Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-11-28
THE MAN WHAT GETS SUSAN
HAS HALF THE HOGS"
Br CLARENCE KING.

Under noble groups of pines
smouldered generous heap Of Goals,
the ruins Of mighty log A little
way from this lay confused pile OF
bed clothes, partly old and halfb BALI
butfalo-robes, but, il the main, thick
strata Of what IS known to irony "a
"omiortcrs, upon which, outstretched
~ wretched awk wardness Of position.
was q family, M with their feet to
the fire, looking as if they had boon
blown over ~ one direction, OF
knocked d0wr by single bombshcll
Ga the cNtremitics Of this single bed
in the air Of having got as far
irpm "a h other a. possible the faith
or and mother "a tho Pike family re-
lined between them were two
small ch,Idrtu--a girl aud bdy--aud
ha.,a girl, ~bo, LpX. tAa old man.
lay dAluUHl hep Back. har mind alb.
s0rbed in lhe single amusement OF
waving one foot c. cOwhide eieven)
slowly across the fire, squinling, with
naIi.,hnt eye first 40 the vast shoe,
and thence az the fire. alternately
hiding bright places aud darling the
foot quickly in the direction OF any
new display OF frightening fame
The mother was a b0ny sister, in the
yellow, shruukcn state, OF sharp Wis
age, 10 which were prominent two
cold eyes aud positively poisonous
mouth her hair, the color of faded
hay, wac tangled about her hoad -
She rocked ierkily to and fro, remov.
ing at intervals q clay pipe rom her
mouth in order 20 pucker her thin
lips up 20 one side, and spit with
precision upon certain spot in the
fire.
! have rarely felt more difficulty
in opening a conversation, and was
long before venturing to propose,
you seem 70 have pleasant camp
spot here" The old woman sharp
~. and in almost tone Of affront, an
swered, "rhey's wus, and then again
they's better"
"Doos we'll for our hogs" inserted
the old man. "We've band Of pork
that make out to find feed"
"Oh how many have you p" | ask
cd.
Nigh three thousand"
"Wou't you set?" asked madam
then, turning, "You, Susan, cant
sou try for 70 set up, and not spread
80 Hama you no manners. say
At this the massive girl got herself
somewhat together, and made room
for me, which | declined, however.
Prospecting 2? inquired madam.
| say huntin'," suggested the
man
"Moybo hes . cattle.fcller,' inter
ruptcd the little girl.
"Goiu' somewhere, amt yer ?" was
Sa~an's guess.
! gave briefaceount of myself, evil
dently satisfying The socia! require
monts of all but the old woman, who
ut once classified me as not up to her
| standard. Susan saw this, so did her
father and II became evident to ne
IN tea minutes conversation that
they we've always AZ one, and made
/ il their tns'ne-, "a ho in antagonism
to their mother They were then al-
lies ofmine from nature, and felt al
once L bome l say, too, that Su.
san, having slid back to her horizons
/ tai position when | declined TO share
Jer r-n tul gr md. Was watching
' Vl.s -apt.e llcitud that fAted spot
..u'ae Age, pPas.i y IS apathy and
s9@nt- .3.alt.r a4G by b,I
saas IL tae tul ia Use cm5ers
which sls IS wee utinto backnes,
. before hy well-JrcCted fire of bel
mother saliva
The Shouts which 7 heard rocoed
ing from Toe direction If my camp
were cas- y trauslatabls into sam
mons for supper Mr. Newly iuvit
ed me 10 return later and be sociable
which | prom.>ed to do, and, goin,
e my camp, upped quickly and let
tao men with orders about picketins
the animals tor the night, Their, stroll
ing slpwly down 10 the camp of my
/ irlculs, seated myself on . lJg bJ
the side OF the Old gentleman Feel
ing that this somewhat formal atti
tade unf red me for partaking to th'
/ fullest degree the social ease arounI
me, aud knowing that my backski'
trowscrs were imperviuus to dirt,
slid down IN reclining posture viii
my lset % tho iise in absolute paral
leh>n with the rest Of the family.
The old woman was III the excit
ing deRoumeAt Of coon-stOry direct
ed to her little boy, who sat clingiD.
10 her torn skirt and looking in he
face with absorbed curiosity. "Au,
I when Johnnie fired, she said, 9Th
coon fell aad busted OPEN The lii