Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-06-20
The Nan without GumptIon.

and blowing, and swearing like man
who was in the habit of doing things
with earnestaess and vim.
The old lady was apparently nervous
AID agilased, and fearful that something
dreadful would happen. Whenever .
steamboat whistIed She would jump and
turn pale, and wish herself back home
again. :.
"If was only back there" she saId.
at wouldn't risk myself within the reach
OF Dustin biIers agin for no money"
Don't worry cid woman, don't wor-
~. There amt the least BIT Of danger.
They bile the water slow nowadays an
keep on the safe side. Don't you be
alarmed about that" said the husband,
as he paused 10 take a tighter hug on
his parcels and bundles.
81 don't keer what you say, Las, i
know better. Steamboats, Is dangerous
an You can't tell what minute they're
gciH' 10 fly TO pieces"
Nonsense. old woman: you gIi
skeered before you're hurt. reckon
none Of your folks was ever hurt by the
Dustin OF steamboat biler, an there
was Jack Struthers-Uncle Sammy Par
den's grandson, you know'd him. Well,
| seen him last week, an he had been
all the way TO New Orleans an back,
an it's purity hOw-de-do If we cant
60 as far as Madison without beiR'
bowed up"
81 can't say as any Of my blood kin
was ever hurt on a steamboat-though
nv mothers youngest brother did have
a leg smashed IN raftin' saw-logs, an
died in the hospital at Natcheese--but
the fust beau ever had was blowed up
On the Mozell-an' the day sot too.-
IL he'd a. took my advice an went to
Louisville on a fatboat, as | wanted
him to, p'haps wouldn't had to slave
all my life, as have done, an git no
thanks for it,"
"P'raps not" said the husband, stumb-
ling over .cable-ring and dropping
part Of his luggage. Maybe you
wouldn't, an maybe you couldn't a found
any more chuck in The pantry, either.
I know I'm not handsome, but I'm
worker, an the children never have to
go to bed hungry. Amt that so, Liza
Ann: 20
"l'm not sayin' that you're not good
pevider, LAS, by no ways; but then
you know yourself you're not a for'ad
man, an though you manage to keep
somethin' in the cupboard all the time
you don't git ahead any from one year
10 another. You was renter when !
married you an you don't own foot o
land yit, an you neber will. Josh had
iarm clear, and was class-leader be-
sides. I don't say that you're a bad
man, but I'm awful feard, 'Lias, that
you'll never know any more about the
good place than you do at this minute
what the inside OF church looks like.
Is il any wonder that I'm Uneasy, 'Lias?
Only think of where you'd go to, in.
your state, with them bad words on
your tongues end, if the boat should
blow up"
"Well, do Tor heavens sake let her
blow say let her blow if she wants
to. Durn it all, woman, I'd ruiher be
bowed up by steamboat every month
in the year than TO have you eternally
BLOWN me up every day of your life.
Can't YOU muzzle that noisy ord 'scape-.
pipe o yourn once in awhile, an give
q teller little resti"
elias Hempstadl Are you crazy;
For the land-sake what do you mean
Who's BLOWN you upi Can't new
er ease my mind with little chat about
things but what you must sling 1t into
my teeth that Pm blowing you up
when never thought of such thing !
But just look there, now, will you -
See what you're doin'l You've let
that jar OF apple butter side around, an
there goes the best part OF it dribblin'
down on to the leg of your breeches.-
An mercy on usI IL you amt lost the
ROBBERY Jam altogetherl Yes, there il
is now, away back there at the top Of
the hill, yander, and where's the sweet
pickles, wonder: What dye s'pose
your sister Nancy viii say when you
get there, an 90 to tellin' her about
the things I'd brung along for her an
she can't find sign of 'em 'ceptin'
what you've split over your clothes -
She'll say jist what i've allus said, that
you're man without gumption, an a
slow, pokin' shUfIiin', shiftless ieller.-
II you'd a. had your eyes about you,.
you wouldn't dropped everything
along The road. But no. you've got 20
be starrn' al everything you see, an
would a broke your neck tumblin' down
celler two or three times it. hadn't a
kept watch ofyo1. lisa sad cross for a
woman 10 be tied 10 man without
gumption; mind tell you II i, LAS;
but s'pose gals allus will be fools. like
Iwas, an marry with their eyes shut. :"
By this time they had reached the
wharf-boat, where the old lady took a
comfortable position on bale Of goods,
with still larger one in front of her 10
keep of the dreaded explosion, which
she seemed confident would not disap-
point her.
There ~ she said, fumbling in her
reticule. "lt's me that aim got any
gumpsion this time. I've come away
an left my pipe an terbacker, an /
might as we'll have staid at home for
all the good I'll git out of this visit
Bet it's all your fault. 'Lias. Lookin'
out TO sect you didn't leave none o. the
things was what made me iorgit 'em.
Well, do say Here's The terbacker,
though, in the hasket among the cold
chicken an biscuit. How'd il git there
Some more Of your work, I'll be bound.
Stop chaffin' that feller with The goubers
an see il you didn't stick the pipe in
your pocket along with that salve for
Nancy's baby"
The last he'll was now ringing. and