porin' down the hot coffee an' call'd out fur more ter bring her back, so's I cud talk wi' som' sense, but she jis' deliburately handed the biler over ter Patsy Briggs an' sent her roun' ter wate on me. 'Twus monstr'us diskuridgin' like an' thar got ter be sich a vi'lent thumpin' in my bre'st I wus feer'd Lishy'd heer it, so a gulpin' down a big syth, I sot ter a eatin' somethin', but cudn't a tole pie frum biled cabbage by the taste uv 'em ter a saved my life. Arter a makin' a cleen sweep o' mos' ever'thing sot afore us we shoved our chers back an' riz, all the boys 'peerin' ter think Mis' Menden'all hed made up fur enny short comin's on the part o' her ole man by a givin' us sich a monstr'us jam up supper. The long tabel wus construct'd by a layin' planks onter two short uns an' now the deeshes wus clar'd off an' piled inter a korner an the planks tuk inter the yard an' then the quilt, thet hed bin draw'd up ter the rafters by the ropes tide et the four korners, wus let down low nuff fur us y'ungsters ter take it outen the frames. We wus all a standin' 'roun' a helpin', me a havin' sidled up nex' ter Kizzy, when, es the las' bastin' 2l8 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. thre'd wus snap'd, all uv a suddent, Lishy jerk'd out the quilt an' flung it over her he'd an' mine, but it hedn't more'n totch 'fore Kizzy shot out like a blue streek an' went off ter help Mis' Menden'all wi j the deeshes. XXVIII- 'PON 'ONOR. Mis' Menden'all went off inter tuther house, an' Lishy a disapeerin' two, thar riz a discusshun es ter whether playin' ud be 'low'd, the bigges' part a takin' the negutive side, kase Lishy wus a ex'orter. But while we wus a argyfyin' Lishy com' in an' desided the matter hisself. He brung a sack o' cotton thet he distribited roun' on the hath in batches, ter warm up an' make the seeds com' out e'sy, an' tole us ef we'd pick all thet ar while we wus a restin', we mout hev a few inner- cent games arter we got thru an' thet he didn't think 'tud be agin the Discz^lin' ef we woun' up by a singin' a passel o' sperretooal songs. 'Twus plane ter see thet ever'body tho't 'twus purty tuff ter hev ter go ter work on thet ar cotton arter all we'd don' thru the day, an' som' o' our fingers so monstr'us tender wi' the shuckin'. Howsomdever, nuthin' wusn't sed agin it ontell Mis' Menden'all com' in an' 'peer'd thunderstruck et what her ole man hed don' an' begun ter beg an' pleed fur him ter take the cotton back inter the smokehouse. But 'twusn't no use, Lishy sed he'd named the con- dishuns on whech we wus ter play an' ud advise us not ter waste no time but selec' our pardners 219 220 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. .an' be a settin' by 'em an' a plannin' the games while we wus a pickin' an' thet ar sorter riconciled us. In a instent thar wus a monstr'us scramblin' fur gals an' plaices. I wus a rushin' fur Kizzy, full tilt, when Josiar Simson a bein' neerder kotch up two chers an' hel' me et bay while he back'd up ter whar she wus a standin' an' engag'd her comp'ny. This 'ere so completely dumfoundered me I didn't obsarve thet all o' tuther fellers wus a grabbin' chers an' a choosin' ther pardners two. When I did look all wus par'd off 'cep' me an' the Widder Robberson's Drusilly thet wus the ugliest gal in all the settelmunt, but a monstr'us good worker; she didn't know much but work, a bein' quar' in the he'd, an' tung tied in the bar- g'in,an'this 'ere made her giner'ly slited an' look'cl down on by the y'ungsters. 'Twus monstr'us ag- gervatin' ter think I hedn't kep' outen sich a scrape by a givin' som' uther gal a invite; 'twudn't a hurt Tobe Jones nur Wes' Suggs non' ter a bin in my plaice, but I'd forgot ever'thing, even my bashfulness, when I started fur Kizzy. An' now tuther'ns wus all a starrin' et us, an' som' o' the gals a sniggerin' an' Drusilly'd got a inklin' thet I wusn't arter her an' ever'body know'd it an' wus a makin' fun. Es she stud thar a crackin' her finger jints one arter tuther, a lookin' es ef she'd like ter sink thru the flore outen site, I forgot my disappintmunt an' felt sorry fur the pore thing, an' tho't ef she TVUS ugly an' awk'ard an' didn't know much 'twusn't her fault an' besides she wus 'PON 'ON OR. 221 wimmin fokes an' bed human feelin's. All uv a suddent, es these 'ere idees went thru my min', I felt es hold es a lion an' a gwine up an' standin' by her I look'd roun' et tuther'ns an' sed 'twus a big peece o' luck fur me ter hev Drusilly fur a pardner, an' I b'leeved we cud beet enny four in the 'hole crowd a pickin' cotton an' hev time ter spar'. This 'ere 'peer'd ter cheer up the pore gal monstr'us, but I'd only glanced et her when I begun ter talk an' then somehow my eyes wan- der'd off ter Kizzy, thet wus a lookin' squar' et me wi' the fr'en'liest smile a body ever seed, an' she spoke up loud, es ef I'd expected her ter ans'er, an' sed thar wusn't no dou't but we'd beet more'n four, kase Drusilly wus sich a monstr'us good worker she'd kep' ahe'd o' 'bout ha'f a duzen o' the gals singel handed all day. An' then she ax'd us ter com' over by her an' Josiar, a makin' Dru silly set on ha'f o' her cher, ontell a ole loom bench wus fotch in fur us, an' then all sot ter work, tungs a keepin' up wi' fingers. An' purty soon thar riz a def'rence 'bout the games, sorn' insistin' on " Ole sister Phebe how merry wus we The nite we sot onder the juniper tree!" an' tuther'ns a sayin' thet ar wudn't do fur them thet b'long'd ter meetin' kase 'twus a kissin' play. Becky Suggs spoke up an' sed she tho't 't mout do fur them 'twus on trial, a bein' a purbashuner herself, but she har'ly tho't members reg'larly tuk in orter play it, an' this 'ere remark brung on 222 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. more argefyin'n ever. Mis' Menden'all tuk the groun' thet purbashuners ortn't be led inter no tem'tashun, an' fur her part she tho't 'twus jis' es bad ter set by an' look on es ter take a ban' in the game; an "* furder while she wus more'n willin' fur the y'ungsters ter hev innercent plays, es they'd bin promis'd, she didn't think thar orter be no gwines on in no ex'orter's house thet ud bring a reflecshun. Then Becky Suggs flar'd up an' sed she'd changed her min' an' now tho't members an' all cud jine in this 'ere play an' she 'low'd ter hev it et her quiltin', whether ur no, but fust wus a gwine ter shet her daddy outen the house, an' putt a knife over the dore latch so's he cudn't git in ter be reflected on, an' ef thar wus ennybody else thar wi' a chicken harted conscien's they'd be welcom' ter go out an' keep him comp'ny. Tobe Jones whisper'd ter me thet thet ar plan mout work wi' the preecher, but wudn't be o' no use ter try on the ex'orter, kase he'd bust open the dore, or clime down the chimbly, 'fore he'd 'low enny purseedin's ter go on 'thout a bein' ring leeder hisself. While Tobe wus a talkin' I seed Lishy's jaw begin ter work, but 'fore he cud open his mouth Josiar Sim- son's big voice drownded out ever'body else, him a jinin' in wi' Mis' Menden'all. Josiar agreed she wus perfec'ly rite in all she sed, thet he hedn't bin reg'larly tuk inter meetin' hisself, but wudn't hev no ban' in nuthin' thet a member in full standin' cudn't play, thet his objecshuns ter ole sister Phebe wusn't on the groun' menshun'd by som' thet 'ONOR. 223 wus ter say onder ever' sarcumstance sarcum- stances a alterin' cases but kase thar wusn't a grane o' truth in it frum beginnin' ter eend, thar never a havin' bin no ole sister Phebe an' no juni- pur trees never a growin' in thet ar secshun o' kuntry. An' then he sed he know'd somethin' they use ter play in ole Virginny thet never wus kunsidered no harm by nobody, kase all thet jined in it wus oblugated ter tell only the truth. Mis' Menden'all 'low'd thet ar ud be jis' rite, but Lishy holler'd out he know'd a better'n they useter play back thar in Tennysy, but he wus squelch'd out by ever'body a sayin' Josiar's orter com' fust. Then Mis' Menden'all an' Lishy both fether'd in an' help'd pick the cotton an' mos' 'fore we know'd it the las' batch wus lifted offen the h'ath an' Josiar sot out ter larn us the play. He sed thar wusn't no pardners in it, but him an' ' Mis' Kizzy ', es he called her, ud move ther chers inter the middel o' the flore an' all o' tuther'ns mus' set in a surcel roun' 'em. Drusilly sed es 'twusn't a march- in' play she'd hev nuthin' ter do wi' it, a bein' tired a settin' roun' a pickin' cotton, thet wusn't no work et all, an' she'd jis' git the broom an' sweep the litter offen the h'ath an' mebbe ud com' an' look on arterwurds, ef she tuk a noshun, an' thet ar left me free. Becky Suggs an' her in tended a bein' huffy tuk the loom bench an' went off by therselves in a korner, an' a ketchin' up one o' ther chers I foller'd clost onter Josiar an' Kizzy an' when we sot down she wus 'twixt us 224 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. an' all o' tuther players a crowdin' roun'. " Now," sez Josiar, " ever'body thet takes part in this 'ere game's boun' ter tell the truth, the 'hole truth an' nuthin' but the truth on ther solem' an' sacurd 'onor ! " Et this 'ere rite smart o' the boys hitch'd back ther chers an' sed the play wus too hard ; but when Lishy thet wus a leenin' over ter look on, ax'd ef the truth didn't com' e'sy ter 'em an' ever' body laff'd, they got ple'g'd an' hitch'd forrids agin. Then Josiar flatted his rite han' out outer his knee, like a big flap jack, an' tole Kizzy hern mus' foller, when all uv a suddent, 'thout no tellin, I clap'd mine down nex', sorter lite, an' ud a giv' Blazes ter a know'd whether 'twus me ur Josiar thet made her fingers so flutt'ry. But thar wusn't no grate time fur speculashun 'fore Josiar, thet peer'd ter a bin struck dum' et my bol'ness, foun' his voice agin an' tole tuther'ns ter putt down ther ban's too, an' they com' a pilin' on thick an' he'vy. When all wus reddy Josiar draw'd his han' out an' lade it on top o' tuther'ns an' counted "one" an' sed we wus ter keep on thet a way ontell we got ter sixty, an' the owner o' the han' thet com' out on the sayin' o' them ar riggers wus boun' ter ans'er ever' quest'on thet wus ax'd 'em, " 'pon 'onor." Ef it hedn't a bin two late I 'low a site ud a back'd out, then, kase all the gals an' a passel o' the boys turn'd monstr'us pale an' scursely draw'd ther bre'ths. Then the ban's begun ter com' out slow an' reluctings like an' som' o' the y'ungsters tride ter bolster up ther kurridge by a 'ONOR. 225 countin' out loud wi' Josiar an' a helpin' wi' the calc'lashun. 'Peer'd a long time 'fore they got inter the fiftys an' crep' on up ter fifty-nine, whech wus Josiar; then they holler'd out "sixty" an* Kizzy's han' top'd the heep. 'Twus thet onex- pected her face blazed up monstr'us, but she sot strate back in her cher 'thout a openin' her mouth, while they wus all a tryin' ter think o' what ter say an', et las' Lishy stoop'd over an' whisper'd ter one o' the gals, thet turn'd immejiate ter Kizzy an' ax'd what feller she liked bes', an' thet ar started mout nigh the 'hole surcel onter the same quest'on, som' a gwine et her in squads an' tuther'ns siprate, but all insistin' she wus boun* ter tell. Her face got white es snow an' then turn'd red agin wi' a monstr'us pleedin' look, but they all kep' on a showin' her no murcy whatsomdever. Then she glanced sideways, fust et me an' nex' et Josiar, es / tho't fur help, but Lishy tuk it def'rent an' tole 'em she hedn't made up her min' an' they'd better giv' her time. Josiar sot wi' his arms folded a gazin' inter the rafters, but I know'd he wus a lis'nin' wi' all his yers. Arter a minnit Kizzy's tormenters begun on her agin an' mebbc she felt herself oblugated ter say som'thin' by a jinin' in the play. Ennyhow she 'peer'd ter be a movin' her lips, when Becky Suggs, thet hed slip'd up on tiptoe an' wus a leenin' over her, nodded et Lishy an' then screem'd out: "Oh, she scz it's Jack !" Then they all roar'd an' laff'd fit ter kill ther- selves, Lishy a haw, hawin' es ef he'd die on the 15 226 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. spot, thet wudn't a hurt my feelin's no grate deel, et thet ar time. The fust secant I wus thet tick'led I scursely know'd musself, but the nex' a seein' Kizzy a lookin' so pleg'd an' hurt wi' ever'body a bavin' ther joke et her 'twus def 'rent. I 'low mos' enny uther gal thar ef she hedn't a flung 'em a downrite lie an' tho't she wus a sarvin' 'em rite ud a crowded monstr'us clost outer one an' a got her self outen the scrape; but Kizzy wusn't non' o' thet ar kin' a bein' strateforrid an' not useter no flirty sorter tricks thet y'ung gals in gin'ral didn't think no grate harm, them days. Mebbe she wus jis' a whisperin' over what she tho't ter releeve her consciens, but arter all 'twusn't never know'd ef she raly sed my name ur ef 'twus only a made up thing 'twix' Becky Suggs an' Lishy. But when they all com' et her an' ax'd ef Becky wus rite they cudn't make her open her mouth, an' Lishy sed " silence allus giv' consent," an' then the y'ung- sters screem'd an' laffed more'n ever. This 'ere brung my 'rath ter the bilin' pint an' I mout a sed somethin' ef Josiar hedn't a stomped on the flore an' made 'em stop. Then he tole 'em ter go on wi' the game. Thar wus a quarness in his voice, when he spoke, an' he 'peer'd thet ser'os they all draw'd up an' putt ther ban's down agin. Es Kizzy lade hcr'n onter Josiar's som' o' the boys nudged me, but I hel' back fur awhile an' then by mistake clao'd my ban' 'twixt Tobe's an' Zurril- dy's, thet made 'em both mad, but tuther'ns a comin' on thet fast thar wusn't no chance ter 'PON 'ONOR. 227 change 'fore Josiar sed the number ud be twenty this 'ere time an' the ban's begun ter be jerked out agin, a site o' ther owners a lookin' monstr'us skeer'd. I'd scursely cullected my own tho'ts miff ter be afeerd when Zurrildy's han' wus on top an' they sed nineteen, then I know'd what wus a comin' an' tuk a long bre'th an' braced mus- self es Tobe sez, sorter spiteful like, " An' Jack's makes twenty!" 'Twus clar ter me, then, thet Josiar a bein' monstr'us quick et riggers hed cal- c'lated ever'thing up in his he'd aforehand, an' brung it out ter soot hisself an' I wus fitin' mad but dassent show it. A thinkin' they'd all com' et me fur my pref'rence I begun ter plan mon str'us quick ter deceeve 'em, a havin' no screwples whatsomdever, arter all thet hed tuk plaice. But Lishy started 'em onter a def'rent tract an' insted o' puttin' the quest'on es I'd expected they all wanted ter know ef I liked Kizzy. I laffed an' ta'nted an' tride ter switch 'em off, but 'twusn't no use, they still flew et me, like hornets a stingin' on ever' side; all but Josiar an' he never open'd his mouth. Lishy an' Becky Suggs com' an' stud in frunt o' me a screemin' out the tantalizin' quest'on louder'n tuther'ns an' ud stop onct an' awhile fur my ans'er an' then go on agin. Et las' it got ter be thet aggervatin' my temper flam'd up monstr'us an' 'peer'd like som' onseen power stronger'n my own will jerk'd me onter my feet an' I holler'd out in a voice thet sounded strange an' onnateral in my own yers: "No!" I wus a 228 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. lookin' strate et Kizzy an' her et me when I spoke an' sich a change com' over her face 'fore the word wus more'n out I'd a giv' my life ter a on- sed it, but my tung clung ter the rufe o' my mouth an' wudn't move. Then tuther'ns turn'd onter Kizzy agin, Becky Suggs a tellin' her she'd better go furder an' mebbe she'd fa'r better an' Lishy a puttin' in his jaw, a tryin' ter be funny, a settin' the boys ter roarin' et her an' the gals ter a gig- glin'. In a secant, ter all appeerance, Kizzy'd got the better o' her feelin's an' sot up onconsarned like wi' her long ha'r \\ oun' roun' her he'd like a crown an' her ban's wi' ther slim fingers a lyin' folded tergether in her lap. I look'd et her, but slgBtiever look'd et me nur nobody else, but some how I know'd her pride bed monstr'us hard work ter keep back the teers thet wus a lyin' hid way down in her blue eyes. I'd jis' got the better o' my false tung an' riz ter tell the 'hole comp'ny how I'd deceev'd 'em when Josiar stomp'd agin an' sed we'd try the game onct more. Es Kizzy's han' went down I made a quick moshun ter com' nex' an' wus monstr'us tuk back when she jerk'd hern up an' wated ontell a duzen uther'ns wus piled onter mine 'fore she putt her han' down agin. I hedn't never expected her ter show ro sich sperrit, but 'low'd mebbe she'd think I'd anser'd thet a way ter keep my secret, an' ef not, I cud make it all up wi' a word when I got a chance; but when tuthern's laffed an' sed she wus a sarvin' me rite I bow'd ter the verdic'. I've heern thet trubbles 'POJV 'ONOR. 229 never com' one et a time an' it 'peer'd mine bed jis' begun, kase when Josiar clap'd his ban' on top o' the pile an' the fatul number wus purnounc'd, Lishy started 'em off onter the same quest'on they'd ax'd me, an' when Josiar smiled et Kizzy an' sed monstr'us independin' like: " O' co'rse! I like Mis' Kizzy wi' all my hart! " the boys holler'd " Good furjow, Josiar! " an' the gals cheer'd him. An' Becky Suggs sed she mout a bin mistuk in the name, more'n likely 'twus "Josiar" an' not "Jack," thet it orter a bin the way things wus a turnin' out ; enny how, it begun wi' a "J " an' mebbe Kizzy'd not objec' ter a sayin' it over agin ter make it certing. Et this 'ere Josiar giv' Kizzy a sarchin' look but her eyes wus sot onter the ftavc monstr'us anx'us like an' he sed never mind they'd not waste no more time but go on ter tuther game. An' then Kizzy rased her he'd an' giv' him sich a thankful look I felt thet he'd got the inside tract an' I wus everlastin'ly beet. Then Lishy an' Becky Suggs got inter a big dispute over nex' play, mos' ever'body a takin' sides, an' Mis' Mend- en'all an' Josiar a actin' es peecemakers a tryin' ter settel 'em. I'd lost all intrust in plays, mus- self, an' didn't keer who got the upperhan', an' a monstr'us smuthery feelin' a comin' over me I went an' lent up agin the dresser an' got ter a re- flectin' on my past doin's. I ricollected how I'd broke my y'ung oxens when I wus a boy, them a takin' ter the timber an' me a draggin' arter 'em thru the bresh an' agin trees a bruisin' musself 230 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN, frurn he'd ter foot, but a gittin" 'em back inter the big rode an' never a givin' up ontell they wus tamed down an' the gentles' yoke in the 'hole settelmunt, an' how I'd konker'd Blazes'es vichus sperrit arter so menny ha'rbre'th 'scapes. No, 'twusn't never in my natur' ter giv' up ennything I started out ter do, an' now the tho't o' havin' ter stan' back an' let Josiar Simson take the one thet wus more'n all the balence o' the worl' ter me wus thet afful I groun' my teeth tergether an' vow'd ter git ahe'd o' him et the resk o' my life. While a plannin' how ter begin I seed Kizzy leeve the crowd an' go ter the water bucket in tuther corner. Es she tuk the drinkin' gourd offen the peg, whar it -allus hung, I rush'd up an' kotch her by the arm, but when she look'd roun' an' seed 'twus me she turn'd her face tuther way an' don' her bes' ter brake loose. An' thet ar a makin' me mon- str'us desprit I tuk holt wi' both ban's an' hel' tite while I screem'd inter her yer thet what I sed wus a etarnal lie thet I'd jis' adored the groun' she walk'd on ever' sense I'd fust seed her et camp meetin', an' bed bin a layin' off fur weeks ter take her home frum the shuckin' an' tell her all this 'ere an' a site more an' ax her ter marry me, but a bein' sich a bashful feller an' aggervated beyant endurance, when they tride ter pry my secret outen me, I up an' anser'd 'em, scursely a knowin' what I sed, ontell the words wus cleen outen my mouth. An' ef I'd a hed time ter a tho't ennything 'tud a bin thet she mus' a know'd I jis' worship'd her 'PON 'ONOR. 231 an' wudn't hurt her feelin's fur a thousan' worl's; an' when I reelized how false I'd seem'd ter her, an' musself, an' heern 'em all a jeerin' an' a ta'ntin' I'd jis' riz ter make a bole ac'nolledgmunt when they started up the play agin an' stop'd me; an' ef she sed so I'd stan' up, now, 'fore the 'hole crowd an' make a cleen bre'st o' ever'thing, ef I sunk thru the flore the nex' minnit. She shuk her he'd fur " No," but never spoke nur look'd et me, but I kinder tho't she wus willin' ter lis'n an' went on a pleedin' wi' her ter try ter think it all over an' not blame me two much, tho' I know'd I didn't desarve nuthin' frum her. An' I sed ef she'd jis' drap a word ur make me enny sorter sine when she'd hed time ter reflec' I'd onderstan' thet she'd forgiv' me, an' then I let go her arm an' back'd off ter the dresser, kase the din hed stop'd an' som' o' the y'ungsters wus a turnin' roun' ter hunt her up. Then, all uv a suddent, she lifted the gourd high in the a'r an' flung it inter the bucket, es ef she'd splash ever' drap o' water onter the flore, an' went back inter the middel o' the crowd, an' 'twus lucky I'd hed my say out, kase thar'd a bin no uther chance, es they wus a gwine ter sing an' wanted Kizzy ter carry the tribbel. XXIX. PISGY. Mis' Men len'all an' Josiar 'low'd es feelin's bed bin trod on a good chune ud giv' fokes time ter reflec' an' bring 'em all ter one min' agin. Tobe Jones sed he'd mix'd in rite smart wi' the disputin' hisself, but they needn't sing on his 'count, kase he'd allus heern thet them es didn't want ther feelin's tromp'd on bed better not hev 'em a sprawlin' roun' an' konsekently, bed kep' his'n outen the way. Et this 'ere ever'body laff'd, 'peerin' ter a forgot ther bad 'umor an' som' wanted ter start tuther play, but Lishy'd alreddy planted hisself in the middel o' the flore, singin' book in ban' an' thar wusn't no way o' turnin' him offen enny tract he'd sot out on' an' he tole 'em ter git ther voices inter trim fur " Pisgy," an' the bigges' part o' the men singers a bein' hoarse thar wus a site o' throte clarin' 'fore they all got onder \vay Pisgy's a monstr'us purty chune when the parts is sung well an' the words fit in corryspondin', a startin' off mournful an' despondin' like an' then, all uv a suddent, a soarin' up triumphunt: " An' let this feeble body fale An' let it faint ur die, My soul shall quit this mo'rnful vale An' soar to worl's on high, 232 PfSGT. 233 Shall jine the disembodied saints An' fin' its long sought rest, Thet only bliss for which it pants In the Redeemer's bre'st." I hung roun' while they wus a gittin' reddy ter sing, a givin' Kizzy ever' chance ter make som' sine thet I mout know whether I wus forgiv', but she never tuk no more notis o' me than ef I'd a bin a hundred mile off. When the singin' got well onder way an' they all 'peer'd ter be a jinin' in, sole an 1 body, a keepin' time wi' beds an' ban's it seem'd es ef the rufe mout be lifted up an' the kingdom o' glory let in. I'd never seed Kizzy look so rajeant nur 'peer in sich a contented frame o' min' es she sot thar by Josiar an' sung. It mout a bin tho'ts o' him ur tho'ts o' Heving thet made her so happy, but o' one thing I wus shore an' certing, 'twusn't no tho'ts o' me, an' I'd never felt so miserabel in all my life. A bein' monstr'us res'less an' oneasy I kep' a movin' roun' ontell I got up clost agin the dore an' the smuthery feelin' a takin' holt o' me wuss'n ever I tole Wesly Suggs I'd go an' see how " Blazes " wus a standin' an' rush'd out inter the fresh a'r. A pullin' my cote collar up I cross'd over the fence an' went behin' a haystack whar my filly wus tide an' foun' her a fliskin' roun' an' a shiverin' wi' the cole. She nicker'd an' pranc'd es I com' neer, monstr'us glad ter see me, but I tole her ter shet up her noisy he'd an' when she rubbed her nose agin my arm an' play'd she wus a bitin' me es I'd larnt her, I lifted 234 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN, my foot an' giv' her a he'vy kick in the side an* she didn't pester me no more. I clum back inter the yard an' walk'd roun' the house, a lis'nin' ter the singin' es it com' out thru the wide mouth chimbly, Kizzy's voice a soarin' 'bove the rest like a bird a wingin' its way to'ards the Hevings an' a callin' on tuther'ns ter foller, but thar didn't 'peer ter be no tone o' enc'uragemunt fur me, an' a feelin' like som' pore, lost critter shet out forever frum all hope an' happiness, I begun ter rave an' rant an' shake my fist et the house an' then, 'thout no intenshun nur nuthin' I let out an' cussed, the words a comin' thet glib an' e'sy, 'peer'd like 'twusn't me but somebody else a sayin' uv 'em. An' I 'low 'twusn't nobody but the ole daddy o' all Evil thet hed cleen tuk posseshun o' me, both sole an' body. Ennyhow, the bigges' o'ths seem'd a lyin' roun' me ever'whars, handy, an' I kotch 'em up an' tack'd 'em outer Josiar an' Lishy an' wus a beginnin' on Tobe when I heern 'em start out on the windin' up varse. The "words putt me in min' o' mother, kase I'd heern her a hummin' 'em over so offen 'roun' the house arter her mother died, an' the tho't o' what her feelin's ud be ef she know'd I wus out thar a blasphemin' brung me ter my senses, an' a makin' up my min' ter run 'way frum furder tem'tashun, I went an' saddel'd up Blazes an' a leedin' her outside mounted. She giv' a littel squeel an' he'ded fur home, a takin' short cuts an' a settelin' down inter her highes' speed 'thout no whis'le frum me, the fire a flashin' PISGT. 235 outen her huffs es she flew 'long Rocky Branch outen the timber inter the purrary rode. An' now the win', cole an' cuttin' com' a howlin' inter my face, like som' supernateral bein' we wus a tryin' ter 'scape, but the faster we went the more it tore 'long two, a ketchin' up Blazes'es mane, an' a blowin' it over onter the 'rong side, a liftin' my long ha'r an' a shreekin' an' a walin' in my yers. 'Peer'd like 'twus aggervated et our tryin' ter outrun it an' got more wile an' tantalizin' an' kep' even wi' us in spite o' our speed, an' the feelin' o' despare an' despurashun a comin' over me stronger'n ever, I begun ter moan an' wale two. Arter while we fotch up et the ole home bars, me an' Blazes an' the win', but the house look'd so lonesom' an' still I cudn't bar the tho'ts o' gwine in. Then, all uv a suddent, it com' over me thet, mebbe, in the noise an' din Kizzy hedn't heern my explanashun, an' thet ef I cud make ever'thing clar ter her, 'tud all be rite agin. I b'leeved Blazes cud take me back ter Lishy's 'fore they broke up ef I putt her ter her highes' speed agin. All nateral feelin' 'peer'd ter a cleen gone outen me, an' I didn't keer no more fur the pore, dum' critter thet bed stud all day in the cole an' brung me home so quick than ef she'd bin a wooden masheen, an' I turn'd her roun' an' tride ter make her go back up the i"ode. But ef anumals hev reeson Blazes mus' a tho't she'd don' her dewty an' desarved her rest an' her feed an' thet I wus meen an' ongrateful a wantin' her ter go off agin in the cole. Ennyhow, she whirl'd an' 236 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. r'ar'd an' when I shot up my fist an' fotch her a stunnin' knock on top o' the he'd, all the wile sperrit I'd tamed outen her 'peer'd ter com' back agin an' a bein' sorter num' an' dazed I lost all mast'ry over her an' she flung me an' a givin' me a kick gallop'd ter the stabel, a leevin' me senseless on the groun'. XXX. CRIPPELD AN' DISH'ARTENED. Our fokes bed heern me a ridin' down the friz up rode an' arter while got oneesy kase I didn't go in an' father went out an' foun' me a lyin* 'peerently lifeless in the snow. He kuntrived ter git me inter the house an' onter a pallet 'fore the fire an' when I thaw'd out an' com' two, thar wus sich a mis'ry in my rite leg it draw'd one grone arter nuther outen me in spite o' all my effurts ter keep still. Father wus fur a gwine rite off ter Tomson's settelmunt arter the doctor, but I wudn't heer ter his startin' 'fore mornin', an' 'bout daybrake mother got him a good brekfus an' he bun'led hisself up an' sot out on his fastes' nag, thet wusn't nowhars ter Blazes. By noon I'd got ter be monstr'us bad off an' mother begun ter go back'ards an' forrids ter look thru a crack in the dore ter see ef father an' the doctor wusn't a*comin', ontell it peer'd ter me in my dis tracted state thet she'd w'ar a groove in the pun- chin flore, but 'twus late in the day 'fore she seed 'em a ridin' up ter the fence. The doctor com' in an' warm'd hisself up deliberat' like an' then tuk a look et my leg. He sed 'twus a monstr'us bad brake, an' then poked roun' 'mong my ribs, a tryin* 237 238 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. ter ascertane whether thar wasn't som' intarnal hurt. I know'd the hurt wus thar, intarnal, an', es I bleeved, etarnal; but 'twus past his findin' out an' he went back ter my leg an' got father ter help him set it. Oh, massy! what a aginy it wus! 'Peers like they mus' do sich things e'sier now-a-days wi' their new fangled masheenary. The doctor giv' me som' draps thet help'd me ter sleep thet nite sorter middlin', but nex' mornin' my 'hole body begun ter ache, the splints a bein' so tiresom' a keepin' me flat o' my back an' not 'lowin' me ter turn no ways fur a change, an' es the days went on the pane an' oneesiness wus grater, but nuthin' ter my sufferin's o' min'. Me es hed bin the stoutes' an' actives' y'ungster in all the settelmunts an' so vane an' proud o' my stren'th wus now a lyin' es week an' helpless es a baby an' mebbe a crippel fur life. An' ter see all my fokes so anx'us an' so good, pore mother a settin' up wi' me nite arter nite a losin' her rest an' a lookin' so wore out, an' father thet patien' wi' all my whims an' crossness I scursely know'd him, an' the littel boys, thet never cud be kep' still afore, a tiptoein' roun' an' a whisperin' low when they spoke so's not ter bother me. It mos' broke my hart terifeee 'em, an' then I got ter reflectin' thet I'd brung all this 'ere trubbel on 'em musself, 'thout no help an' fur no good reeson. An' then I let up on a blamin' Lishy an' tho't better o' Josiar an' et the wust hedn't never foun' no fault wi' Kizzy, an' es fur Blazes, bein' a dum', onresponsibel critter ef she'd CRIPPELD AN" 1 DISHEARTENED. 239 a kick'd my onfeelin' he'd off 'tud a sarved me rite. No, thar wusn't nobody ter blame but musself ! Outen pure selfishness, jis ter keep frum bein' pleg'd a littel I'd bin a cowardly tra'tor ter my own hart an' ter Kizzy, a woundin' her f eelin's an' a makin' her a laffin' stock an' Josiar hed com' bolely ter her rescew, a silencin' ther ta'nts an' by his pref'rence a settin' her a long ways 'bove all the balence, an' o' co'rse, 'twusn't nuthin' more'n rite she shud be his'n. It went well nuff ontell this ere pint wus reech'd an' then wi' all my eluvatin' Josiar onter the highes' pin- nakel an' a grov'lin' on the groun' musself I cudn't b'ar the tho't o' him a comin' 'twix' Kizzy an' me. But what cud I do ter help it, a lyin' thar wi' ever' mussel stiff an' achin', ever' narve strung ter its highes' pitch an' ever' bone in my body like lead. I kep' a worryin' an' a thinkin' it over an' over, day in an' day out ontell my he'd wus all in a whirl an' a monstr'us sick'nin' feelin' in my hart. One nite arter the boys'd gone up inter the loft an' father wus soun' asleep in tuther bed an' mother a settin' a noddin' in a cher by my side all wore out an' bun'led up in the ole red blanket er keep warm, I hed som' monstr'us quar idees. Mother'd giv' the sleepin' draps the doctor'd left purty reglar the fust pai't o' the nite, but they only made me sorter doze off an' then wake up wi' a jump, a dreemin' I wus a fallin'. Then I counted back'ards an' forrids an' tride ever'thing else, but cudn't git no rest. The fire wus a burnin' 240 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. brite, the shadders a dancin' up an' down on the wall an' my ole companyun the win' wus a howlin' an' a shreekin' roun' the korners o' the house an' a wa'lin' down the wide chimbly. By a turnin' my he'd a littel I cud see ever' objec' in the room. The tea-kittel an' coffee pot wus a settin' on one jam' an' my soup an' yarb tea in cups on tuther'n. The split bottum chers wus a standin' roun' an' the squar' tabel shoved back agin the wall, the deeshes shined in the dresser an' the pots an' kittels wus piled up onder it. Father's ole flint lock muskit wus over one dore, the eends a restin' in deer horn racks, the shot pouch an' powder horn a hangin' onder it, an' over tuther dore wus my gun an' huntin' implemunts. Mother's big spinnin' wheel stud agin tuther wall, wi' a half fill'd broach an' a piece o' wool roll a hangin' frum the pint o' the spindel, ther shadders a movin' up an' down. A littel lookin' glass hung tipped forrids by the side o' one o' the dores, roun' the top a string o' blue an' white birds' aigs an' dride bach'lor buttons an' below a white cloth wi' peacocks an' quar anumels made in turkey red needel work an' onder thet a faded hussif stuck full o' crooked needels an' pins, es I know'd, an' et the bottum a come easel 'Twix' the beds wus two high shelves wi' a pile o' quilts an' does on 'em an' mother's blue caleco Sundy dress an' our blue jeens cotes a hangin' on wooden pegs onder it. Long sticks wi' rings o' dride punkin strung onter 'em wus a restin' on the jists nex' the fire place an' big bunches o' pennyroyal CRIPPELD AN' DISHEARTENED. 241 an' red peppur decurated the wall over the fire bord. Es I look'd roun' the room, over an' over agin, 'peer'd es ef ever'thing wus strange an' I'd never seed 'em afore an' the shadders begun ter dance faster an' grow bigger an' the win' got ter shreekin' louder like som' human bein' in distress. I closed up my eyes an' stuffed the korners o' the bed does inter my yers ter shet out sites an' soun's an' then my tho'ts wander'd back ter when I wus a monstr'us littel boy an' me an' muther uster go out in the spring o' the ye'r ter git blue bells an' wile plum blossoms ter fill up an' adorn the empty fire plaice. An' I remember'd how good an' in dulgent mother wus ter me, abendin' down hick'ry saplin's fur me ter ride an' a peelin' off slippery ellum bark fur me ter chaw. Yes, me an' moth- er'd allus bin monstr'us good fr'en's an' she bed sich perfec' trust an' confidens in me an' all my doin's an' never lost a chance ter hole me up es a exampel ter Jim an' tuther boys. An' I tho't o' how hard I'd bin on pore Jim a puttin' him down an' a keepin' him thar an' a gittin' all the pra'se an' 'umorin' musself. An' now I hed ter ac'nollege thet arter all he wus a thousan' times better'n me. Nobody'd ever accused Jim o' lyin' an' es fur a cussin', whendever a row wus a brewin' 'twix' the Flatters an' he know'd bad words an' fitin' wus boun' ter com', he'd stuff his fingers inter his yers an' run fur life an' not com' back ontell 'twus over an' they'd shuk ban's all roun' an' made up. I'd call'd him a coward then fur not a wantin' ter see 16 242 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. blood draw'd. / didn't keer how much they fit' an' bang'd an' cut one nuther up, 'twusn't my blood they wus a drawin', an' es fur ther cussin' I hel' musself thet lofty I jis scorned 'em an' tho't I wus a turnin' a deef yer ter all they sed: but I wus mistuk, the crap o' bad words wus sow'd when I didn't know it an' I'd reep'd the harvest. A studyin' all these 'ere things over I felt thet humilyated an' gilty I cudn't keep frum a groanin' out loud an' then mother started up an' tuk holt o' me. "What's the matter, hunny?" sez she. " I mus' a drap'd off, but I didn't meen ter! " An' then I tole her it wus jis a killin' me ter see her a w'arin' herself out an' a losin' her rest fur me. She begged me not ter bother musself non' kase she got all the sleep she needed in the day time when father wus a tendin' me an' 'twusn't a hurtin' her ter set up. I tole her she wus monstr'us good an' thet I wusn't wuth all the trubbel I wus a givin' her an' thet 'tud a bin better ef I'd never a com' two when I wus throw'd. Then she sed : " Don't talk thet a way, hunny, yer time hedn't com'! We've all got ter go when our time comes an' ef de'th wusn't the bes' thing fur us, arter our work's don' here, I 'low 'twudn't never a bin ordered. An' then it's only thru de'th thet we can reech the good worl' an' thet orter riconcile us ter the change when it does com'!" An' then she sorter reflected an' sed ef thar'd a bin enny uther rode ter Heving she 'low'd somebody'd a pry'd roun' an' foun' it out, kase fokes wus a diskiverin' CRIPPELD AN' DISHEARTENED. 243 so menny things these days. Then she tole me ter be patien', thet I wus y'ung an' a gwine ter git over my hurt in time an' mebbe be stronger'n ever, thet she'd know'd a site o' fokes who'd broke ther legs an' no purmunent harm don' 'em, an' thet I mus'n't fret over a bein' a trubbel, kase I'd never bin nuthin' but a comfurt ever sense I wus fust born'd inter the worl', never a havin' no ailin's ter speek uv, all my teeth a bein' cut thet e'sy she scursely know'd they wus a comin' ontell she seed two littel rows o' white pegs all roun'. An' she sed she cud allus go strate on wi' her work, a set- tin' me in a hoss collar by the loom an' a drappin' me the empty quills outen the shettel an' I'd take ever' fresh one up an' examin' it thet intrusted es ef 'twus somethin' I'd never seed the like uv afore when quills wus a lyin' all roun' me thick es hops, an' thet 'twus jis' so when I got older, me never a runnin' inter no mischeef nur danger an' never a henderin' her in nuthin'. Then she sed Jim wus def'rent, but its a bein' in his natur she 'low'd he cudn't help it; thet the fust quill she drap'd down ter him wus sorter split an' he worked ontell he got a splunter offen it thet he tride ter swaller, mos' a chokin' hisself ter de'th an' a havin' ter be swung roun' by the heels ontell he wus black in the face 'fore it com' up, an' thet he tride ter gouge one o' his eyes out wi' the nex' one she ventur'd ter giv' him, thet wus soun', an' thet ar bodiaceously putt a eend ter the quill bizness fur him. An' she sed when his stummick teeth wus onder way ef she 244 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. walk'd the flore one nite wi' him she mus' a walk'd it forty, an' clar up ter camp meetin' time he wus ever'lastin'ly inter somethin' he ortn't a bin in, but he wus a doin' rite now an' she wusn't a com- planin' but jis a showin' me I wusn't never nuthin' but a comfort an' help all the days o' my life 'thout no reward, an' 'twusn't only jest an' rite thet I shud hev a littel nussin' sometime, when tuther'ns hed hed so much an' mebbe I'd never a got it ef this 'ere hedn't a happen'd. What she sed sunk me lower down than ever, but I made up my min' ter struggel back ter som' pint whar I cud hev my own self respec' agin ef possibel, an' not sale onder false colurs no longer. 'Twus thet humilyatin' ter think o' losin' mother's good 'pinyun I hed ter take musself in ban' monstr'us firm an' resolve ter make a cleen bre'st o' all my weekedness an' take the konsekences. I started out by tellin' mother never ter blame Jim agin fur nuthin' he'd don', big ur littel, kase et hart the boy hed allus bin a thousan' times better'n me, an' es fur his scrapes, I'd got so fur ahe'd o' him, now, thar wusn't no comparisun. Then I push'd off her ban' thet wus a holdin' tite ter mine an' tole her I wus a false deceever an' thar wusn't no meener nur ongrate- fuller man a livin' than the pore crippel a lyin' thar an' a sufferin' out his jest desarts. A thinkin' the fever'd sot in mother jum'p up an' tride ter make me swaller down a dubbel dost o' the draps, but I purvaled on her ter set down agin an' lis'en ter what I wanted ter say. An' then I begun wi' CR1PPELD AN" 1 DISHEARTENED. 24-5 the fust time I'd seed Kizzy et camp meetin' an' how I'd bin a def rent man ever sense, allus a thinkin' uv her when I fust woke in the mornin' an' the las' thing et nite, an' how my bashfulnuss hel' me back an' how it hurt me ter see tuther fellers a makin' up ter her. An' thet finully I 'low'd ter git up kurridge, whether ur no, an' ax her ter marry me, an' thet wus why I'd broke Blazes ter carry dubbel an' tied bin a fencin' my clame. An' how I'd gon' ter Lishy Menden'all's wi' sich high anticupashins an' how my own false tung hed brung 'em all low. An' how I got a chance an' explaned ter Kizzy, a beggin' her ter drap a word ur make enny sine thet I mout know I wus forgiv'; an' how I'd hung roun' ontell shore thar wusn't no furder hope fur me an' how con tented Kizzy 'peer'd ter git back 'longside o' Josiar an' the singin' a drivin' me out inter the cole an' how it soar'd up thru the chimbly an' how I kep' a wanderin' roun' an' roun' wi' sich a overpowerin' feelin' o' bein' shot out frum all happinuss an' goodnuss forever an' how I'd scolded an' kick'd Blazes when she wus so glad ter see me an' an' an' Oh! how cud I tell her the rest? 'Fore I'd sed five words she hed my ban' in both o' hern an' when I tole 'bout the lie she sed, " My pore boy, 'twusn't you a talkin', 'twus yer high temper thet hed run ye distracted." An' when I sed what a brute I'd bin ter my filly she insisted thet a bein' cleen outen my senses nater'ly I wusn't no ways responsibel. Then I got ter the cussin' an' the Ole 246 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. Evil One tole me ter skip it an' not hurt mother's feelin's but on thet ar pint I stud firm es a rock, detarmin'd ter show musself up then an' thar in my true lite an' not live no longer onder false pretenses an' I tole mother ter let go my han' an' brace herself fur the wust wus a comin', an' ef frum thet ar time forrids she disown'd me forever I'd say it wus jest an' 'onor her fur it ter my dyin' day. An' then I ups an' tells her 'bout the cussin', not a sparin' musself an' not a keepin' nuthin' back, a sayin' I went inter it big an' strong es ef I'd never don' nuthin' else but cuss all my born'd days. An' insted o' risin' up in her 'rath an' a castin' me off forever, es I'd expected, mother jis' got both arms roun' me an' hugg'd me wi' all her mite an' sez : " My pore, sufferin' chile, 'twus ever' bit my fault!" "Her fault?" 1 wus thet dum'- founder'd I cudn't b'leeve my own yers. How cud my blasphemin' be blamed onter mother? " Yes! " she sed, a holdin' onter me titer, "Yes, it wus all my fault! I wus thet proud an' vane o' yer good looks an' yer stren'th an' yer stratef orrid , nobel natur', I never got tired o' comparin' my boy wi' the ornery sons o' som' o' my naburs! My pride wus boun' ter hev a fall, but oh! ter think I've brungjj/o down wi' it! An' hunny," she sez, " Ye wus allus so bent on gwine ter meetin' an' so morul an' steddy, I tho't ye wus es good es enny- body, thet you'd bin born'd good 'thout no con- vartin' nur nuthin', an' I never sed a word ter ye et camp meetin' 'bout a gwine up ur a bein' tuk CRIPPELD AN 1 DISHEARTENED, 247 in, kase I tho't ye wus safet an' ud com' ter it all yerself when ye got reddy ! But I mout a know'd ever'body's born'd in sin an' mus' hev a change o* hart! Mebbe this 'ere afflicshun wus intended ter 'umbel ye an' set ye ter reflectin' an' you'll com* out yit a brite an' shinin' lite in the gorspel truth!" I cudn't b'ar ter tell mother I wusn't onder con- vicshun, nur likely ter be no shinin' lite in the way she hoped, but wus only a repentin' fur what I'd don' ter bring this 'ere trubbel on musself an' tuther'ns, an' I gradooally fotch the subjec' back ter Kizzy an' ax'd mother ef she tho't 'twus all over 'twixt us past mendin', an' she sed frum what she cud gather it 'peer'd thet a way, but a body cudn't allus tell. Then a losin' controle o' musself I jis' raved out thet ef thar wusn't no furder chance fur me wi' Kizzy I hoped an' pray'd I mout never git often thet ar bed alive. Ef I'd a know'd what effec' the words ud hev on mother, mebbe I cud a kep' frum a sayin' 'em fur she broke cleen down an' sobbed an' cride es ef her hart ud brake. Thet ar sorter fotch me ter my senses an' I tuk her ban' an' sed I wusn't nuthin' but a meen, selfish, on- grateful critter a tryin' ter kill the bes' mother thet ever lived, an' then I called ter father ter git up an' take mother's part agin me. He wus outen bed in a secant a axin' what wus the matter. Mother wiped her eyes an' tole him nuthin' wusn't the matter only Jack wus cleen tired out an' narv'us an' she 'low'd she'd got sorter narv'us too, but ef he'd fix the fire an' lay down agin she'd 248 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. pore a passel o' soothin' draps inter my sage tea an' git me ter worry 'em down an' mebbe I'd go ter sleep. Arter a puttin' on a new fore stick father went back ter bed an' ter pleese mother I swaller'd all the tea she brung me an' purty soon begun ter doze off an' fall an' wake up agin. Then I got sorter num' an' monstr'us het up an' tho't fur my weekedness I wus tide flat o' my back outer a bord an' flung inter the lake o' fire an' brimstone Noey Stubbels hed described et camp meetin'. 'Twusn't no use ter try ter move, kase I wus boun' han' an' foot an' then I tride ter holler an' arter what 'peer'd ter be a monstr'us long time, I woke musself up a screemin' fur Kizzy ter com' an' ontie me. But the burnin' didn't stop an* I tore all the bed kivers off an' flung 'em onter the flore an' I heern voices thet sounded strange a sayin' the fever'd sot in. Then I dozed off agin an' tho't I seed Blazes a gallupin' to'ards me a lookin' monstr'us skittish an' thet I kotch holt o' her bridel thet wus a draggin' onter the groun' an' mounted an' started on a long, tiresome j'urney through dark, muddy lanes, Blazes a mirin' ter her knees an' me a ridin' an' a ridin' an' never a gittin' thar. An' now I mus' tell the story, fur awhile, secant hand, es I heern it frum one an' nuther a long time arterwurds. XXXI. MY FEVER AN' OUR NABURS. Father brung the Doctor agin nex' day an' the naburs a gittin' win' o' my sickness com' in thick an' fast ter help our fokes b'ar up onder ther trubbel. Lishy Menden'all wus 'mong the fust ter arrive an' arter examinin' my case he sed the Doctor'd dorgnosed it 'rong an' thet 'cordin' ter his noshun 'twusn't no winter fever thet made me rave but thet I wus onder convicshun, kase I kep' a runnin' on 'bout my sins an' weekedness, an' he'd jis' strack up a chune an' see ef it didn't bring me thru. But the singin' hed a contrairy effec', excitin' me ter thet ar pitch I tride ter t'ar the splints offen my leg an' jump outen bed an' a passel o' the men fokes a holdin' me so's I cudn't do narry one I begun ter screem an' yell fur Kizzy ter help me. Thet ar open'd the eyes o' all thet hed bin et the frolick an' them explanin' matters ter ever'body else, a site more pored in on us nex' day ter heer my talk, ther noise a makin' me more distracted'n ever. When Mis' Menden 'all got thar an' seed how matters wus, she sed the fokes orter thin out an' nobody com' inter the house 'cep' them thet wus needed ter help take keer o' me. Then the men went ter work an' 249 250 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. patch'd up the chimbly o' our ole caben, thet hed blow'd off in a high win', an' the wimmin clar'd out the rubbish an' som' brung ther beddin' an' in a day or two they wus fix'd up comfurtabel like, a doin' ther own cookin' an' a bein' on han' ef things com' ter the wust. Som' went up inter the loft ter sleep an' pallets wus made down in both houses fur tuther'ns an' the balence wus devided inter relays ter set up wi' me, an' they sed I tuk on most et nite, kase the noise o' the whisperin' an' hitchin's o' chers over the flore distarb'd me monstr'us. Mis' Menden'all went home ever' uther day an' cook'd up a lot o' purvisyuns an' brung em over ter our house an' advised tuther wimmin fokes ter do the same or send word ter ther gals ter cook fur 'em. Then Mis' Ben Jones she talk'd roun' an' tride ter git up hard feelin's a sayin' Mis' Menden'all know'd her cookin' wus better'n enny- body else's an' wanted comparisuns ter be draw'd. But it don' no good, ever'one a sidin' wi' Mis' Menden'all. Mis' Suggs sed she'd bile up a passel o' vittals a Satturdy an' bring 'em but Mis' Mend en'all a knowin' how 'tud crowd her work, sed she'd purvide nuff fur 'em both. An' when ole Mis' Flint com' wi' a big basket full o' purvisyuns an' 'twus foun' out she'd borry'd 'em all frum Mis' Tim Jones, a leevin' her empty handed, Mis' Menden'all volunteer'd ter bring Mis' Flint's sheer two. But, purty soon, this 'ere leeked out ter Lishy thru Mis' Ben Jones an' made him mad es a hornet, an' he wus heern ter tell Mis' Menden'all Mr FEVER AN 1 OUR NABURS. 251 thet she hedn't no call ter set up a free tavern in Moses Deans'es ole caben an' swaller up all the proffits o' the one they wus a keepin' et home fur pay. These 'ere gwines on a comin' ter father's yers, he begg'd 'em all not ter bring no more eteabels outer his place, kase he hed a plenty an' ter spar'. An' then he went an' hed a yerlin' ca'f an' two hogs barbecude, a havin' ter dig thru the friz up groun' ter make his trench. An' he robbed a passel o' beegums an' lade in a lot o'coffee an' the fokes kep' three gritters a runnin' fur bre'd stuff, kase Jurdan's water mill hed stop'd, the ice a bein' thet thick in Littel Muddy som' 'low'd 'twus solid cleen ter the bottum. Father tole all the fokes when thet ar supply o' purvisyuns giv' out he'd purvide more an' ter help therselves liberal ter ever'thing. This 'ere a bein' settel'd they nex* hel' a counsil over my case, me a havin' talk'd in my deliryum ontell they all know'd my secret frum beginnin' ter eend, som' a blamin' monstr'us an' tuther'ns a holdin' I'd don' rite. Tobe Jones sed ever'thing wus fa'r in love an' war an' es both o' these 'ere condishuns wus a purvalin' I orter be exonurated, thet ef he'd a bin in my plaice he'd not only a deceeved 'em, but 'ud a challunged Josiar fur a gittin' him inter the scrape an' a licked him ur a bin lick'd hisself. Tho' thar wus a def'rence o' 'pinyun 'bout my conduc' they all agreed thet ef Kizzy wus thar her voice mout quiet my ravin's, an' som' tho't she orter be sent fur, but tuther'ns sed ef Josiar'd spoke 'twudn't be 252 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. rite fur her ter com', ever'body 'peerin' ter think his speekin' wus the only thing needed, kase no gal wudn't refuse him. But the fust insistud thet this 'ere ortn't ter hev no wate in a matter o' life an' de'th an' they went ter the Doctor, when he com' agin an' explaned ever'thing ter him an' ax'd his advice. He sed the fever'd hev ter run its corse but thar wusn't no dou't my min' a bein' sot et rest when I com' outen it ud go a long ways to'ards a bringin' me thru. Then Lishy Menden'all volunteer'd ter go ter Mis' Reed's an' tell how matters stud, a promisin' ter bring Kizzy back wi' him, shore an' certing, but he wus mon- str'us mistuk an' jis' made a botch o' the 'hole job frum beginnin' ter eend, a smoothin' nuthin' over an' a makin' me out meener, ef possibel, then I wus, a addin' ever' aggervatin' thing he cud think uv, a sayin' I'd flouted Kizzy, monstr'tis, when she'd tole out loud 'fore ever'body thet she liked me an' then my fokes a knowin' this 'ere wus a axin' fur her ter go an' try ter save my life. 'Peer'd Kizzy never menshun'd the plays an' when Mis' Reed heern o' my conduc' it fired up her Kaintuk blood, monstr'us, an' she giv' Lishy sich a gwine over fur a comin' on his arrant thet he retreeted cleen inter the yard, her a follerin' an' a tellin' him ter go back ter them thet sent him an' say ef I died 'twudn't be Kizzy 's fault an' she shudn't stur a singel step. Lishy's long tung don' him no good thet time an' he sneeked back mon str'us down in the mouth an' sed 'twus a good MT FEVER AN' 1 OUR NABURS. 253 thing thet me an' Kizzy wus et outs, an' likely ter stay so ef I got well, kase ole Mis' Reed ud make the worryinist mother-in-law he'd ever know'd in all the settelmunts roun', ur even back thar in Tennysy. Me still a ravin' all nite long mother tuk it inter her he'd, es she know'd all the sarcum- stances better'n ennybody else, ter go an' explane matters ter Mis' Reed an' Kizzy herself, an' ax Mis' Reed ter com' long two an' bring her boys, ef she cudn't leeve 'em, an' sed 'tud look better fur her mother ter be thar ef Kizzy wus promised ter Josiar. A leevin' me in charge o' Mis' Mend- en'all an' father, mother bundeled herself up well an' sot off arly in the mornin' on our ole "Windin- blades" thet wus a monstr'us fast racker. Well, mother she cudn't bring Mis' Reed ter turms nuther an' purty soon they com' ter words. Arter mother'd gon' over ever'thing I'd tole her frum beginnin' ter eend, 'cep' my blasphemin' an' treet- ment o' Blazes, an' dwelt on how I'd 'pologized ter Kizzy an' begged her ter drap a word ur make a sine ur enny thing I'd onderstan', an' my sufferin's o' body an' min' arter I wus throw'd, Mis' Reed sed I desarved ter suffer (whech wus a fac'). Mother ans'er'd back thet when I'd 'umbled mus- self an' explaned ever'thing ter Kizzy she orter a sed somethin' one way ur tuther whether she keer'd fur me ur not, thet I'd tole her 'twus kase I tho't sich a power o' her an' wus so bashful thet I'd tride ter hide my feelin's 'fore fokes an' got sturr'd up an' flustrated but bed gon' ter her wi* 254 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. my full intenshuns the fust chance I got in privat'. Then Mis' Reed sed Kizzy hed a rite ter act in- dependen' like an' accep' 'pologies ur not es she plees'd, an' es fur Jack nobody needn't try ter smooth nuthin' over fur him when his conduc' hed bin so meen an' low life, an' es fur Kizzy she cud marry his betters enny day. Mother sed Kizzy'd hev ter go a long ways ter fin' Jack's betters, ef she did say it es shudn't. An' Mis' Reed sed thet ar wus a matter o' 'pinyun; enny how Kizzy shudn't go a runnin' arter no man sick nur well, livin' nur ded, when she cud hev the bes' in the kuntry an' not stur frum the house, an' fur onct an' all she'd repeet thet Kizzy ud never go neer me wi' her consent, ef I died. An' then mother kuntrived ter hole in her feelin's long nuff ter say: " Ef I'd a know'd ye wus so hardharted I'd never a darken'd yer dore on this 'ere arrant! Jis' keep yer gal an' by the help o' the Mity Goodness we'll try ter pull Jack thru 'thout her! " Arter this 'ere mother hurri'd out ter hide her cryin' an' mounted " Wind- inblades" an' started fur home. Kizzy'd heern the explanin' an' disputin' 'thout a openin' uv her mouth, jis' a walkin' back'ards an' forrids et her wheel, a keepin' it a buzzin' when the talkin' wus mod'rate like, an' a stoppin' ter fix the spindel, ur band, when the voices riz, an' when mother wus in the middel o' her las' sentence she drap'd her spinnin' stick onter the flore an' rush'd outen the house. When mother'd jis' got roun' one side o' the littel cornfiel' she seed Kizzv a comin' et her MT FEVER AN 1 OUR NABURS. 255 outen the bresh, her ha'r all tumbled down an' a blowin' in the win' an' the teers a streemin' over her cheeks an' her ban's hel' up tergether mon- str'us pleedin' like. An' a comin' up clost she sobb'd out: "Oh, Jack's mother! Jack's mother! don't let him die! An' tell him when his senses comes back thet I'm so sorry fur him an' thet I did forgiv' him an' I tho't he sed: 'Drap the gourd an' I'll take it fur a sine' an' I flung it down hard, so's he'd know an' I never look'd et him agin, kase tuther'ns mout a gessed how 'twus an' I tho't he'd onderstan' An' 'twus sich a releef ter know all wus rite agin 'peer'd like when we begun ter sing I wanted ter make my voice reech cleen up ter the skies a bein' so thank ful An' arterwurds I cudn't make out why he wusn't roun' when we wus all a gwine home a wa'tin' fur him es long es I cud an' an' when somebody else step'd up an' ax'd fur my comp'ny, I cudn't refuse kase 'twus two late an' dark ter go home by musself An' tell him all this 'ere an' thet I'd go ter him ef I cud but I've bin a a-disappintmunt ter mother an' she's allus bed sich a bad time I can't b'ar ter cross her when she's so sot agin my gwine an' don't think she's es hardharted es she seems she's not herself now an' mebbe'll be def'rent when you see her nex' time jis' look over what she sed in her agger- vashun but, oh! don't let Jack die!" 'Fore Kizzy's say wus ha'f out mother'd slid offen " Windinblades " an' wus a huggin' her wi' all 256 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. her mite. An' when she woun' up mother tole her not ter worry non', an' then a tryin' ter de scribe how I wus a ravin' fur Kizzy she broke down herself an' Kizzy tuk holt an' comfurted her an' they hed a reg'lar ole fashuned camp meetin' thar all ter therselves. I 'low 'tud a bin a mon- str'us purty site ter a seed them ar two wimmin fokes a tryin' ter keep one nuther's sperrits up when both wus so downharted. Mother tole Kizzy she'd excuse all her mother sed fur her sake an' thet now 'twus sorter impress'd on her I'd git well wi' so menny a keerin' fur me. An' Kizzy enkurridged mother an' sed mebbe when her mother'd hed time ter reflec' she'd change her min'. An' then she twisted up her long ha'r an' woun' it roun' her hed an' fasten'd it wi' her come, thet she'd pick'd up an' carri'd in her han', an' led " Windinblades " clost ter a stump an' mother mounted an' started home, a lookin' back et Kizzy thet waved her han' ontell mother wus cleen outen site an' then went back ter her spinnin'. A big crowd gether'd roun' mother fur news es soon es she rid up ter our fence, ever'body a wonderin' how she cud be in sich good hart when she'd com' back by herself, but the only ones thet got all the purticklars o' her trip wus father an' Mis' Menden'all. XXXII. FATHER WINS. When mornin' com' an' foun' me no better father sed es Kizzy wus on our side 'peer'd like her mother orter be fotch roun' an' ef nobody didn't bother him non', mebbe he cud kuntrive som' way ter bring her ter turms. Then he tuk his whetstone outen a crack in the wall an' sharp- en'd up his knife an' bed one o' the boys bring him a cleen, fresh corn cob thet he cut an' scraped an' finished off thet neet som' sed it looked like a rale store pipe, an' then he cut a hole in the side an' fix'd a goose quill in fur a stem an' fill'd it wi' fresh terbacker an' tuk up a live cole wi' the tongs an' pressed it inter the pipe wi' his thum' an' sot his- self off in a korner o' the fireplace ter smoke. Arter a long spell o' lookin' strate inter the fire an' a studyin' an' a battin' his eyes father riz an' knock'd the ashes outen his pipe an' sez ter mother an' Mis' Menden'all: "I've got it!" Then he draw'd on his big cote an' went out an' saddeld up his critter an' a puttin' mother's side saddel onter Windinblades started off ter Papaw Holler in a hurry. Es he tole arterwurds, he hitched Windin blades outen site in the timber an' rid up an' tide his critter ter the fence an' went inter the house, 17 257 258 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. whar he foun' matters a lookin' monstr'us jubos. Mis' Reed scursely anser'd when he sed " Howdy " an' then sot two an' giv' Kizzy a gwine over fur a bein' behin'han' wi' Mis' Menden'all's spinnin', the pore gal a walkin' up an' down et the wheel an' lookin' es ef she'd mos' cride her eyes out. The boys a comin' in ruther noisy got ther sheer o' scoldin' two, an' a cuffin' inter the bargin, an' wus sent off ter pick up bresh. 'Thout 'peerin' ter notis nuthin' father tuk a cher an' draw'd up ter the fire an' hel' fust one ban' an' then tuther over the blaze ter warm 'em up an' then sot out ter a talkin' et Mis' Reed 'bout the wether an' one thing an' nuther 'thout a gittin' no ans'er; then he whis'led hisself cleen outen bre'th on a mo'rnful sorter chune, a fotchin' up wi' a melunkolly syth. Mis' Reed finish'd clarin' up, a crashin' the deeshes inter the dresser an' a bangin' chers an' tabel agin the wall; then she kotch up the broom an' fell two es ef she'd sweep father inter the fire 'long wi' tuther litter. But he mov'd his cher roun' outen the way, monstr'us good natur'd, an' when she sot down wi' her cards an' a pile o' wool an' got well on wi' her work father ventur'd a remark 'bout the cole wether. 'Peer'd like him a bein' so patien' an' fren'ly bed sorter thaw'd her out ur else her temper'd got a littel ex'austed, kase she ax'd him, but middlin' snappish like, how his fokes wus. Et this 'ere the wheel stop'd buzzin' all uv a suddent, a havin' throw'd the band an' got it all snarl'd up onter the spindel an' father a FATHER WINS. 259 gessin' the reeson cudn't hev the h'art ter tell the wust an' only sez : " I'm in hopes they're som' better by this 'ere time!" An' he went on ter say he'd com' over fur a littel talk, kase he'd heern thet her an' his ole wummin didn't git on very well tergether yisterday. Et this 'ere Mis' Reed 'peer'd ter fire up agin, a tellin' Kizzy not ter stan' a gawkin' roun' over thet ar band all day, but 'fore she begun work agin, ter hunt up the boys an' tell 'em ter bring 'long the bresh in a hurry. When Kizzy'd gone father sed he cudn't b'ar ter be et outs wi' non' o' the naburs wi' Jack a lyin' thet low he mout be et the pint o' deth, an' mebbe ud never git up agin. An' he sed mother wus all wore out wi' anxi'ty an' a takin' keer o' me an' ef she'd sed ennything ter hurt feelin's she wus mon- str'us sorry, thet she knovv'd Kizzy wusn't ter blame fur nuthin' an' desarved better treetment than I'd giv' her, thet she wusn't onder no obliga- shuns ter me, whatsom'dever, but mebbe in the cause o' humanity an' ter save life som' things mout be overlook'd. An' then he tole her 'twus only ter quiet my min' when I com' ter my senses thet they wanted Kizzy, kase ef I went on a wor- ryin' when the fever left me I mout die. This 'ere an' a site more thet he sed 'peer'd ter a totch a tender spot in Mis' Reed's hart an' she sed she wus sorry Lishy Menden'all hed ever sot his foot inside o' her dore ter tell the doin's et his house, kase she'd bin monstr'us putt out 'bout nuther matter thet she cudn't onderstan' afore an' Lishy's 260 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. story'd made it all plane es day. She seel Josiar Simson bed brung Kizzy home frum the frol- ick an' com' in ter warm up, thar a bein' a big fire a burnin' an' thet him an' Kizzy sot down an' wus a talkin' middlin' low, but she heern ever' word. An' arter a long rigmarole an' a site o' palaverin' Josiar com' ter the pint an' ax'd Kizzy ter marry him an' she sed she wus much obleeged fur his pref'rence, but cudn't possibly accep' an' he beg'd an' pled fur her ter take time an' kun- sider but she sed ef she shud kunsider all the bal- ence o' her life it never cud be noways def'rent. An' he 'low'd she wus mistuk an' didn't know her her own min' an' kep' on a argyin' thet mebbe he'd spoke two suddent, but she stud firm, never a yieldin' a inch an' he got up an' went off in mon- str'us low sperrets arter a tellin' her ef she did change ter let him know an' he'd com' back enny time. But she hel' out ter the vary eend thet thar cudn't never be no change. An' Mis' Reed sed the minnit arter Josiar left she riz an' tole Kizzy she wusn't nuthin' but a nateral born iggiot fur a lettin' sich a chance slip, thet she'd bin a hopin' an' a prayin' 'tud com' roun', him so well off an' them so pore, an' no man purson ter help rase the boys thet wus a bein' spilt wi' so much wimmin fokes'es hectorin'. An' Mis' Reed sed they'd actooally a suffer'd thet winter ef they hedn't a bin kep' in work an' purvisyuns by Mis' Menden'all, thet they'd carded an' spun an' wove 'arly an' late an' not much ter show fur it nuther, an' she'd tole FATHER WINS. 261 Kizzy she cud bring Josiar back wi' a word an' then she wudn't hev ter go an' 'umble herself 'fore her fokes in Kaintuk, a havin' run off wi' a Yankee school teacher an' marri'd him agin ther will an' bin brung mos' ter starvashun, him never a bein' abel ter git no sorter work he know'd how ter do an' they hed ter live a fur ways off in the ba'kwoods ter hide frum her daddy an' brothers. An' when et the las' her ole man wus a dyin' wi' a slow fever he made her promis' ter take the chillern an' go back ter her fokes an' git 'em ter write ter his'n fur help; an' thet she'd ruther a died herself than to a done it, but fur her promis' an' the chillern's sakes. An' she'd kep' her word an' wus on her way when her littlest boy wus tuk down wi' fever'n ager an' they hed ter stop an' wate fur spring. An' she'd tho't ef Kizzy marrid Josiar he'd git the boys inter som' sorter work an' help make 'em all independen', so when they did go back 'twudn't be es beggars, an' them she used ter scorn an' hold her he'd 'bove, when she wus proud an' rich, wudn't be a lookin' down on her. An' when she'd scolded Kizzy an' lectur'd an' reeson'd wi' her an' com' monstr'us nigh a fallin' down on her knees ter beg her ter save 'em frum a gwine back es they'd started, Kizzy sed she wus willin' ter work her fingers ter the bone fur her mother an' the boys, an' 'tud be her highes' ple's- ur ef no uther help com', but she never cud an' never wud marry no man she didn't keer fur under no sarcumstances whatsomdever fur nobody 262 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. nur nuthin'. An Mis' Reed sed she cudn't onder- stan' it kase Josiar wus a likely man an' monstr'us perlite ter Kizzy an' Jack hedn't never bin a comin' roun' non', but when Lishy Menden'all let the 'hole story out ever'thing wus es plane es day, an' she know'd 'twusn't no use ter go on a plannin' ter bring Kizzy an' Josiar tergether, kase ef she'd tuk a likin' ter Jack, no matter how much he'd flouted her, she'd live an' die 'lone ruther'n ter spunk up an' marry somebody she didn't keer fur ter spite him. An' when mother com' an' tole her o' my gwines on agin an' how I'd slited Kizzy an' a throwin' blame outer her fur not gwine down on her knees an' a thankin' me, es 'twus, when I tried ter 'pologize, a makin' me out a saint an' acnolledgin' I'd lied in the same bre'th, then Mis' Reed sed she did git spunky an' giv' mother a peece o' her min'. A talkin' it over made her rile up agin an' she tole father thet now he know'd the hist'ry o' Kizzy's fam'ly an' why she'd not bin willin' ter have fokes a comin' arter 'em a tryin' ter dictate the'r acshuns, an' she wus glad the talk wus over an' hoped he'd now mount his critter an' go home; thet she'd sed Kizzy cudn't never go a runnin' arter no man sick nur well wi' her consent an' she wus a wummin o' her word. Jis' then Kizzy com' in wi' a armful o' bresh an' sed the boys wus a draggin' a passel o' de'd logs down hill, ter git 'em neerder the house ter cut up inter fire wood, an' father ax'd how ole she wus an' she sed ateen a gwine on nineteen an' he sed 'cordin' FATHER WINS. 263 ter law she wus ole nuff ter speek fur herself an' 'peer'd like she orter hev a voice in a matter him an' her mother hed bin talkin' over, kase it con- sarned her more'n it did arry one o' them. An' he sed 'fore his Jack tuk the fever he wus in mon- str'us distres' on 'count o' som' inj'ry he tho't he'd don' her, pore feller! an' sense he wus outen his he'd he'd jis' raved 'bout it nite an' day a callin' on her ter forgiv' him, an' thet the doctor tho't ef she wus thar ter releeve his min' when the fever'd run its course an' he com' ter his senses, he'd stand som' chance o' pullin' thru, but ef he went ter a dwellin' on it an' a worryin' 'tud push him purty hard ter git up agin, kase he'd be so monstr'us week. When father woun' up Kizzy wus thet overcom' she cudn't har'ly speek, but sorter sobbed out she wish'd her mother'd let her go. Mis' Reed wus a wipin' the teers offen her own cheeks an' mad et herself fur a givin' way, an' sed they'd no biz'ness all a cloagin' tergether an' aggervatin' her inter a sayin' Kizzy cudn't never go wi' her eon- sent. Then father tride ter cheer her up an' ax'd her ter go 'long herself an' take her littel fellers an' they cud 'muse therselves a ketchin' rabbits wi' his shavers, an' thet she needn't take no responsi- bil'ty 'bout Kizzy but let her go on her own hook an' thet ar wudn't be a brakin' nobody's word. 'Bout then father's critter nicker'd an' nuther'n anser'd a comin' fast to'ards the house. They all tho't I wus wuss an' father'd bin sent fur an' made a rush tergether fur the dore an' seed our ole 264 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. Windinblades a rackin' up wi' both o' Mis' Reed's boys on her back, them a hollerin' they'd foun' a stray but it bed bin hitch'd an' broke loose. Father wus cleen beet out, kase he'd forgot the he'dstrong ole thing wudn't stan' 'thout nuthin' much short uv a cabel rope ur a log chain roun' her neck (tho' he'd putt a strong halter onter her fur mother the day afore) an' hed tide her up by the bridel ter a swingin' lim'. Mis' Reed look'd et father an' father look'd et Kizzy an' they all look'd et Windinblades an' the side saddel, an' then daylite broke in on Mis' Reed's min' an' she tole father he'd hid this 'ere critter off in the timber an' wus detarmin'd ter take Kizzy whether or no. An' then father, thet wus a brag reesoner when he got hemmed in, jis' turned on a big streem o' ilokence an' pled like a rale shore nuff lawyer 'fore the bars uv a high surkit court. An' the upshot wus he silenced Mis' Reed's objecshuns an' bnmg her roun' ter be willin' ter go home wi' him an' take the boys an' then father bolster'd up Kizzy's kurridge a pledgin' his word thet she wus a doin' rite an' agreein' ter take all the blame on hisself ef she wusn't. Then he kiver'd up the fire, while tuther'ns got reddy ter start, an' they all com' out an' the dore wus pegged an' father putt Mis' Reed an' the two boys onter Windinblades, thet wus a monstr'us stout ole anumal, an' tuk Kizzy up behin' him on his critter, an' sot out fur home. When the pursesshun got in site o' the house, our littel Mose a bein' on the lookout, holler'd ter FATHER WINS. 265 tuther'ns, thet ar a bein' the signul fur the naburs ter rush inter the ole caben an' shet the dore, 'cordin' ter Mis' Menden'all's plan. But father sed when his crowd com' thru the yard thar wus eyes a shinin' et ever' crack in the wall es thick es stars in the dark o' the moon on a cl'ar winter nite. XXXIII. OUTEN DARKNESS INTER LITE. Mother met the new comers et the dore wi' a h'arty welcom' an' ax'd 'em ter set up ter the tabel an' hev som' hot coffee an' things. Mis' Reed an' the boys wusn't slow in acceptin' the invite, but Kizzy didn't 'peer ter a heerd nuthin' but my mut- terin's, es I lay a tossin' on a bed in a dark korner o' the room. They sed she turn'd monstr'us white, but tuk holt frum the fust a tryin' ter make her self useful ter them thet wus a takin' keer o' me an' kep' mother an' all the balence in hart an' rested by her patiens an' kurridge an' handy ways o' makin' things go on e'sv. An' Mis' Reed 'peerin' ter want ter make up fur all she'd sed an' don' agin me turn'd out, 'cordin' ter Mis' Menden'all's 'pinyun, ter be the bes' nuss on the plaice, but 'twus days arter they arriv' 'fore thar wus enny purceptubel change in me. The fust I cud ricollec' wus a dull, tired feelin', es ef I wus a tryin' ter wake musself up outen a onple'sant dreem. Thar wus a roarin' noise in my yers an' I heern voices thet sounded a fur ways off, but cudn't make out what they sed, an' tride ter articoolate somethin' musself, but wus two week. Then I open'd my eyes an' seed a grayish mist a movin' up an' down 266 OUTEN DARKNESS INTER LIFE. 267 an' a lite spot in the distans, thet mout a bin the sun, but es I kep' a lookin' it changed inter a pale face, thet 'peer'd familyur like but I cudn't ricol- lec' the name, an' I got tired an' my he'd begun ter ache monstr'us. An' then, they pry'd my mouth open an' po'red down a few draps o' soup, ur somethin' thet tasted good, an' I lost musself agin. 'Peer'd like a long time 'fore I com' two an' seed the mist wus all gon', but the face wus still thar a warrin' a solem' smile an' I know'd 'twus Kizzy. An' then I sorter ricollected some- thin' lied happen'd ter me, but my idees wus mon str'us confused an' I 'low'd mebbe Kizzy wus a contemplatin' uv me frum the sperrit land, an' then I tho't ef she wus de'd I mus' be de'd two, but cudn't make out whar we wus et. I know'd I wusn't fit fur Heving an' thet Kizzy wus two good fur tuther plaice an' thet by rites we ortn't ter be tergether. Then I shot up my eyes ter reeson it out an' it com' over me thet we wus both in the good worl' an' mebbe Kizzy'd gon' my scoority an' got 'em ter take me in es a purbashuner. An' arter a long spell o' try in' ter speek, et las' I axes: "Kizzy is this 'ere Heving we're et ?" An' then her smile got rajent an' a leenin' over she putt her lips clost up agin my yer an' sez: "No, Jack! but 'peers like we aint fur frum it!" By degrese ever'thing com' back ter me, an' when I remimber'd my past conduc' I wus jis' broke clown ter think when I wus a committin' 268 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. ever' weeked an' ongrateful deed I cud, agin ever'- body an' ever'thing, an' a lyin' an' a blasphemin' in the face o' my Creatur, he wus a heepin' murcies an' blessin's onter me a givin' me Kizzy fur we wus promis'd now an' the 'hole settelmunt know'd it, an' I wus a gainin' stren'th ever' 'our an' my leg mos' well. One day I wus a lyin' on the bed all by mus- self, ever'body gon' Kizzy an' her fokes a bein' the last ter leeve us when I got ter a thinkin' it all over an' bed ter keep my eyes shot up tite ter hole the teers back. An' es I went on a reflectin' my hart wus thet totch up I wanted ter say some- thin' out loud ter express my gratitood an' the fust words thet com' ter me wus what father spoke when he got Jim back. An' a claspin' my han's tergether I sez: " Bless the good Lord!" an' a big shaky voice responded "Amen," an' a lookin' up I seed Lishy Menden'all a standin' by the bed a flourishin' his big yaller silk hankicher. An' a feelin' et peece wi' the 'hole worl' I jis' reech'd up an' got him roun' the neck an' hugged him es ef he'd a bin my own father. Dunno what started 'em, but the weddin's thet tuk plaice in our settelmunt, thet ar summer, wus a caushun. Becky Suggs led off wi' the y'ung Post Oke Flatter, Wesly a follerin' wi' Sally Ann Jones, then Tobe an' Zurrildy fell inter line an' arter a month ur two, Simon Suggs an' Peggy Jane Jones an' Elick an' Patsy Briggs enter'd the OUTEN DARKNESS INTER LIFE. 269 state o' matteromuny tergether 'Twus surprisin' ter hev a dubbel weddin', but what made fokes open ther eyes the wides' wus Josiar Simson's a gwine off ter ole Virginny an' a bringin' back a wife o' his own kin', thet hed com' down frum Po- kyhuntis on a side tract, an' she wus dark two an' hel' her he'd a monstr'us site higher'n Josiar his- self. When the weddin's wus a gwine on so thick an' fast, rite smart o' the fokes tho't me an' Kizzy orter hev ourn long wi' the balence; but she in- sistud on a waitin' ontell she cud lay up a littel somethin' o' her own to'ards housekeepin'. An' so she carded an' spun an' wove fur Mis' Menden- 'all thru the spring an' the long summer days, me allus a takin' her home frum meetin' on Blazes an* a bein' more an' more convinced ever' Sundy thet ef I cud a had my pick outen all the gals in the 'hole worl' my choice fust an' last ud a bin Kizzy- Our Jim com' horn' an' him an' father help'd me git out logs fur my house an' the naburs jined tergether an' rased an' kiver'd it an' run up the chimbly an' lade the flore, an' purty soon 'twus reddy ter move inter. An' when the fust o' Sep tember roll'd roun' Kizzy's task wus finish'd an' Mis' Menden'all wus monstr'us lib'ral, a givin' her a pi'neer gal's dowry, thet allus consisted uv a fe'ther bed an' a cow, an' then, a outgineralin' Lishy, somehow, she added ter it a complect out fit fur housekeepin' es ef Kizzy'd bin her own darter. All wus reddy, but we wated ontell the fust Sundy o' camp meetin' an' then jis' 'fore 270 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. mornin' preechin' I led Kizzy outen the Menden- 'all camp inter the big alter an' Paul Wheelrite marrid us thar, wi' all the fokes a lookin' on, the bigges' part a jinin' in wi' him when arter a pur- nouncin' us "man' an' wife "he sed: "Amen." An' thet ar day I let up on the moral'ty bizness, not a wantin' no more ter try ter clime inter Heving on the outside o' the wall like a theef an' robber, es the good book sez, an' when the dores o' the church wus open'd, I wus tuk in strate an' reg'lar, me an' Kizzy tergether, her in her white weddin' dress, jis' es she wus marrid. An' thet ar wus the way we started out on our life j'urney, side by side, a tryin' ter regoolate our walk so's allus ter keep in the strate an' narrer way thet leeds ter the good worl'. XXXIV. TOWN POKES AN' KUNTRY POKES. 'Fore long Josiar lade off a town et the Forks an' call'd it " Simsonville " an' got it tuk fur the county seet an' they bilt a clabbord court house thar an' a two story hew'd log jail back uv it, one room 'bove tuther'n, narry one a bein' over sixteen foot squar'. The steps o' the jail run up on the out side onter a platform, whar the iern spiked dore open'd an' a trap dore inside, an' a ladder, led ter the room below, whech wus call'd " the dunjon," tho' 'twus high an' dry 'bove groun' wi' littel grated winders, same size es tuther'n. Dave an' Nate Brown com' back ter live in the settelmunt agin, ther gran'daddy a havin' died an' left 'em all his prope'ty a makin' 'em independen' fur life, ef they tuk keer uv it. Dave brung wi' him a mon- str'us purty wife an' Nate bein' smit' wi' Rhody Suggs, thet hed bloom'd out inter a likely y'ung wummin, 'twusn't long 'fore they struck up a match, an' thar wus nuther weddin'. Not long arter Dave an' Nate com' back Lishy Menden'all tuk a noshun ter giv' up farmin' an' go ter doc- torin' an' sole out his improvemunts on the ole plaice ter the boys fur a big bonus an' bought him som' lots in Simsonville. Dave an' Nate a wantin' 271 272 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. r ther mother ter hev a good home help'd him ter putt up a dubbel hew'd log house wi' a big entry onder the same rufe an' plenty o' outbildin's. An' Mis' Menden'all hed her cow an' chickens an' pigs an'wus monstr'us well satisfide. Lishy Menden'all got him a pa'r o' pill bags an' a lopin' critter an' letter'd out a monstr'us big sine: " DOCTOR MENDEN'ALL. DE'TH ON FEVER'N ACER AN ALL UTHER COMPLA'NTES." an' naled it onter the house ter attrac' customers an' 'twusn't long 'fore his practis extended fur an' wide. He wus the only Doctor I ever know'd thet collected all his bills; ef they didn't com' in munny he'd take enny kin' o' projuce an' trade it off fur munny, an' make them es hedn't nuthin' ter pay wi' work roun' his plaice; an' in the corse o' time he piled up a snug littel fortin. Es fur his doctorin' thar wus clef'rences o' 'pinyun on thet ar pint. Som' 'low'd his beet fur a layin' out a reg'lar ole fash'on case o' fever'n ager hedn't never bin foun', nowhars, but Tobe Jones sed offener the one Lishy 'tended on wus lade out fust. Ole Daddy Suggs don' a big missionary biz- ness over in Post Oke Flat, a gittin' the surcut preecher ter help him when he cud, an' a hangin' on hisself ontell ever' grone person in the 'hole settelmunt jined meetin', an' a rite smart o' chillern wus tuk in thet som' tho't two y'ung ter jine enny- thing, but Ole Daddy sed " better git the littel TOWN AN" KUNTRT POKES. 273 lam's inter the Fold then ter leeve 'em outside ter the prowlin' wolves." Arter this 'ere he got tuther settelmunts ter help the Flatters putt up one o' the bigges' meetin' houses ever made outen logs, an' they call'd it " Union," kase all the fokes hed jined tergether an' bilt it arter so menny yers o' def'r- ence, an' the purtracted meetin's wus hel' turn 'bout in the Ridge an' Union meetin' houses. Movers com' in thick an' fast an' Becky Suggs' (thet wus) es ole man sot up a Satterdy an' Sundy skule an' thar wusn't no plaice in our eend o' the state thet went ahe'd o' Post Oke Flat arter it onct got well ter gwine. Its a bein' so monstr'us hard fur Ole Daddy Suggs ter cross the purrary fur his meetin's, in all kin's o' wether, his son-in-law en tered a good peece o' land, jinin' his'n in Mis' Suggs'es name an' bilt a house an' moved the fam'ly over inter it. An' he tole Lishy Menden- 'all, whech wus pine blank es good es a givin' it out in meetin', thet his daddy-in-law a havin' a purclivity fur sales wusn't ter be hender'd non' in his enjoymunt uv' em, but ef ennybody ever com' a spungin' onter him agin ter sine ther papers, they'd hev a monstr'us big 'count ter settel wi' him, whech bodiaciously broke up the scoority bizness fur Ole Daddy, its a bein' well know'd thet Becky Suggs' (thet wus) es ole man wusn't a feller ter be fool'd wi'. Arter this 'ere Mis' Suggs tuk hart, an' got ter be thet forehanded wi' her work she raly enjoyed her Sundy s an' giv' in es brite an' cheerful expeerences et class meetin' 18 274 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. es ennybody, a tellin' mother when she made us the fust visit, arter the fam'ly moved, thet now it 'peer'd like they wus all a gwine ter git ter the good worl' tergether. Simsonville settel'd up fast an' meetin's wus hel' in the Court House, et fust, a gwine on well ontell a passel o' Free Will Babtis' com' in, som' a settin' up blacksmith an' carpunter shops an' tuther'ns a farmin' uv it roun' the naburhood, an' ther meetin's wus hel' in the Court House two: sometimes a clashin' wi' the Methodis' 'pintments. An' things got ter sich a pass all the leedin' Methodis', fur an' nigh, men an' wimmin, wus call'd tergether ter deside how the matter orter be settel'd an' they met et Lishy Menden'all's. Som' wus fur a holdin' outer the Court House, es the Methodis' wus so much in the major'ty, an' a oustin' the Babtis' altergether, by a scrougin' in ahe'd uv 'em ever' Sundy, a takin' the pulpit an' a fillin' up the house. Mis' Mend- en'all sed she wus afeer'd thet ar wudn't be a showin' the rite Christen sperret, an' she b'leeved when the brethrin' com' ter talk it over they'd 'low 'twus bes' ter putt up a bildin' uv ther own, an' leeve tuther denomunashun in peeceabel pus- seshun o' the Court House. An' thet es a grog'ry wus a bein' sot up on tuther side o' the big rode frum Bruther Simson's store, she didn't think no body thet wus a tryin' ter do rite orter be putt down an' mebbe the Babtis' cud git holt o' them the Methodis' oudn't reech, an' in thet a way they'd be sorter jined tergether agin the grog'ry. Then TOWN AN^ KUNTRT POKES. 275 Ole Daddy Suggs riz an' sed Sister Menden'all wus rite an' bed Scripter on her side fur a argyin' ter let tuther'ns 'lone, kase it bed bin lade down by the Master hisself thet them thet wusn't agin the good cause wus fur it. Then 'thout no furder debatin' ever'body in favur o' havin' a meetin' house o' ther own an' a leevin' the Court House ter the Babtis' wus ax'd ter rize an' 'twus carrid unanimyus, the wimmin fokes a standin' up an' a votin' es big es the men. An' then they all got devided up agin on the kin" 1 o' meetin' house. Som' wanted it bilt o' ruff logs an' sorter smooth 'em off artencwr4& 1 an' som' sed hew'd logs an' tuther'ns went in strong fur clabbords; but the fust uns 'low'd 'tud look two monstr'us stuck up ter go so fur ahe'd o' the settelmunt meetin' houses. But Josiar Simson sed ef the kuntry fokes help'd bild the meetin' house 'tud be theirn two an' they'd be expected ter com' inter town an' stay thru the purtracted meetin's, in winter time, an' in summer hev 'em turn 'bout in ther own meetin' houses, es afore, an', o' corse, all ban's ud jine on the camp meetin'. Lishy, thet bed bin call'd off ter see a patien', got back in time ter heer Josiar's comple- mise an' sed ef the kuntry fokes expected ter com' ter town an' bo'rd thru a 'hole purtracted meetin' 't wudn't be nuthin more'n rite fur 'em ter bring 'long a few venzon hams an' a littel hunny an' fresh butter. Et this 'ere Mis' Menden'all got monstr'us red in the face, but it never hender'd her frum a standin' up an' expressin' her 'pinyun. 276 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. " Fr'en's an' naburs!" sez she, "fur one /';;/ not agin a clabbord meetin' house; ef we're abel ter bild it. It's our dewty allus ter giv' the Lord the best we've got; when we wus two pore ter hev a plaice sot apart fur Him, an' wusn't two menny, we hel' meetin's in our cabens, an' monstr'us good meetin's they wus, two, es som' can b'ar witness thet's here ter day! An' then we got a littel furder on an' bilt our meetin' house, outen ruff logs, kase we hedn't no uther mater'al handy, an' the camp meetin' grow'd outen thet an' ye all know what a outporin' o' blessin's we've hed thar; an' now we've got 'long fur 'nuff ter hev a town an' strangers, thet's bin uster better things, is a comin' in a lookin' fur homes, an' the bigges' part uv' em is y'ung men siperated frum ther fokes, an' we orter hev a meetin' house enticin' in its looks whar they ken com' an' heer the gorspel truth an' be kep' in the rite tract. An' I hope non' uv us won't feel stuck up over a havin' a frame meetin' house, its not a bein' ourn nohow, but the Lord's, an' we orter allus com' inter it wi' 'umbel mines an' contright harts an' not bring 'long no pride nur hard feelin's wi' us ter throw no dampers on the meetin's!" An' when she sot down ole man Badger, thet hedn't tuk no sides afore, he riz up an' sed es the jail wus bilt outen hew'd logs, 'peer'd like the meetin' house orter be a notch ur two 'bove it, an' then father, thet hed bin fur a clabbord meetin' house frum the start, moved ter bild one an' Mis' Menden'all a secantin' TOWN AN y KUNTRT POKES. 277 the moshun 'twus putt ter vote an' carrid 'thout narry dissentin' voice. Then work wus devided off, ever'body a jinin' in, an' no time a bein' lost, 'twusn't long 'fore the bildin' wus up. An' not ter be behin'han' in a helpin, the wimmin fokes knit woolen socks an' putt 'em inter Josiar Simson's store ter be tuk ter Pawneeville an' traded off fur rale glass fur the meetin' house winders. Mis' Menden'all a bein' a monstr'us good knitter, her socks allus brung the highes' price her a makin' the heels long an' a good big foot an' never a skimpin' 'em non' in the legs; a rite smart a knittin' theirn two littel an' a tryin' ter stretch 'em out arter-wurds, thet allus show'd, an' they orter a know'd they cudn't never fool Josiar on 'em non' nohow. Thar wus rousin' times arter the meetin' house wus bilt an' the surcit rider moved his fam'ly inter Simsonville. This 'ere un didn't preech in a strateforrid, simpel way, like Paul Wheelrite, but went in strong fur big words an' wus monstr'us noisy in a usin' uv 'em, his poundin' a gvvine ahe'd o' Joel Tomson's es he banged on the new pulpit ter hole the at- tenshun o' them es cudn't keep the run o' his sar- mint. Fur a long time nobody wusn't putt inter jail 'cep' runaway niggers, thet wus hel' thar on- tell ther masters com' an' claim'd 'em, ur sold ter work out the expense o' ther keep 'fore they wus freed, ef not com' fur. An' Mis' Menden'all she pursuaded ole man Wilder, thet hed bin 'pinted ja'ler, ter bring 'em ter meetin', Sundy mornin's, 278 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. whar they occerpide the back sect, wi' him a settin' on the outside eend a gyardin' uv 'em wi' the big iern jail key thet wus rnore'n a ha'f a yard long. Mis' Menden'all 'low'd it don' the pore pris'ners a site o' good ter git out in the fresh a'r onct a week ter heer the singin', ef they cudn't git no hang o' the sarmint, a confessin' she hed ter watch mon- str'us clost ter onderstan' ennything herself an' thet thar wus a site o' big words putt in thet she miss'd ennyhow. The Babtis' wus monstr'us glad ter hev the Court House ter therselves an' 'peer'd ter be well meanin' sort o' fokes, never a tryin' ter git no he'dway agin the Methodis', jis' a gwine on an' a hoein' ther own row, 'thout a harmin' no body. This 'ere a bein' the case all han's turn'd out ter ther babtisin's in Muddy Fork an' 'twusn't long 'fore rite smart o' the new Methodis' convarts 'peer'd ter think sprinklin' by itself not suffishent an' wus babtis'd def'rent, es they hed a rite ter be 'cordin' ter the rules o' the Discz^>lin' an' ther own consc'ences, sorn' a standin' up ter ther wastes in the crik an' a bein' sprinkel'd, som' a kneelin' down in shaller plaices an' a havin' the water pored onter 'em an' tuther'ns a bein' dip'd cleen onder, pine blank like the Babtis'; but in cole wether 'twus def'rent. When Muddy Fork friz over the Babtis' broke the ice an' led ther convarts in, a takin' no 'count o' temperatur' whatsomdever, but I never heern o' narry singel Methodis' whose zeal fur immersin' cud stan' thet ar test, ever' las' one 'peerin' ter jine in on b'leevin' thet sprinklin' TOWN AW KUNTRT POKES. 279 an' thet in the meetin' house, wi' a rousin' big fire a gwine, wus a long ways the bes' mode o' babtiz- in' in the winter time. All uv a suddent, Lishy Menden'all call'd on the surcit rider an' giv' up his exortin' papers, a sayin' he wus tired a doin' secant ban' work, thet 'twusn't no trubbel fur him ter talk, but he'd ruther do it on his own hook then ter hang roun' an' tack onter whar tuther fokes left off an' clinch ther argyments fur 'em. An' then he went an' jined the Babtis', whech wus surprisin' ter ever'body, these 'ere uns not a bein' exac'ly his kin'. Som' o' the Methodis' tole Mis' Menden'all thet bein' a " Mother in Isr'el " herself, she orter a hel' her ole man whar he wus, but she sed 'twudn't a bin no use ter a tride ter contrairy him; an' thet es he'd bin brung up a Babtis', mebbe he'd feel more et home wi' these 'ere uns (ef they wus a littel def'rent frum his own) then wi' the Meth odis'. But she hoped her an' him agreein' ter disagree on this 'ere pint ud not hender narry one frum a doin' ther dewty; thet thar wus plenty o' work fur Christens o' ever' name an' she'd no don't ef they don' it the bes' they know'd how they'd all be welcom' ter the good worl', no matter what rode they com' by. Tuther'ns sed she mout be rite, but they didn't b'leeve in no short cuts thru the water, a holdin' thet the safetest an' strates' rode ter Heving lay thru the dores o' the good, ole shoutin' Methodis' church. Mis' Ben Jones never giv' her ole man no rest ontell he sold 280 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. his farm an' sot up a blacksmith shop in Simson- ville, an' purty soon, she putt Josiar's wife up ter run a fowl o' Mis' Menden'all 'bout the purtracted meetin's, an' som' tho't thar'd be hard feelin's. But Mis' Menden'all kep' strate on 'thout a openin' her mouth an' when Josiar's wife wus tuk bad off wi' a fever she went an' nussed her thru it, day an' nite, an' when the pore, foolish thing got well, she jis' clung ter Mis' Menden'all es ef she'd bin her own mother. An' fokes tho't 'twus her thet made Mis' Ben Jones giv' up an' go an' ax Mis' Menden'all's parding: " Ferreby," sez Mis' Ben, " I'm monstr'us sorry fur a havin' agged Josiar's wife ter go agin ye 'bout the meetin's, but 'twus her own fault, kase she brung the fash'on o' dip- pin' inter the kuntry an' sense I've quit smokin' terbacker an' tuk ter a dippin' snuff an' a chawin' uv it onter a stick my narves is all gon' ter mash an' ha'f the time I don't know what I'm a say in'! " An' Mis' Menden'all ans'ers: "Hanner! I aint never laid up nuthin' agin ye, uther now ur in by- gon' times, a knowin' yer onfortinet dispersishun wus wuss fur you'n fur ennybody else! Nuthin' but grace is a gwine ter help ye overcom' it an' 'tull take a monstr'us site o' thet ; but don't giv' up an' be diskurridged two soon, jis' putt a bridel onter yer tong an' hole fast ter yer temper an' keep a tryin' an' a prayin' an', mebbe, ye'll turn out def 'rent ! " 'Bout this 'ere time we got a letter frum Uncle Rube an' Uncle Jess a sayin' they wus a gwine TOWN AN' KUNTRT POKES. 281 ter move off ter Georgy an' wanted ter sell the ole plaice. Father, a forgivin' but not a forgittin', wudn't hev nuthin' ter do wi' 'em, only ter sine the quit clame deed, but me an' mother went ter ole Kaintuk an' got a middlin' fa'r settelmunt an' brung her sheer o' the niggers back an' freed 'em, a fixin' 'em up comfurtabel on a peece o' land o' ther own, 'twix' father's an' Simsonville. An' thar got ter be a rite smart settelmunt o' therselves an' tuther'ns thet hed run way' frum ther masters an' bin freed, an' they hed ther 'possom suppers an' frolicks tergether sich es they'd bin uster, 'peerin' ter enjoy therselves monstr'us well. Me an' father allus purtected 'em agin the low life grog'ry fellers thet wus so prejudic'd agin free niggers they wus allus a thret'nin' ter com' an' lynch 'em ur drive 'em outen the settelmunt, es hed bin don' in uther plaices. Paul Wheelrite wus made a pursidin' elder uv an' arter a larnin' our Jim ter reed he hed him ordaned a preecher an' allus giv' him the bes' 'pintments in his Deestrick. When I wus in Kaintuk I hunted up Mis' Reed's kin an' foun' they'd bin a sarchin' fur her up'ards o' ten yer, the ole fokes a havin' died an' left her a ekal sheer o' the propety. An' one o' her brothers, thet hed lost his wife, retarned wi' us an' moved her an' the two boys back ter live wi' him et the ole homestid. For a long time ontell all sorts o' fokes come in frum ever'whar, them thet patrunized the 282 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. grog'ry sneeked in the back way, all but Lishy Menden'all thet made no bones o' marchin' in et the frunt dore, monstr'us offen, jug in han', a givin' out thet thar cudn't be no harm in his buyin' licker by 'holesale fur his bitters an' truck. Then Tobe Jones, thet wus a livin' on a good farm in site o' town, sed he 'low'd Lishy'd diskivered a new cure by extarnal treetment, kase he 'peer'd ter be a makin' up nuff bitters an' truck ter flote all his patien's. Mis' Menden'all tole mother she tho't Lishy wus a tryin' ter do es neer rite es he know'd how, but he'd bin brung up cur'os an' bed his tem'tashuns, an' she hoped she wus a tryin' ter do rite two, but wus afeer'd her an' Lishy'd started out tergether so late in life they cudn't never larn ter onderstan' one nuther's ways an' wus allus a gwine ter be two people. But she sed she wusn't a complanin' non' kase it 'peer'd es ef her 'hole life bed bin order'd ter sorter pamper her, ever'- body allus so good ter her, an' her boys a turnin' out so monstr'us well. An' thet she hed Bibel reedin's an' meetin's in her house, when non' o' her naburs hed 'em, an' camp meetin' so clost, an' thet thar she wus in her ole age a livin' mos' jam up agin a meetin' house, a heerin' plenty o' singin' an' gorspel reedin' an' a sarmint ever' Sundy foller'd by class meetin', an' prayer meetin's ever' Thursd'y nite, rane ur shine, an' sometimes a havin' ter take up the cross an' leed 'em herself. XXXV, ME AN' KIZZY. The winter arter we wus marrid Kizzy larnt me ter reed an' reedin' hed ter com' fust, kase I never cud larn ter spell wi' no degree o' certingty whatsomdever, an' es fur ritin', maulin' rales wus allus a site e'sier. 'Peer'd like Kizzy fotch me onfalin' good luck, all my plans an' enterprises a turnin' out monstr'us well, an' we've never bin 'thout plenty an' ter spar'. We brung up our chillern respectabel an' iddecated 'em a long ways ahe'd o' ther parients, but ther book larnin' aint spilt 'em non'; kase they're all industr'us an', ter my certing nolledge, narry one wusn't never know'd ter putt on no stake an' rider'd a'rs nur torn foolery. Our son Jeems hes bin a sarvin' his kuntry in the Legislator' fur up'ards uv a good menny ye'r, but 't ain't hurt him non', es I know uv, an' I 'umbly an' sinsarely hope 't ain't hurt the kuntry non' nuther. Blazes lived out more'n the full number o' ye'rs 'lotted ter dum' critters o' her specie, but 'peer'd never ter a forgot my onfeelin' treetmunt, allus a flingin' her he'd up outen reech, ef she cud, whend- ever I rased my ban', but ud stan' gentel es a lam' while Kizzy patted her frum he'd ter foot. Her 283 284 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. las' days wus spent in e'se an' she died a roamin' roun' in my bes' medder, up ter her knees in clover, an' our boys berry'd her in a korner whar the wile roses wus a blossomin' an' planted a weepin' wilier over her grave. Ten ye'r ago our chillern celubrated our fiftieth weddin' day an' me an' Kizzy wus the only cuppel uv all o' us thet started out tergether when we v\ us y'ung, thet wus spar'd ter one nuther. We wus dress'd up a site finer' n we'd ever bin afore an' they made us giv' one nuther plane gold rings, the fust arry one uv us ever hed, kase when we wus marrid nobody didn't w'ar no rings an' no silk nur fine braud cloth nuther. I 'low Ole Daddy Suggs ud a tho't we wus a gwine agin Scripter an' the Discz^lin ter putt on " gold an' cos'ly ap- parul " thet a way, but Kizzy sed she didn't think we wus a doin' no harm in a 'umorin' the chillern, thet got ever'thing reddy an' fix'd us up ter soot ther own noshun. Thar wus fore ginerashuns a surclin' roun' the tabel an' a big bride's cake in the senter thet high it mos' totch the ce'lin' an' plenty o' uther danetys a corryspondin' ; an' the 'hole plaice wus decurated wi' goldun rod an' yaller nigger he'ds thet the y'ungsters call'd "Dasys," an' ever'body 'peer'd ter hev a monstr'us good time. When they wus all gon' me an' Kizzy sot down in the dusk o' evenin' an' talk'd over our 'arly days an' the changes sense we'd started out tergether. How'd I'd com' home frum the Black Hawk War wi' a rasrin' fever an' Kizzy'd hed ME AN' KIZZT. 285 nuthcr time a bringin' me back ter life agin, an' how we'd lived quiet fur awhile an' then the Rale- roders hunted us up an' riddel'd my farm an' crowded us back inter a five acre lot an' giv' us a fortin' fur the balence fur ther big town, an' how the 'hole kuntry grow'd, an' our ole acquentences scatter'd an' the sivil war com' on an' we sent our fore boys ter the fiel' one by one es they wus needed, our younges' a celubratin' his ateenth burthday up Red River in his fust battel an' our Jeems a marchin' thru Georgy an' tuther'ns a skurm- ishin' wi' the kavalry down in Tennysy. An' ho\v, when the war 'peer'd ter be a draggin' I got mon- str'us oneesy an' hinted ter Kizzy thet mebbe I'd better 'list an' go down an' look arter the boys, an' sho'lder'd my muskit an' went an' tuk a han' et soljerin' musself. An' o' how thankful we wus when peece wus declar'd an' we all reech'd home safet an' soun' tergether. An' then we went back ter the fust nite in our own caben an' how we sot up our fam'ly alter, Kizzy a reedin' a chapter in her Bibel an' then a singin' varse arter varse uv a him ontell I got up kurridge ter start out on my pore, bauky purtishun. An' o' how proud an' happy we wus ter welcom' our fust littel stranger thet we soon lade 'way wi' agonizin' sorrer in the cole berryin' groun' an' went back ter our home thet now seem'd so lonesom' an' des'late, tho' I hed Kizzy an' Kizzy hed me. An' I tho't o' how she'd folded up all the preschus littel gyarments an' putt 'em 286 FROM TIMBER TO TOWN. inter the gum cradel I'd made an' hid it onder the bed outen our site; an' then don' her bes' ter rally an' comfurt me. An' we now agreed thet, inebbe, this 'ere hart rendin' loss bed made us more patien' an' tender wi' our tuther chillern, a realizin' they wusn't raly our own ter keep, but only lent us awhile ter trane an' keer fur, an' sooner ur later ud be tuk back agin. An' we talk'd o' father an' mother, an' uther fr'en's a restin' in the ole ber- ryin' groun' whar high monumunts now tower'd up in plaice o' the littel wooden he'd bords. An' we spoke o' Kizzy's mother, thet arter all her trubbels an' wanderin's wus now a sleepin' by the side o' her parients on the homestid farm back in ole Kaintuk; then, all uv a suddent, we sot still an' silen', kase we heern the bells our son Jeems bed giv' the new meetin' house a tollin' out the solem' 'ours o' midnite. An' sense our golden weddin' the ye'rs 'peers ter be a gallupin', a hurryin' us neerder Heving an' the fr'en's gon' afore us; an' while me an' Kizzy jurneys on tergether, she offen sings these 'ere varses f rum "Pisgy " thet takes our ricollec- shin a fur ways back an' helps us ter look forrids wi' the eye o' faith inter the everlastin' f utur' : " In hopes o' thet immortul crown I now the cross sustane An' gladly wander up an' down An' smile et toil an' pane. ME AN 1 KIZZT. 287 I'll suffer on my fourscore ye'rs Tell my deliv'rer comes An' wipes away his sarvent's teers An' takes his exile home. Giv' joy ur greef, giv' ease ur pane, Take life ur fr'en's away: But let me find them all agane In thet etarnal day." University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. FEB2V98 BECCI j|C SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000121 158 o