Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-11-22
And back to the house they start

And back to the house they start
ed, as merry as two children over
their possible visitors, but they soon
slackened ther pace.
ssWhy, Mile, this heat is some
thing fearful | such q close, sickening
air, isn't it1n
Eyes. and the breeze has all died
out, too"
When they reached the house, the
little weman regardless Of heat, flit-
ted about, picking up here and there,
and looking at our larder to see what
she could get out at short notice for
meal, and going to the door every
few minutes to help her husband
watch the slowly approaching wagon.
As it came up, they went out to
greet the travellers, but before they
had chance to say word, a strong
CHEEKY voice sang out /:
"Well, neighbors, ] declare I'm
jest about tickled jest TO set eyes on
human habertation and human
folks ag'inl This is the longest
drawn out country / ever seen yet.
Don't s'pose you was expectin' to
see company comm along to-day,
was yer?"
"WelI, no." said Jack, 1--WE didn't
expect any such good luck, but
you re more than welcomed to the
best, we've got, I assure YOU"
"Now, that's clever of ye-an' us
bein' teetotal strangers, too. This
ere's Mis- Brown, my good woman /;
too good fer me, some say
The lady came out from under the
canvas, smiling partly at her hus-
bands off hand introduction, and
partly in genuine pleasure at behold
ing the face of another woman, who
cordially glasped her hand.
eyes, she was bound TO foller me
to the worlds end, an blest il I
think it can be much furthur on; an
this 'ere's Jim, an that ones Cory
they've come out to grow up with
the country, as they say down East;
an here's Pete the mainstay of the
family he's jest laid himself out,
after braggin' all along how lie was
goin' to do a mans work equal to
his old father soon as ever We come
to our section an day fore yester-
day he twisted his ankle a,jumkin'
out the Vaughn. Boys is alwers an
forever kiterin' around an doin some
mischief to themselves, an we hadn't
nothin' to put onto his poor foot
but cold water; we tried it, both
hot an cold, an didn't know which
was the wust Wife, good, thought
full soul, she laid in bottle OF CAM
fire an one of perrygoric for emer-
goncies when we started, but one
day the stopple got out of the cam
fire an the hull of it went soakin'
down into the straw fore anybody
could stop it. I laughed to see it
go, never dreamin' how soon I'd give
q dollar to hev it back, or some
other liniment for Pete"
| All through this running explana-
ton the father was busy helping the
family out, and carrying his Oldest
boy 10 his strong arms into the
house.
''There, my man, now the women
folk1l nurse your poor ankle till it's
well in a jiffy, Whew amt it hot
day, thought 1t did appear we
should wilt comm along these last
few miles, bosses an all ~
While the men went out to care
for the team, the women and chill
dren proceeded to get acquainted.
Pete's injured limb was laid out in
state on q pillow, and Mile hasten
ed to bring out all the lotions she
had on hand, and then began prepa-
rations for dinner, while the children
ran in and out, full of curiosity and
pleasure.
"We've been some time on the
way" said the mother, as she attend
ed to Pete. 81 don't know as it
pays to travel such slow way, but
father he thought he must keep the
team, an there's no railroad very
direct, either. Ye see, we amt come
from way East now this tip we've
| moved three times, an always a lit
fnrthur West, an I tole father this
time was the last. / won't pull up
ag'in, not"
eyes missus, that's jest what she
said, broke in the jolly voice of her
husband, sjest what she told me
so / shall have to settle down to
stay this time, for when wife gifts
her mind sot like that it's sot to
stay ~
"Now, father, you know I always
give in !"
ayes, / know you're meeker'n
Moses, but, see here, this good wo
man mustn't put on any extras fol
US this hot dayl We amt in nc
starvin' condition, missus, though
it will seem good to set down to Q
tablecloth an eat like Christians