Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-11-20
Lowland Folks.

l had been directed to stop at Sol
Woodruff's for the night, but when
within mile and half of his squat
| came to the cabin of Deacon Tan
ner and stopped to inquire if was
on the right road.
"You doan 60 one step beyan' this" /"
announced Mrs. Tanner. as soon as
had stated the case. "Jist drap of
your bundle and camp down, for you
are gwine to stay heah tonight. Sa-
ry is out arter blueberries, and the old
man has been toting some corn to the
mill, and both will be back presently"
"I'm afraid Woodruff will be look
ing for me-"
"Let he'un look. We'uns is as good
as he'uns, even if we can't hire mig
gers to work for us. You jist camp"
The "farm" consisted of about forty
acres of poor land, and it was easy to
see that the deacon was no farmer.
He had in some corn and potatoes and
quantity of truck, but rusty hoe
hanging up on the log house was evil
dence that he had not encouraged his
crops to thrive. The roof of the sta
bic had fallen in, the pole fences were
down and everything spoke of neglect
and decay.
"'Tain't my fault" said the woman
sharply as | re-entered the house.
It's all owing to he'un and she'un."
"Who ?"
"The ole man and Sary. He's a.
thinking when he ought to be at work,
and she's dun crazy to meet up with
somebody who wants to marry. I've
fretted, but it's no use. Hev you de-
signs, stranger ?"
"How?"
ION Sary."
mo, ma'am."
"Sary's likely and we'uns is willing,
but if you hain't why you hain't."
At that moment Sarah appeared.
She was young woman of 20, rather
above the average in good looks, but
barefooted, sunburned and awkward
in her gait. She gave me an old-fash-
ioned "kerchy" as we were introduc-
ed, and her mother said to her:
"Sary, squat and chitter while l
look these berries over"
She was rather shy until / handed
her paper of pins, another of needles
and yard of blue ribbon from my
knapsack. Then she thawed out and
queried
"Will you'un stand for wo'uns ?"
"Who do you mean p
"Tom and me-"
Who's Tom?"
"Gwine to squat up in the bend
He's got an OK and cart and ever so
much. Wants to marry me. Nam
don't like he'un. Pap says he'un is
good 'nuff, but won't stand for u.s.
We'uns will run away if nam won't
abide, If you'd stand by us nam
would tousle (give i'm"
"You want me to advise your moth
er to let you and Tom get married ?"
"Te-he- sartin We'uns likes.
We'uns kin slicker through, l reckon.
Tom amt lazy nor religious. He's
full of work and trade. kin make
clothes. Please stand for u.s."
agreed to, and just then the deac-
on put in an appearance. We had
not passed twenty words when he
bluntly asked:
"Are you fitten Z"
"For what 2"
death and eternity"
II can't say, but hope am"
"Its awful, awful" he sighed, as he
rubbed his hands together. "World,s
Citing wuss and wuss every day. We
don's pray 'nuff. We don't fast nuff.
The fifth phial of wrath has been ex-
hausted. Beware of the opening of
the sixth !"
$50 you've got started" remarked
Mrs. Tanner as she came out. "Dea-
con Tanner, .ye won't skitter (listen)
to anything / say. Eye talked and
talked, but it does no good. Will ye
abide by the stranger ?"
"He'un may not be one of the fol-
lowers"
"S'posing he amt. He'uns got
sense in his head or him would't be
way down yere. He'uns bin all over
and sawn everything, aud him knows
more in "a minute than you'up does in
u week.
What is the question at issue?" |
asked, not wishing to be party to a
family dispute.