The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-01-26

ueT luC tdDie.
''Why don't ye drive some o them thar
dOrgs Outen thar p asked Silas rs he slow
ly puffed the smoke from his mouth.
''Drive out some O the dorgs, is it 2
Why don't l do it - came the shrill voice.
"You can't move l 'spose No, you've sot
in that cheer till you've growed thar, l
reckon!'
Slowly Silas arose and went within.
Whack whack
With howls the dogs retreated, but
turned wistfully again at the cabin door.
"Now break that broom handle over
that dorg, will ye! An tell me whar the
next one o acOmin' from won't ye. You II
not fetch it here sho an certain, not yOu!'
And the tin ware ratified as the "up>ot'
woman bustled about on the creaking
floor. But Silas resumed his pipe and
chair.
"Yes." she continued, you d sot in that
cheer and smoke till the yearth capped un-
der yo' feet an never a foot would ye move.
When Gabriel blows you'll be the las
ghost ter git outen yo' grave, an then
come alimpin' an a grumbling up in line,
hop'n' the Jedgell have mercy on ye case
ye so lazy"
''Ye war mighty glad ter git me-" ven
tured Silas.
''Glad ter git yel Glad ter git ye
married ye outen pity case no other
oman on this green yearth would had
the likes o We, an now ye ais forever an
etarnally tillin' me i war glad enough
ter git ye'!''
"Silas is very tired, madam" inter
posed for the sake of peace, che has been
with me on the moutain 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 collards had
marry lick struck in 'em since moon chang
ed an the woods black with huckleber-
ries as orter be picked an dried
''Plenty O time" drawled Silas.
"Yes, plenty O time plenty O time :
is what | been ahearin' on for ten years
she said sharply. AN eff hadn't mar
RED ye the first crap yer ever planted
would a been in the field now, an wish
ter heaven | war thar!'
''She air mighty upset, said Silas as the
scolding voice ceased for moment within.
''She air mighty upset ter day, things Is
gone again her." and he drew the blue
smoke deep and strong.
Il plowed the field and planted tho
sorn,' she began again, "but amt agwln
ter work it. | can't nuss chillen an weave
cloth an cut wood an make a crap, an
aint agw:n ter, an got the rheumati7
my head aches till it nigh bout busts, an
We ies sot thar an sot thar an don't dc
not him.
wv a-a-l supper is ready agin youlns Is
ready" she said at length, appearing il
| the doorway.
Our toilet was made in the open air
and stepping now through the low door
way, We prepared to do justice to the ap
piles and chicken. The dogs and child
rem were already assembled; the latte,
crowded long bench on the side of a
board table. A single glance showed that
water was monopoly of their elders, fol
all of the dozen faces were smeared with
molasses from former meals. 1t had ever
gotten into their hair and matted it uI
| with feathers from pillows, and over al
was a coat of CRIME from the evenings
heated adventure.
On the centre of the bare table was g
tray of the inevitable "pie' and near by
A little pot of saughum and the dish Of
stewed chicken kept these company.
The tow heads had otsaWaited an invi
| tation and already their faces were dow1
| over plates of molasses which the dirty
hands sopped into it industriously. That il
the larger ones were so engaged. The small
| est three had been left in the struggle fol
| existence for the plate of biscuit on tha
! side of the table was exhausted, while th'
third grabbed a fragment of biscuit tha
| his neighbor lad for an instant laid down
But before it could reach his mouth thu
other had seized his hand and begun t
pummel the robber in the face. One cul
of milk was overturned on the table,
plate of molasses went to the ground ,thel
the bench with the half dozen brats up
set upon the dogs. But the combatant
clinched on the floor. The affair Wa
growing interesting, and l was beginning
to hope that each would expire in the gras
of the other when the old woman turne'
and drove them out of doors, where they
howled and fought unmolested.
! Now having opportunity we turned on
attention to the chicken. But the memor
of that unfortunate fowl recurred to N
so strongly-how that pursued it had flow
in vain to me for protection, how it fiu1
tered in terror away, indeed its deaf
squeak seemed yet ringing in my ears, an
there on the doorstep cur was gnawin
and crunching its head could not ed
it. But l accepted spoonful of sou
apples and requesting cup of milk bt
gan to break open one of the mammot
biscuit. The woman poured out the mil
for us, administering the while to he
baby consolation of most maternal sor
At length the biscuit was open. Heav
and yellow with soda it was and the steal
that rose from it filed the room with
peculiar odor.
There was little chance to talk wit
Silas, who sitting with head down an
elbows up was oblivious to all else but tn
plate before him. So We tried to draw tt
woman into conversation, but she "ws
mighty upset" and would not talk
"Now where we live," said one presen
ly, thinking to interest her in cooking
eve use little soda in bread, indeed yo
can't taste it at ALL"
"Waal, now, whatten the use O. putti
sody in bread eff We aint gwine ter tast
it, was the annihilating reply.
Supper finished the woman proceeded ,
get the children to bed, and watching h'
l no longer wondered that she could NJ
make a crop in addition to her 9th,
duties. 1t was the old story of the TO-
the goose and the corn. Two of tt
youngsters would be put to bed and b
fore another joined them they were fgh
ing. But at length all were crowded in
two beds with the CRIME and molass
still upon their faces. Then pointing
one of the remaining she remarks
"Thars yo' bed, strangers, agin youins
ready ter turn in"
The days work ended at length tt
poor tired creature sat by the fire al
smoked her pipe-the only solace of b
life.
Silas' head had already dropped upt