The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-21
Vriuen for The ArkdnsdW Iraveier.
 LIZA.
BY TUCK.
PART I.

PART I.
 Jim Scraggins sat about three out of four drunk in front of his pole cabin on Dry Fork, with his wife Liza near him holding their malaria yellow baby at breast.
 Jim and Liza-mostly Liza-had cleared few acres with axe and grub and had raised, that season, good cribful of corn, and had box, with old boot-soles for hinges, sitting against the north side of the cabin, full of bacon for the winter.
 They were in better shape than ever before, and Liza had many vis- ions of good times coming as she tidied up her house or nursed her little Jim, and especially to-day, even though Jim the larger was little 'piled," for while Jim had lain in the sun and little Jim had played with gorgeous string of spools and goo-g good back to the mocking birds, she had cribbed the last load of corn herself and laid rocks on the roof to keep the clap boards on.
 And so she dreamed her little dream, jotting back and forth on rocking chair-minus the rockers-and crooned to the little sorrel-top in her arms, until she heard step, and, looking up, saw Bob Ables coming through the bars, leading an old yellow mule, which looked mean enough for two.
 "Howdy, Jim-Lizer? How's all?" "Des topble like, Bob. How's you alls?"
 "Pm peart, but th'ole womern's feeling sorry-done got mother chill. Jim pears ter be be 'way up. Reckon zaffl't none Jeff in ther boddlet whur he got that air leanin' medsun fun, is ther?"
 "Jim, honey, Bob's CT talkin' to yer. Cain't yer sorter rousen up some?"
 Hey! Well, 'clar, Bob, howdy M leetle hard O hearin' t'day; bin sorter peaked like; he'd ter hev drap O ole crow pizen Tn all right now, reckon. Whur dye git that air mewl, Bob?"
 "Swapped th'ole womern's COW fur it. Jim, he's plum honey, he Is. Durndest mewl in this settlement fer to pull. Didn't say whar yer hid that old boddelt, did yer, Jim? M whistlin' dry m'self."
 "Lizer, git ther jug"
 Liza got the jug and poured good big drink into an old, but bright, tin dipper which she gave to Bob, and went to put the jug away again.
 "Why, Lizer, cain't yer drap ole Crow Tong 'side O me, honey? Have to be sociable Tong O Bob, y'know."
 "Jim, honey, yer done had eruuff." "Giver hyur, Lizer-'tain't no use." "All right, Jim, on'y don git full ergin, now"
 "Ain't goin' ter. Now, Bob, pour her back. Cain't drink outen no cup 'roun' ole Jim. Take yer pizen reg'ler. Sock yer 'tater trap onter ther jug now."
 One drink had no effect on Bob, but Jim only lacked one to make him drunk again.
 "Dingl" said Bob, dragging dirty sleeve across his mouth, "I wush cud hang onter thet air ole mewl."
 "Hey? Cain't yer? Whut's reason yer ksin't?" said Jim.
 NO, reckon nOC; nalnC got 'nuH kyorn ter feed whut he'd" said Bob. "Ding he's good 'un, though, Jim. Wush I he'd some mo- kyorn."
 ''Kyorni Eve got s'm kyorn- dinged lot. Kyorn! Since kyorn ovethar? How much kyorn y'want, Bob2"
 "Yer hev got her, sho' huff, Jim, hain't yer? Dom yer need this hyur mewl, Jim2 Pears like y'ort ter hey two fer crappin' nex' ye'r."
 "Yesh, need mewl-cou'se nee' mewl. I nee mewl, you nee kyor'. Bob, letswap. Whoopl Kyor'mewl! 1! 'Smy mewl. Go getcherky or."
 "Hole on, honeyl Jim, now, honey, don go an trade yer kyorn, honey. Yer done got CT mule, now, honey" "Hushup, Lizer! G'way fin hyur. Pm man bizniz. 'Smy mewl, Bobs- kyor."
 ooh, Jim, honey, yer shain't trade yer kyorn fer thet mewl; yer drunk now, honey,1 and Liza approached to entreat, with her babe in her arms, ard Jim, enrsged with drunkenness,
 tN ~ gset rhr