Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-02
sonny, whar does she ache

"Now, sonny, whar does she ache
worst?"
Sometimes over var and sometimes
under yer; but it's most powerful from
yer to yer. Rub yer, dad"
4 silence seemed to indicate brisk
rubbing. Then Johnny:
"Hevin' good time out yer, dad?"
Eyes, sonny"
| morrow's Chrismiss-ain't it,"
Yes, sonny. How does she feel now?"
"Better. Rub little furder down.
| Wot's Chrismiss, any way. Wot's it all
about?'
90, it's day."
This exhaustive definition was appar-
emily satisfactory, for there was a Silent
interval of rubbing. Presently Johnny
again:
" Mar says that everywhere else but
yer everybody gives things to everybody
Chrismiss, and then she jist waded inter
you. She SEE there's a man they call
Sandy Claws, not white man, you
know, but kind O Chinemin, comes
down the chimley night afore Chrismiss
and gives things to children-boys like
me. Puts 'em in their butes That's
what she tried to play upon me. Easy,
now, pop whar are you rubin to-thet's
a mile from the place. She jest made
that up, didn't she, jess to aggrewate me
and you? Don't rub thar. Why, dad!"
In the great quiet that seemed to have
fallen upon the house, the sigh of the
near pines and the drip of leaves without
was very distinct. Johnny's voice, too,
take on, now, fur I'm gettin' all right
fast. Wot's the boys dom out thar"
The Old man partly opened the door
and peered through. His guests were
sitting there socially enough, and there
were a few silver coins and lean buck
skin purse on the table. ''Bettin' on
| suthin'-some little game or mother
They're all right" he replied to Johnny,
and recommended his rubbing.
"1'd like to take hand and win some
money" said Johnny, refectively, after
a pause.
The Old Man glibly repeated what was
evidently familiar formula, that if
Johnny would wait until he struck it
rich in the tunnel, he'd have lots Of mon
ey, etc, etc. -
ayes, )" said Johnny, 'but you don't.
And whether you strike it or win it, it's
about the same. It's all luck. But it's
mighty cur'o's about Chrismiss-ain't it =?
Why do they call it Chrismiss?"
Perhaps from some instructive defer
ence to the overhearing Of his guests, Or
from some vague sense Of incongruity,
the Old Mans reply was SO low as to be
inaudible beyond the room.
eyes" said Johnny, with some slight
abatement of interest, 'I've heard O him
before. Tha thatNl do, dad. I don't
ache near so uad as did. Now wrap me
tight in this yer blanket. So. Now" he
added, in mu11ied whisper, ''sit down
yer by me till go asleep" To assure
himself OF obedience, he disengaged one
hand from the blanket, and, grasping his
fathers sleeve, again composed himself
to rest.
For some moments the Old man waited
patiently. Then the unwonted stiffness
of the house excited his curiosity, and,
without moving from the bed, he eau
tiousy opened the door with his olsen
gagged hand, aud looked into the main
room. To his infinite surprise, it was
dark and deserted. But even then a
smouldering log on the hearth broke,
and by the npspringing blaze he saw the
figure Of Dick Bullen sitting by the dying
embers.
"Hellor
Dick started, rose, and came somewhat
unsteadiy toward him.
"Whar's the boys?" said the Old Man
Gone up the canon On little 17aeasr.
They're coming back for me in a mint
I'm waitin' round for 'em. What are
you starin at, Old MANI" he added, with
a forced laugh; edo you think I'm
drunk?'
The Old Man might have been par
doned the superstition, for Dicks eyes
were humid and his face flushed. He
loitered and lounged back to the chin
ney, yaWned, shook himself, buttoned up
his coat and laughed "Liquor amt SO
plenty as that, Old Man. Now dent you
get up" he continued, as the Old Man
made a movement to release his sleeve
from Johnny's hand. Don't you mind
manners Sit jest whar you be; I'm going
in a iify. Thar, that's them now"
There was low tap at the door Dick
Bullen opened the door, nodded GOOD
night" to his host and disappeared. The
Old Man would have followed him but
for the hand that still unconsciously
grasped his sleeve. He could easily have
disengaged it; it was small, weak and
emaciated. But perhaps because it aoas
!, small, weak and emaciated he changed
his mind, and drawing his chair closer to
the bed, rested his head upon it. In this
defenseless attitude the potency of his
earlier potations surprised him. The
room fickered and faded before his eyes,
reappeared, faded again, went out, and
left hirl-asleep.
Meantime, Dick Bullen, closing the
door, confronted his companions. care
you readys" said Staples. Ready"
, said Dick; whats the time?' "Past 49,"
was the reply; "can you make it?-its
nigh on fifty miles, the round trip hither
and yon." II reckon" returned Dick,
shortly. "Whar's the mare?" "Bill and
Jacks holdin' her at the crossin'." "Let
'em hold on a mint longer" said Dick.
He turned and re-entered the house
softly. By the light of the guttering can
die and dying fire he saw that the door
of the little room was open. He stepped
toward it on tiptoe and looked in. The
Old Man had fallen back in his chair,
, snoring, his helpless feet thrust out in a
line with his collapsed shoulders, and his
hat pulled over his eyes. Beside him, on
, narrow wooden bedstead, lay Johnny,
mufiied tightly in blanket that hid all
save strip of forehead and a few curls
damp with perspiration. Dick Bullen
made step forward, hesitated and
glanced over his shoulder into the desert
ed room. Everything was quiet. With
a sudden resolution he parted his huge
! mustaches with both hands and stopped
over the sleeping boy. But even as he
did so, mischievous blast, lying in wait,
swooped down the chimney, rekindled
, the hearth, and lit up the room with a
shameless glow from which Dick fed in