The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-09
He can tote water, l reckon" Lige re.

Polk Brezentine, Big Lige," Mrs. Petit cord said in voice of sharp reproof. Tote water, indeed ; don't reckon that he has ter tote water. Do you hear that, Big Lige"
 "Yessum."
 "Wall, wall," interposed the old man, don't let IS tower this mawnin'. Pears like the whole kit an bilin' uv yer air gone wrong. Milliel"
 "Yas, pap."
 "Ain't yer CT noddin' agin?"
 "No, pap"
 "Wall, put the breckfus' on the table an let us have bite ter eat agin the folks comes, ef they air comin'."
 Millie promptly obeyed, and, few mo- ments later, by the light of the stone lamp, the breakfast was served.
 "Git out, will yer ?" exclaimed the old man as he violently thrust one foot under the table. "lt does seem that the dogs will take the place. Wy, maw," ad- dressing his wife, "this ain't eur dogi Wall, wish may die ef wander ain't Scott Patterson, an Sallie, too. Draw up, fur we air waitin' fur yer"
 Mo-" said Patterson as he entered and kk, "We've dun eat"
 Millie jumped up and brought chair for Sallie, Scott Patterson's sister. Scott was almost as slim as his rife, and Sallie we'll, Sallie was not handsome. Her face was pale, her features were pinched and her eyes were small. She, in observ- ance of Nubbin Ridge" custom, wore a homespun dress and a gingham sunben- net. She never lost an opportunity of visiting the Petticords, for she had, long ago, cast an eye of matrimonial longing upon Big Lige.
 "Scott," said Petticord, "l see you've come prepar'd ter do the shootin'.h
 Yas, allus do that"
 Wall, rickerleck that it puts the whis- ky on yer every time yer make haug squeal."
 Lemme tell yer, ole Quipzy: Elf you don't get drink tell Scott Patterson shoots haug an don't drap him in his tracks, yer'll be goin' roun' powerful dry"
 That's what l know, Scott. Who's that singin'2 It's the Dye boys. Big Lige, go down an see ef the fires all right. Hurry up, they've all come"
 "Pll go with yer, Big Lige," said Sallie Patterson.
 "Come on, then," Lige replied.
 The growing and snapping of dogs in the yard, the tramping of horses at the gate-sheuting, laughter and good-hu. mored bantering, heralded the arrival of the neighbors. There was Squire Boyle, justice of the peace the Dye boys, and especially there was Jim Polk Brezentine; but above all, perhaps, there was Sim Bum pus, the wit. Brezentne, who, as Big Llge once remarked, "had got jest a huff edy- cation ter make him triflin' ;" was sort of dandy. He wore his hat on one side of his head, and he took particular care that the legs of his brown jean trousers should not hide the red shoe strings in the yellow tops of his boots. He was a favorite among the young women, for he could take up book an read it off jes' like talkin'" The wit was of that pecu- liar type never seen in any part of the country where the railway engine rushes like storm of civilization. Yellow hair, head like a pineapple cheese, eyes of buttermilk hue, grin that sought not much needed rest-altogether describe as nearly as possible the type of manhood represented by MT. Sim Bumpus.
 Sallie accompanied Lge to a small pond near which large log fire had been made.
 The fires all right, Big Lge."
 Vas, an the rocks1l soon be hot a huff ter put in the water an heat it."
 "Why wouldn't it be jest as good ter bile the water stead O heatin' it with hot rocks, Big Lige"
 "'Cause the seedyment from the rocks makes the haug's h'ar come off easier"
 "I didn't think uv that. Yer know everything, it pears ter me-"
 Lige threw back his enormous head and laughed. Know ever r'thingr' he said, "why, Salllie l don't know nothin'. I know jest about huff to keep outen hot water an that's all"
 "Wall, that's good 'eal, fur know uv folks that's in hot water nearly all the time. Do yer know what's fack? Mil lies in love with Jim Polk Brezentine"
 Big Lige had taken up handspike and was endeavoring to turn over a burning log. He dropped the handspike, when Sallie made the remark, and, with pre- tense of shielding his face from the heat, raised one arm and hid his eyes.
 "You may not believe it, but it's so," the girl continued. "It's awful nice ter love somebody. ought to know. Why don't you ask me how know, Big LigeP"
 (" How dc you know2" he asked as he picked up the han dspike and leaned upon it.
 "'Cause love somebody. Folks says he's big an ugly, but don't think SO"
 Lige threw down the handspike, turned to Sallie and said.
 I've got ter go ter the house now an fetch down the tubs."
 No, let's wait here tell the folks come Thar's nuff uv them ter fetch the tubs. Yer air allus pesterin' y'urselt thinkin' that somebody elsell have somethin' to do. This is all mighty we'll when thar ain't nobody roun' but wimiu folks, but it's all foolishness when the woods is fall uv men,"
 "Whut you say, Sallie, may be true, but I've got ter go an' fetch the tubs"