The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-13
! "I don't know what that Is, :" she said, but ef you say am, hope am."

00nb Km0W W1&x tnaG ts, 4nG $aao, sbut ef you say am, hope l am."
 Ned" said the old-man, Stake ther shovel an throw some uv ther coals on top an ther 6Ie'll burn better"
 Bless me, Ileft ther'shovel out wander I'll git it in CT mint"
 She darted out of the house. The old man turned to Len and said: "She Jeff ther shovel under ther apple tree-then only one on ther place, us'ter have two but one uv lem died-whar her mother is buried. When CT snow falls Ned allus shovels it effen ther grave. In ther sum- mer time she allus keeps flowers on ther grave an yer mer go thar right now an yerll find pieces uv dishes an bits uv nice lookin' pieces uv rags whut ther neighbors have give her. In ther night when it sleets she talks erbout it an I've knowd her ther coldes' night that ever blowed ter git outen bed an kiver that grave with blanks. Confound this infer nal damned thing ter ther alk6red devil r he howled, drawing up his legs. "Wush wuz in he'll" He writhed in his chair and cursed.
 Cant you do anything for t?" Len asked, not knowing what else to say.
 The old man turned upon him with a scowl. "Do anything fur it!' he yelled " Wy dam yer skin do yer think I'd set here in misery ef could do anything fur it1 Yer talk like yer'd lost whut little sense yer ever did have. Do anything fur it, ther devil"
 [" merely"
 "Yer merely talk like CT fool, that's whut yer merely do."
 "Now, dad, I'll fix it," said Ned as she bounded into the room.
 "Wall, but confound it, don't shake ther house down"
 Let me attend to it," said Len, as he took the shovel. How long have you had rheumatism, MT. Hobdy ?" he asked when he had stood the shovel against the wall.
 How long has Adam been dead?" he calculated.
 "Well," said Len, smiling at Ned, " the best authorities agree that he has been dead several years"
 "Well, then ther best erthorities ergree that I've had the rheumatic ever sense tuck sick. Sometimes think that wuz bornd with it. It strikes me all uv a sud- dent an it leaves me thater way. My legs don't swell none, yer see. This last spell has been putty tough one. Arter while it'll hit my heart an then Ned can put things on my grave"
 Dad, please don't talk thater way"
 " Wall, it will, an whut's ther use'n gittin' out'n it9 Thar, it's easin' down. l tell yer, Mir. Gansett, it's awful. Er man ken suffer tell he ain't got no sense. Thank God," he added as he stretched his legs. It is goin' erway. Neddie, thar's some blackberry cordial up thar in the cubbo'd. Give Mir. Gansest some of it."
 "No thank you," Len replied, "I never drink anything"
 "It won't hurt yer, sir. Yer gran'maw made it."
 " don't doubt it's excellence, but do not care for any"
 "Then give me swallow uv it, Ned. No, never mind. am we'll enough of without it. am glad to see yer, MT. Gansett, an l hope yer'll make yerse'f at home. We ain't we'll fixed fur enter tainin' uv comp'ny, but as yer air not stuck up yer air willin' ter make low ances. Neddie, dear, it's CT bout time yer wuz gittin' suthin' ter eat, fur reckon MT. Gansett is haungry. We cook an eat in here, as we hain't got no uther place."
 "Pm not hungry" Len replied.
 "Oh, but yer must eat with us," Ned replied. "lt never would do ter let yer go CT way withou, eatin' nothin'. I'll cut off some uv ther turkey an fry it. Won't that be nice, Dad ?"
 "Fust rate. MT. Gansett, thar hain't nuthin' like turkey steak-'specially wild turkey"
 "Dad," said the girl, as she took down a skillet, "I'm awful glad yer pains have went away, for" she added with a mis- chievious smile, "the bad man wuz jest CT bout ter grab yer"
 To De CoatiaNedl