Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-11-28
OLD NATH. DOYLE.
A STORY OF THANKSGIVING, HOG KILL
ING AND A WEDDING.

Old Nath. Doyle was practical man.
To use his favorite expression, he made
"every aidge cut" His manner of as
serting it was convincing enough, but
those who traded with him felt it most
keenly. His front yard-two acres, be-
hind which his log house squatted- d-was
planted in peach trees. "Roses amt
fitten ter eat," said he, san nothin's
beauty won't sell it." He sowed tur-
nips in the fence corners. He lifted
water from the well with pole to which
a bucket was attached by a leather
strap. A hat generally lasted him de-
cade. A straw one that he found in the
woods at camp-meeting he wore three
years. Then he did not throw it away.
A hound pup playfully tore it to
pieces one afternoon. He killed the pup
with pine knot, skinned it, sold the
hide for six bits, and had his wife con-
vert the carcass into soap grease. But
he was good-natured and hearty, with
face smooth and red as sunburnt ap-
pie, watery mouth, blue, humid eyes,
and nose like wild-goose plum. His
laugh was almost inaudible earn
est, for it shook him all over.
His daughter, Cinthy, loved lawyer.
They were discussing the situation at
dinner. She was wholesome, meek
looking little girl, with yellow hair and
pale blue, bashful eyes, the counterpart
of her mother who sat quiet and thought
full at the head of the table.
"'Taint no usen talkin' ter me erbout
havin' that spindle-shanks Nv er Walter
Burton meanderin' erroun' these prem
ises, fur 1 won't have it. Look at Molly
Morgan. She married er lawyer, an
her daddy's got him an her an three
brats ter purvide fur. Er lawyer amt
wuth killin', fur sich carcusses won't
sell fur nuthin'."
"But, pappy," said Cinthy, "Tom Nor
gan and Mr. Burton are two very differ
ent people"
"They're all erllke. Eff they amt too
lazy ter wuck, they're sutten ter turn
out wuss steal some pusson outen house
an home"
NANNY" said Cinthy, when the old
man had saddled his horse and rode to
town to collect a debt, which he pro-
posed to "shake outen" the fellow who
owed it, as a better means than "law-
ing" over it-"pappy's good an smart,
but he don't know ever thing. He's mis-
taken about Walter. Walter amt rich,
but he would be too proud to take a |
cent from pappy if we were to marry.
"Waal," replied the mother, "p'rhaps
he'll see some good in i'm an change
his mind. Dut he's sot ergin i'm now,
an you can't do nothin' but wait"
Old Nath. hitched his horse at the pub |
lie crack" and walked down the street. |
"Good morning, Colonel" spoke Bur-
ton, as he passed that gentleman's office.
Burton's legs were thin, and his face
long and white. Old Nath., under ordi-
nary circumstances, would have pitied
him; now he felt indignant.
81 fit in the war, young feller, but
went clean through eZ er privit. So
wer'n't er Colonel then an amt now.
"Excuse me-" replied Burton. "The
term is so common, spoke it thought
lessly. Yet, it is truly one of respect
and means much. l take it that the
custom of giving military titles to men
in civil life has direct significance. He
who, by industry and energy, succeeds
in life-as you have for instances
spoken of with Difference by
all people. Then what more natural
than that military term, which was in
war times and honorable one. and which
custom still holds to, should be used to
mark that deference?"
"Waal, we won't quar'l over it," said
old Nath., seating himself on the gallery |
and leaning against a post.
"Come in and have seat, Mr.. Doyle"
Burton insisted.
"No, L like ter lean ergin er post
Confoun' er town hog" he exclaimed, as
two razor backs ran by, the foremost |
with watermelon rind in its mouth. |
"You couldn't fatten one on er hunnerd
bushels Nv corn"
.'By the way, Mr.. Doyle" said Bur
ton, II was crossing your range in the
Caney bottom yesterday, and saw some
of the finest hogs-well, they beat any
thing l ever did see. l wager one will
weigh five hundred pounds"
"Gimme yer fist, young feller," he