The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-02-02

'em tharI Catch 'em" followed by
screams and whoops and barking
cackling and futtering. The next
instant a half grown chicken flew
around the corner and panic stricken
sought refuge under my chair, then
futtered on into the house. Surely
something terrible was happening and
was in the act of rising when a pack
of ours dashed upon its hot trail, and
running under the chair and between
my legs upset me in a heap. By the
time the whooping mob of heads
had stumbled over the debris the dogs
were in the house and the old woman
was adding her voice to the uproar.
Had the chicken but presence of
mind it might easily, in the confusion,
have escaped to the mountain. But
an old hen would have lost her wits in
that tumult. Presently long drawn
squawk suggested that my supper was
captured and the surmise was confirm
ed when headless chicken jumped
eccentrically into view.
Having done their duty the eight
tow heads joined their brother, a1d
standing about IN half circle pinned
me down with their eyes. In vain l
tried to stare them out of countenance.
I leaned forward, knit my brows and
tried to look terrible; but they might
have been 80 many bronzes for any
impression my dramatic effect had.
Silas having carried in his armful
of wood and basket of apples shaken
from a tree near by. moved chair
outside and lit his pipe.
care these children yours!" I ask
ed.
"W a-a-l, they say they isl was the
ambiguous answer.
Several of them twins, l suppose p
Nav, not atzactly, but mighty
nigh"
"Fine land along the mountain,
why do you not cultivate moreT |
qnerled.
"W a-a-l yer see eff I plant mo- corn
| have no time to hunt" he ssid.
"Git outen here, tell ye! Git
outen herep' came for the twentieth
time from the woman's sharp voice, as
she kicked the hungry ours away
from the hearth. But the dogs only
retreated bowling under the table.
"Why don't ye drive some O them
thar dorgs outen thar asked Silas as
he slowly puffed the smoke from his
mouth.
"Drive out some o the dorgs, is it :?
Why don't l do it!" came the shrill
voice. "You can't move. [ 'spose !!
No, you've sot in that cheer till YOU We
growed thar, / reckon !"
Slowly Silas arose and went within.
Whack whackl
With howls the dogs retreated, but
turned wistfally again at the cabin
door.
"Now break that broom handle ov-
er that dorg, will ye! An tell me
whar the next one is acomin' from
won't ye? You'll not fetch it here
sho an certain, not you'll" And the
tin ware ratified as the "upsot" wom-
an hustled about on the creaking floor.
But Silas resumed his pipe and chair.
eyes" she continued, "yon'd sot in
that cheer and smoke till the ,earth
capped under yo' feet an never q foot
would ys move! When Gabriel blows
you'll be the last ghost ter git outen
yo' grave, an then come linn PIN an
grumbIing up in line, hop'n' the
Jedgell have mercy on ye case ye so
lazy"
Eye war mighty glad ter git me-"
ventured Silas.
"Glad to git ye! Glad ter git ye! 1
married ye outen pity case NO other
oman on this green yearth would
had the likes o ye, an now ye ais for
ever -etarnally tillin' me 4 war
glad enough ter git yer'
"Silas is very tired, madam" l in
terposed for the sake of peace, "he has
been with me on the mountain all
day"
Lazy" was the laconic reply. "Ef
a mans man why can't he be a
man" she went on. "Thar he sots an
smokes day in, day out, an the grass
CROWN higher'n the corn, an the col
lards had nary lick struck in 'em
since moon changed, an the woods
black with huckleberries as orter be
picked an dried"
"Plent1 O time." drawled Silas.
"Yes,r'plenty O time, plenty o.
time! is is what l been ahearin' on for
ten yearsp she said sharply. IAN
eff hadn't married ye the first crap ye
ever planted would been in the field
now, an wish to heaven I war
thar?"
"She air mighty upset." said Silas
as the scolding voice ceased for a
moment within. "Bhe air mighty up
sot ter day, things is gone again her,
and he drew the blue smoke deep AID
strong.
II ploughed the field and I planted
the corn" she began again, "but I
amt agwin ter work it. I cant nuss
chillen and weave cloth an cut wood
an make crap, and I aint agwin
ter, an l got the rheumatic too, an
believe the drapsy's comm. an my
head aches till it nigh bout busts, an
ye jes sot thar an sot thar an don't
do nothin' -
"W-a-a.l supper is ready agin
youins is ready she said at length.
appearing in the doorway.
Our toilet was made in the open
air, and stepping now through the
low doorway, we prepared to do justice
to the apples and chicken. The dogs
and children were already assembled ;
the latter crowded a long bench on
the side of board table. a single
glance showed that water was 4 mo-
nnr,oIu cf thar aldnxa e. III 4L~:-