The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-09
BIG LICE.
By OPIE P. READ.
CHAPTER 1,

CHAPTER I.
 No one in the least acquainted with a certain district of Arkansaw, will ever 20 to "Nubbin Ridge," expecting to find rich meadows, fine cattle, educated people or attractive farm-houses. "Nubbin Ridge is broad and rugged backbone, bumped up, it seems, in an eternal atti- tude of contemplated violence, not to be wholly dissociated from mule in the act of throwing his rider. The people, like the soil, are poor; and again, like the soil, they utter no complaint against a condition which they fancy nature inten- tionally enjoined upon them. They argue with a philosophy which wiser men might admire, that so long as there is plenty Guy haug an hom'ny" in the house, dis content should not be permitted to cross the threshold.
 Anderson Petticord was doubtless the most prosperous farmer on "Nubbin Ridge" He was a small, "dried up " old man, with wheeze that had gained for him the nickna ne of "Old Quinzy." His wife was fleshy, round-faced, talka- tive woman, but she was known to be one of the stirrinest critters" on the Ridge. Millie Petticord, the only off, spring of long union, was called the "puttiest" girl in the neighborhoo ood. Her rich plentitude of hazlenut. colored hair, her brown eyes, clear complexion and graceful form, made her an object of such general admiration that Sim bumpus, the acknowledged wit of the Ridge, often declared that she was the "puttiest" thing he ever "seed 'cept a colt"
 A conspicuous member of the Petit cord family was Big Lige Bradshaw. Six feet four inches would scarcely give cor rect idea Of the height of Big Lige. His movements reminded one of the gentle running of powerful piece of machinery His hair was coarse and dark, but his chin and cheeks were covered with a short growth of reddish beard. During many years he had worked for Petticord, and he seemed to have no ambition except to perform the work of two ordinary men. He had but little to say. Sometimes, in the winter when he had brought in the wood for the night and had built great log hre, he would sit during the entire evening, smelling corn or making shuck collars for the work horses. When he laughed, which was rare, he laughed with a hearty roar, and when he did have any, thing to say, he said 1t with a directness of expression which many educated men have failed to command.
 Big Lige, is thar much uv frost this mawnin' ?" old man Petticord asked one morning when the giant came in from the stable. The day for hog killing had arrived, and the family having arisen be- fore daylight, sat by the fire in the sit- waiting for the arrival of the neighbors who were to assist in the slaughter.
 "Yes," Lige replied.
 " A reP'lar killin' frost?"
 " A reg'lar dead'ner."
 That's good, fur long towards mid night wuz afeerd the weather wuz goin' to turn warm. It would be a powerful slam on us ef the meat wuz ter spile. Whut air yer funtering airter ?" the old man added, turning to his wife, who in attempting to reach up after something, had fallen against his chair.
 :" wanter git that old bonnet. Don't yer see whut am airter ?"
 Wall, whut made yer hang it so high 2" he replied with wheeze. "Tromp CT body to death CT retchin' roun' airter yer duds. Fur the Lords sake set down an rest yersen. Yer commence ter stir, stir, stir as soon as yer git up uv CT morn- in, an it's stir, stir, stir tell yer lay down at night"
 "Fur goodness sake, pap, don't fuss. A body has ter stir roun' some little, I reckon"
 "Wall, wall, don't let us argy. Millie !"
 "Yas, sur"
 "Ain't yer CT noddin' thar5"
 "l reckon wuz," the girl acknowl- edged.
 Wall, don't nod"
 CT kain't hep it, pap, fur Pm a-sleepy. l hadn't morn got in bed, it 'peered like, fore you called me ter git up."
 Wall, wall, thatll do, but don't let us have no noddin'. Big Lige, whut'll the white SOW weigh2"
 "Four fifty"
 "Yas, every ounce uv it." The old man got up, went to the door, looked out and said:
 "No daylight nowhar yit. Did the Dye boys say they wus a-comin', Big
 "Yas, an Jim Polk Brezentine said he wux a-comin'."
 Millie looked up. The old man turned from the door, resumed his seat and said:
 "I don't know whut good Jim Polk Bresentine ken do at haug killin'. A man that's been . school teacher an . member uv the legislature aint much force at haug killin', I'm a-thinkin'."