The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-07-13
TOM'S RIDE.

~
It was in the month of July The dav
was hot one. 1t was a little past noon.
and nothing broke the stiffness except
the shrill noise, now and then, of a katy
did
Mrs. Elroy's big rocking-chair stood
in the front hall, midway between two
open doors. Mrs. Elroy was sitting in
it doing. The turkey-wing she used
for fan lay on the floor by her side,
and upon il were stretched two kittens
rs sound asleep as their mistress.
Hello there! Hellor' was shouted
by some one ont in the road in front of
the house.
well, what's wantin' Pr responded
Mrs. Elroy, as she reused herself and
framed her ample form in the doorway;
ut the same time giving their true level
to pair of stout silver "specs" that
had become slightly awry.
Gould we get a little fresh cow 5
milk, mas m?'' asked a tawny-faced
man, peering out of the front end of a
covered wagon.
Guess he thinks we have goat milk
and might give him some of that, gran
ma"
"Hush, Tom; them's egyptians, an
that's their way, p'r'aps," she whis-
pcred to her grandson, as he pushed
past her and ran down through the yard
and out to the wagon.
We've got some of this mOrnin S
milkin' let over. If that fresh enough,
YOU can have it," said Mrs. Elr0y,
speaking to the stranger.
That's jes' what we want" said the
gypsy, as he leaped from his wagon
with half-gallon jug in his hand, from
which he drew a cOrncob stopper and
poured a dribbling stream of some sort
of liquid upon the ground. Tom sharp
eyes had been scanning the gypsies in
the wagon while he talked to black
eyed woman on the front seat, who was
trying to quiet hungry babe.
" Looks to me $ ii those nypSieS need
fresh water more than they do fresh
milk, = was the comment he made to
his grandmother in the milk cellar.
What the damage?' said the gyp-
sv, crowding the cob into the mouth of
the jug after Mrs. EToy had brought it
back to him full of milk.
1.-The what?n said the old lady.
''The charge the pricePn
= Obi Bout bit, / reckon" was her
answer
Gran ma, don't take any money for
the milk, because told the woman in
the wagon we give her all she wanted
for her baby. Please, don t."
"Well, L won't then, long as you
promised it.; but you must be keerful
how you make promises. Sometimes
they re awful troublesome to meet"
''Thanlxy, ma am, thanky, bub. Yer
too good, both o ye,' said the man,
twirling the jug by leather strap that
passed through the handle. He then
hurried down to where he had left his
wagon, climbed into it and drove
away
Two hours later, Mrs. Elroy came
bustling out to where her grandson,
with his hat off, his face red and sweat
ing at every pore, was amusing him
self by trying to put blind-bridle on a
calf.
"Chfd alivei What in the world are
Won dom r' cried the old lady.
why, / wanted to see if the COW
would know her calf with this bride on
It, that oil, grandma, said the youth,
whose dozen years had all been spent in
the city, and who now found fun enough
every day among his grandfather stock
for forty boys.
well, yer gran'pa's got another
spell o. the collie an S got it powerful
bad, too; an there amt a drop of Num-
Der Six in the bottle. an Silas aint hyer
to send fur some. an don't know what
in the world Pm to do"
.'Why, gran ma, I'll bride old Bets
and ride TO town and bring out DIR.
Hicks"
Its too fur fur you to ride. an it S
most night, too. Dear me! what shall
] do?'' cried the old lady, looking away
% over the ridge-pole of the barn and
tanning herself with her apron.
- Il. e H. >
ma: besides, III find Silas in town and
get him 20 come home with me. can
ride behind him"
After a silent study Of the matter for
"a few minutes, she said: "Well, yer Il
kecrful boy, or ] wouldn't consent fur
you 10 try t.; but yer grandpa must
have somethin' % ease him, 80 you may
20. pll help bride Bets.
The animal was duly bridled and sad
died by the old lady in a short time-a
Job that would have taken the city boy
'ill supperlime 20 do, even II he could
have done Il at all
"D DO be cautions. child, an go round
by the big road. Don't tempt the short
cut through the woods alone. An
don't fail 10 hunt up Silas 10 come back
with you. Tell the doctor 10 send some
stuff 10 cure the collie. He knows the
Kind yer gran pa wants. " said the good
woman. helping the boy upon the horse
and watching him bounce along on
man saddle with The stirrups short
eued. until lie turned the bend in the
ryad and was out Of sight
~ was five miles 70 the little town of
Napoleon BY the main road, but more