The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-07-07
THE QUALITY.

NO, ma'am,' said Laura, we have
been here so long. and none have
been to see us until you. We were
beginning to feel ike unWelcome
intruders. But suppose they were
all much attached to the people who
lived here before us, and dislike see
ing strangers in the place of their
old friends
'Oh, LO, that amt it; they was
afeard to come
Afraid ? said Laura, surprised;
afraid Of what?'
well, we heard that you were all
quality, if you was broke, and was
afeard We ould git ourselves into
the wrong box. We've seed them
she continued, noddimg her head
knowingly.
why, / did not suppose said
Laura, smiling, that we had any
thing 80 formidable III this quiet lit
tie nook, and 1 am sorry that our
neighbors should make such bug
bears of US, and suppose us wanting
in civility to them
tOh, we wasn't amindin' the civili-
ty. The quality lays that on so thick
one minute till you begin to rub your
eyes and wonder who you is-thinks
sure you must be the Pope Of Rome's
wife then they push you to one side
before you know it, like as if you
wasn't fitten to tote their puppy dog.
But theyse sich a sight of trouble
when folks have anything to do with
'em. Now, thar's the Feathercodes.
They lives eight miles of, but the
quality is q sorter restless creeter
that is alters wanderin about outer
their range. Well, theys mighty
fine, and you see my daughter Bet
sey Baker likes fine things, and took
to 'em nightly. She was powerful
anxious for 'em to come to see her,
so one Sunday she seed 'em all at
| jneetin, and axes 'em to come and
take dinner the next Saturday. Well,
they stood up thar in the meetin
house and talked power of diction-
airy talk bout exceedingly an 'ex-
| uuisitely,' an interchangin of rural
| hospitality > but whether they was
comm or no, Betsey, she couldn't
make out. But hoWsomeYer, Bet
sey lowed she'd better be on the
| safe side, so she kept mighty fixin
| all the week. When Saturday came
she had everything as fine as a brides
| cake, 'ceptin the dinner. Betsey
lowed she wouldn't put that on till
! she made sure if they was O comm.
| She had been Workin mighty hard
| all the mornin, her and the niggers
| a reddin up the house and dressin up
| their sleeves. But when leveTn clock
come and no quality, Betsey give
'em out, and they all took off their
| Sunday close an went to Citing eve
ry day dinner. They had to hurry
nightly, but it was all ready arter a
| while The hands was Workin close
to the house, so Betsey just hollered
to 'em to come to their dinner. Ar
ter the dinner was all over, and
everything washed up and sOt to
| rights, an the Eiggers all sOt to work
me and Betsey Eot down in the entry
to cool and sew. Bout four O'Clock
Barney Baker he come back from
the coatouse; says he, ,Betsey, did
them hired men come to dinner J
Law 7 says Betsey, 4 was so taken
up expecting them Feathercode folks
to dinner; that l forgot all about
your hirin Bill and Jim Jones to split
rails, and being as they arc far OF,
reckon they didn't hear when l call
ed the hands in. ] didn't blow the
horn 'COntound the quality say
Barney, they are all jest qualified
for the Iunitiker silum, and l reckon
you'll go along with 'em, just to bt
with the quality when they co." ant
jerked down the horn an blOwed
blast, you would athOught all tht
stages that ever run was irwin thar a
onst. Just then we heard a mighty
fuss in the front yard, and when W.
looked thar was fine carriage full
of women, and horses hitched III
with fishin seins, a cavortin abOu
; over the yard and one of the puffeC
niggers they had dressed up like sol
gers, a settin on high carriage, wa
) bounced off like an injUn rubbe
: ball. l thought the creeter might b
killed, and run to him, but he jump
ed right up and stood up before me
y and made sich a bow, you never seet
the like of it, Jest like it was part o
I his malishus drill, and says he, "MrE
J.. Feathercode, Miss Feathercode, Mis-
:. Nettv and Miss Angeline Feather
r codc.' BY that time Barney had GO
{ the hosses quiet, and says /, "YO
Mr.. Flunkey, had better be openi
! the door and lettin them folks ou
: stidder standin here making man
!. ners,' 30 ne did it. It is well he tol
j me who they wer, for such loOkin
+ cargo never did see before. The
had the back of their heads kivere
g with artificial flowers all fixed i
: little fiounces, and little silk fans i
their hands they called sunshadcs
1 reckon they warn't much acquain
q ed with the sun, or they wOuldn
u thought he was amindin them purt
little things. Then they had mad
V hounces all over their froCk tails, an
o over their capes, they called sta
mers,' and they was behOunced frol
= the tops of their heads to the bottOl
10 if their feet, and all the hOunct
% printed like windin sheets, only
Is heap finer.
ETBetsey had run back as she Q,
" the first glimpse, cause she had on
Il mighty dirty frock. But she put @
a new white satin shawl all over he
~ and then she looked as fine as any
It 'em, and axed 'em to walk in an
take seats, and set down, and |
a seated. Arter = while she told. 'eI
W she was looking for 'em all the mOrl
le ing. OH said old Mrs. Feathe
or code, we engaged to be here to dil
ner; we never dine before four, an
ii wants some mintcs to that now
a takin out her fine gold watch, tn
it the clock was stanin right before he
" Betsey looked as blank as if she'd II
Ie for sheriff and didn't get a vote. B
le she run right in the Kitchen, and Il
it. way she followed up Dilce, and Ale
n and Dina, and the whole tuckin
TO 'em from the tater patch, and Il
m wash tub, and the wash bowl, and &
at irenin board, and all quarters wa
n slow.
: ssSOOu aS uot tho puuIty al -