Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-10-18

LhO apAh hitDAabOh 4 Ibhphul %
place, SO called, though there was only q
single cabin and rough shed for the
mule. happened in OF an unfortunate
moment. A girl about IL years Of age
saw me coming up the trail, and she
came down bit to meet me. She was Q
veritable elm in look, barehesded, bare
footed, ragged, and her tangled hair fly
ing around her head. She had finger
in her mouth as she came up, but she
took it out to say:
"Oribbins to you, stranger"
"And cribbins to You, my ohild.n
The term "cribbins" Is often used in
the place of s'Hello!" or Chow ere you?n
The meaning Is that you have arrived at
O crib or feeding place and are welcome.
Sand how are pap and mam3" I asked
as we shook hands.
"Mam's don gone and got mad, and
pap's cryin'. CAN'T you hear herr Nam
shouldn't jaw bone pap all the time. Pap
does best he kin"
could hear the shrill tones of q
woman's voice as we drew nearer, and
when we reached the door I halted in
embarrassment, seeing that the family
skeleton was out.
"Ohl mani" called the girl, whose
name was Mary.
"You shet!n replied the woman, whose
back was toward us.
ooh mann, but yere's q goer !" (trav-
eler.)
The mother came to the door, surveyed
me for moment, and then extended her
hand and said:
'Cribbins to you, stranger. Jim, yers's
a goer. Come here and clutch.n
A tall, thin, oadaverous looking mnn
came forward, wiped his eyes with rag,
blew his nose several times, and held out
his hand and said:
"Gripety to clutch, and cribbins to you,
stranger. Pete Farrell was along this
morning, and he said you was maxim this
way"
perhaps had better 20 on"
son shucks ]" exclaimed the wife,
you come right in It's nothin' to speak
Of, was dun tellin' Jim what pore
wuthless critier he was"
stranger, Jim Porter gins We cribbins
with all his heart" added the man, and
we went in.
The situation seemed to strike Mary all
in heap, and after o hearty laugh she
said
PEARS SO titterish that he'un caught
mann coon KILN dadln
"You thet.n called the mother; elf
was coon KILN dad he deserved it I"
"I'il leave it to he'un il do" put in
the husband.
sits this way" exclaimed the girl as
she stood up TO motion IL off, and her
face covered with laugh. t'Mam's q
great getter (bustler). Dads great
els Iuala hoE Hao
mad, but dad says we's bound to be pore,
and so he don't worry"
tThat's It, honey" said the woman;
tsand now, stranger, want to hev q
leetle buzz (talk) with You. l want to tell
you all about Jim"
"And want to tell you all about her."
added tho husband.
"And l want TO tell We all about the
hull passle of 'em ~ chuckled Mary in
high feather.
The mother jumped for her, but the
girl skipped out doors with a shout, and
then we prepared for the talk. gave
dim cigar, the wife lighted her pipe,
and when the smoke got to curling up
she began.
stranger, we ar the most shuskless
psssle in these we're hills, an he'un is all
to blame fur it."
SHOW, Polly!" ohided the husband.
"Deed re ar, Jim. We've bin hitched
fifteen years. We cum right yere to this
very shakedown fifteen years ago, an
yere we ar to-day. We did hev little
sunthin' to begin on, but it's all gone
now. Stranger, 4 hewitt got but one towel
in this yere cabin, and that's got hole
into il I"
"shuoks, Polyi Who wants to use
towels ?"
s'We had three new sheets when we
cum yere-reg'lar sheets fur the bed"
continued the wife, sbut whar ar they
now2 We had four pillar cases, but
they's done gone. We had cups and sas
sers, but ye can't find 'em now. Stran-
ger, look about ye an see how pore an
downridden we ar"
''An' it's my fault, of course ~ said the
husband, beginning to cry.
"That's what I'll always grip by (stick
toy, Jim. II you was glitter we'd bin
rick folks afore this"
''Shucks, Pollyi"
ooh | 1t amt no use of hetchin' (scof-
fing), Jim. II it wasn't for me an the
gal you'd stsrve to death. You began TO
cot almost as soon as we got splioed, an
you've got wuss every year. tell We,
stranger, 1t keeps me clean beat. Other
folks git along and go ahead, but we'uns
goes down hill every day. We hain't got
nuthin', an we can't git nuthin', an the
Lord doan' keer no mo- about as than SO
many emery skunks p
With that she burst out crying and