The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-03
OLD BIDNEY.
How He Succeeded in Getting the Mill
 and How His Wife Got Rid of Him.

Lib Rid=ey married the widow Buckle. Mrs. Buckle owned a little water mill which her former husband acquired by thrift and almost cruel economy. Lib Bidney was a preacher, Ca knock down and drag out" r.vivalist. Mrs. Buckle attended the first meeting and was much impressed by the elc q hence of the good man. She was introduced to him and well, they were married few weeks after ward. Shortly after the ceremony was performed, Lib Bidney said;
 "Sister Buckle-'skuz. me fur yer's my wife now-I'se 'cluded ter gin up de gospel an run our mill. Niggers, e yer doubtless knows, is powerful hans ter shout an' sing, but da's mighty slow bout ginin' up money fur de cause"
 "Dat's CT fack, Lib."
 "iCose 1t iz. Now, thinks dat we ken make CT heap O money outen dat little mill O ourn. Marvin me wuz de bes' thing yer eber done in yer life, 'ca'se I'se miller rum de word go, but femme tell yer, l neber couP run CT mill lessen l thought dat it 'longed ter me-"
 Wy, Lib, doan' yer know dat wh ut's mine now is yourn ?"
 "Yas, honey, yas but dat ain de pint. doan' wanter feel dat it am CT podner- ship consarn, fur sometimes l mout be called on ter act at once an vessel mout not be on hans, so ter sabe trouble-oh, how does Tub dis oman" he broke of as though talking to himself. "I neber seed de like in my life. Ef CT pusson some time ergo had sad dat woul' Tub CT oman put nigh ter def wouldn'ter blebed it, sw'ar ter de 'possuls wouldn'. Now, Silvy, jes make dat mill ober ter yer deah husban' an yer'll be CT happy oman an make CT pol ole man whut hab long worried wid de book an de word so monsuous joyful dat he'll feel like but tin his head ag'in' CT beech tree"
 The mill was made over to Bi dney, and he proceeded to grind corn. The mill was situated on little stream in an out of the way place, and instead of im- proving the road leading to the place, he threw additional obstructions in the way. His wife spoke of this, but Bidney re- piled:
 "Preshus, yer doan' know whut yer's talkin' erbout. Ain neber noticed de fack dat de mill whut iz out on de big road falls down fur want O bus ness while de little mill way out in de woods grinds all de time, is yer%
 "Doan' b1ebe l eber noticed dat fack." !"
 "No, l reckons not. Lemme tell yer whut gwineter do. I'se gwineter make us bof ez iich ez cream, dat's whut gwineter do dat is, ef yer'll hep me CT little."
 "How hep yer3"
 "W'y, honey, femme tole yer. lmus' hab CT little money ter fit dis thing up. Doan' yer own dat piece O lam ober yander2"
 .Yas"
 "Wall, sell it, honey sell it an femme hab de money"
 "I aim gwine do no sich thing"
 "Whut! Is dat de way yer talks ter CT man whut hab dun gin up his life fur yery Come talk ter me dis way arter hab dun gin up de gospul fur yer? Whut sorter oman is yer2"
 "rse de right sort O 'om4n, 1 hopes"
 "Wall, den, ef yer hopes so, sell ce piece O lan' an gin me de money"
 "Whut yer want wid de moneyW
 wy, blame it, honey, wants ter put some shenery in dis house."
 "Dar's CT huff shenery heah."
 "Dar yer goes CT gin. Go on ter de house, now, an doan' stay roun' heah foolin' wid me. Peers like yer wants ter stan in my way all de time. Go on, tells yer, UT blameh doan' take CT linn ter yer"
 @Hit me ef yer dar' an I'll take de mill way rum yer an turn yer out in de road"
 Bidney laughed. "How yer gwine take dis mill way rum me when it doan' Tong ter yer7 Dun been made ober ter me by de law, CT haw, haw. Take it CT way rum me, CT he, he.'
 "Ef I'd know'd yer wuz dat sorter man