The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-11-15
ssSun Dust''---A Contagion.


Dave Kensett, an industrious old
negro who lives down in the bot
toms, was greatly annoyed by the
members of the church to which
his wife belonged, and especially
was he annoyed by Strawfoot ALT,
the preacher.
No one had any confidence in
Alf's honesty, and it was only his
ability as an organizer and camp
meeting sensationalist that permit
ted him to remain in the church.
Old Dave was known as a good
liver. Baked shoat, buttermilk and
cabbage were nearly always found
on his table. No matter how ad-
verse the wind might be, Alf could,
for a great distance, sniff the incense
of shoat, and unless the interven-
ing water courses were swollen be-
yond point of safety he always
managed to be promptly on hand.
Naturally enough, Dave became
tired. Although not strictly relig-
ious, he was willing to do his part
toward keeping up the church, but
he was not willing to take entire
care of the preacher.
"'Liza," old Dave one day said
to his wife, "I'll bet dat shoat won't
be mon brown good fore Alf will
be heah wild his mouf open."
ooh, doan talk dater way, Dave. "
"Wall, he will, no matter whuder
talks dater way ur not. I'll bet
he's already gunter to fling dat
awful nose o'hizen up inter de ar.
Liza, rs gittin' mighty tired O. dat
gennerman's 'vastation. He's got
er appetite like er suck hole, an
blame fl gwineter STAN him"
"Oh, doan specterate dat way,
Dave, for he's my brudder in de
church"
II doan kere eff he wuz yer brud.
der in de flesh, l ain't gwine tel
STAN him. Wy he would break ul
de gubner O. de state. Yander he
comes now Whut did l dun tole
yer?"
"Wall, fur heaben's S sake doan say
nuthin'. Treat him wild warm frien'
ship: Promise me dat, won't yer?
"Oh, vas, I'll treat him wild warm
frien ship"
"Mawnin' ter yer; mawnln', sal6
the preacher as he opened the gate
How does yer do dis mawnin'
Brudder Dave?
'Fust-rate, l gins yer thanks
sAn' yerse'f, Sister Liza"
'Oh, Is mighty well, | thanks
yer, 'siderin' dis awful hot wedder
Let me fetch yer cheer.
I thanks yer, sister,
The preacher sat down, took OF
his plug hat and wiped the perspira
ton from his bald head.
'Lemme take yer hat, Brudde
Alf,' said Dave.
He took the hat, went into tn
kitchen, took down paper o
+, ground red pepper, and gave tn
: inside of the tile liberal sprink
. ling. Then returning to the sittin
I room he placed the hat on the bed
Dis is mighty long dry spell
said Dave when he rejoined tn
e preacher. who sat leaning bacl
{, against the house.
Vas, it's awful.
;. Iwus readin' in paper, Brudde
}. Alf, dat monst'rous sight O. pee
pie is bein' killed by de SUM-"
Dat SOP
Yas,' an cuts ter say de cullu'
: folks is gittin' de wust O. it,
Am dat er fack?' asked Alf.
I sYas, an day say dat shoat di
$ sorter wedder knocks man side
Q ways; but l kahn help dat, fer da
= amt nothin' dat fits my appertit
like er baked shoat. Wife, she's il
e de kitchen dar now, moppin' one
J. 4 'grees wild yer, Brudder Dave
J. Shoat fits my appetite, an l
n gWlneter eat IL sun OF no sun.
y Vas, / speck SO. De great dos
: tor whut wuz readin' erbout In d
e paper dis mawnin' said dat he nebe
i did see de sun retch ober an hi
i down in sich er awful way, an e
v strange fack is dis: Err man fu:
J. feels it by er burnin' on de top
e his head. De burnin' gets wus
# an eff he's gwine ter die putty sool
e he puts his ham on de top O. h
J. head an fms some little red stuf
e De doctor says dat dis is sun dust
e Yer doan tell me so 7 the preach'
,e exclaimed.
1t 'Oh, yes, I does: an it's awf'
l. bad, too. Er pusson doan kno
Ie when he gwine ter git dat sun du
on his head. Er po' man stoppe
heah day afore yistidy an axed f
er drink O. water. I axed him t
+ come in, an jes' arter he drunk
X water he put his ham on his hes
% an 'plained. Putty soon he rake
s, off suthin red. l neber did see slt
h er look ez come outen dat man
,e ewes. He run outen de house a
" toted hise'f off in er hurry. Sem
a den / heerd dat de po' man WI
D. dead an de red stuff wuz sun dus
" Saw Rrudder Alf, while Liza's