The Cecil Whig., 1886-01-09
Romon,s. An'sdote. fiction.
BIG IIGE."

A TALE OF DEVOTION AND RIVALRY
Written by Opie T.. Reed, Editor of tie
"Arkansaw eler''-Copyrighted by
S. Mcclure, by whom All Rights
Are Reserved.
No one in the least acquainted with
1 certain district of Arkansas will ever
so to "Nubbin Ridge" expecting to
find rich meadows, fine cattle, edu-
Gated people or attractive farm-houses.
"Nubbin Ridge" is a broad and
rugged back bone, bumped up, ii
seems, in an eternal attitude of con-
templated violence, not to be wholly
dissociatcd from a 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 in
tentionally enjoined upon them. They
argue with philosophy which wiser
men might admire, that so long as
there is plenty "uv haug an hom'ny'
in the house discomfort should not be
permitted to cross the threshold.
Anderson Petticord was doubtless
the most prosperous farmer on "Nub
bin Ridge" He was a small, "dried-
up old man, with wheeze that has
gained for him the nickname of cold
Quin1y.' His wife was a heshy
round-faced, talkative woman, but she
was known to be one Of the "stirrines
critters on the Ridge. Mile Petit
cord, the only offspring of a Ions
union, was cal ed the "puttiest" girl ir
the neighborhood. Her rich plenti
tudc of hazelnut- colored hair. hel
brown eyes, clear complexion ant
graceful form, made Of her an objec
Of such general admiration that Sin
Bumpus, the acknowledged wit of The
Ridge, often declared that she wa.
the ''puttiest" thing he ever "seeC
'cept colt"
y conspicuous member of the Petit
cord family was Big Lige Bradshaw
Six feet four inches would scarcel,
give Il correct idea of the height O
Big Lige. His movements reminded
one Of the gentle running Of a power
tul piece of machinery. His hair wa
coarse and dark, but his chin an(
cheek were covered with "a short growtl
of reddish beard. During many year
he had worked for Petticord, and h,
seemed to have no ambition except t.
perform the work of two ordinary men
lie had but little 10 say. Sometime
IL the winter when he had brought il
the wood for the night and had built
great log fire, he would sit during tn
entire evening shelling corn or max in;
shuck collars for tie work horses
When he laughed, which was rare, h
laughed with hearty roar, and whel
he did haye anything to say he said
with a direCtness Of expression whicl
many educated men have failed +
command
Big Ljge, is thar much NV a fros
this maWnin' ?' old man Petticor,
asked one morning when the gian
came in from the stable. The day 70
hog killing had arrived, and the famil
having uisen before daylight, sat b
the fire in the sitting room, waiting 70
the arrival OF the neighbors who wer
10 assist in the slaughter.
Yes" Lige replied.
"a reg lar KILN frost?'
"A regular dead'ner.'
That S good, fur long towards mid
night | WIZ ateerd the weather WI
| going to turn warm. 1t would be
powerful slam on us eff the meat WI
ter spite. Whut air yer funtering all
ter?' the old man added, turning to hi
wife, who in attempting to reach u
after something, had fallen against hi
chair.
Il want Ter git that old bonne,
Don't yer see whut | am airter? ?"
"Wall, whut made yer hang it S
high" he replied with a wheeze
"Tromp body to death a retchir
round airter yer duds. Fur the Lord
sake sci down and rest yerself. Ye
commence ter stir, stir, stir as soon a
yer git up on a morning and it's stil
stir, stir till yer lay down at night
Fur goodness sake, pap, don