Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-13
BIG SIS MIDDLETON.

The other night went to bed feeling rather
uuwell.
Nvdoctor had given me whole lot OF little
napers with modicum of white powders In
closed in every one, and had kindly instructed
me to swallow one of these delectable potions,
| in water, every three hours
IL be had said in glass Of beer the task
would have been easier, or even if he had pre-
scribed a nice little milk toddy; but he is
strange man, this doctor is, and he simply
said water-plain, old fashioned water.
| had taken those powders all the evening,
and / felt drowsy. Just as Twas getting into
good doxe there was a knock at the door,
and when | went out to see what was wanted
the Office boy handed me a note, instIuchng
me to take the next train for south Georgia
The command was imperative, as newspa-
per commands usually are, and in fifteen
minutes l he'd my grip packed, and was on
my way to the depot.
The train was on time and l didn't have
time to get nip before was aboard and on
the way to my destination
1t was long weary ride, and / went to
sleep Oh a car seat and slept until the brake
man howled out "Doodleville," and opened
my ewes to find it broad daylight, and l in
the heart of the dear old piney woods.
The first thing tAat struck me was the scent
of the smoke Of the burning log heaps. and
the chirp of the birds, and the sight of the
lockwood blossoms, and | just felt too jolly
for anything.
got off the train and stared around at the
old familiar landmarks and tried to remen-
Der for what they had sent me south. Sud-
denly it occurred to me that in my bewilder-
1nent had got off at the wrong station, and
turned around only to see the train rafting
away in the distance
s'When will the next train pass!" I asked
the station master, who was cycling me curl
ously.
"Going up,"
''No, going DOWN.
"Why"
dad burn it, don't ask me why. I'm in a
hurry"
"S'pos'n you are. Won't do no good"
"Wheu viii the next down train pass,
pleases"
''Freightf'
"No, passenger, you-beg pardon, but I've
got off at the wrong place"
''You have, eh3 Don't this town suit you'll
If it don't, thars the road"
'eOh, the towns all right, but l had i'm
portant business further down the road"
"Well, thar's the crossties."
81 know, but when will the next train
pass-passenger train, l mean-going downT
"Whyn't you ak me that at fust@'
"Weu, it's my fault VIII you tell me
nowp
"Well, don't mind if do. If it's ON time,
it will be just this hour tomorrow. What
time you got"
''Half-past3 by my watch, answered.
"Do you want to trade that ere turnipF"
'No, don't care to trade"
'sSeems to me l ought to know you. I'vs
seen YOU som'ers, in spite O them clothes"
'Why. Dinl1 Watson, as sure as I'm aliveI"
exclaimed, as I gave the fellow a clearer
scrutiny.
THAT'S me, old hoss. whar you ben 50
longg'
sob, knocking around. Say, hows all the
folks that we used TO knowg'
"An bout the same Big log rollin' an
froiic over to OF man Dempsey Middleton's
today. That is, the frolics Tonight"
SIS that so2'
ashore to be So You used to be sorter
soft on Big Sis, didn't you?'
ayes, how is she? Married, ! guess
"No, she haint, mother. Fat an sassy as
ever, an Jest bout as spry. Looks as young
and dances as good as she al'us did"
well, III be hanged if that isn't good
news"
"Wanter go to the frolica You useter to
be a hellacious sort of Teller for frolickin'.
Ricollect them days when you useter walk
jawbone' with the johnson galsF'
"Oh, hush, Dink; you remind me Of old
times"
How'd you like to take in the frolic7 Can't
git away I'm here nohow till this time to-
morrer, lessn you walk. I'm agwine, and eff
you wanter go I'll borry Nathe Mixon's buggy
an we'll hitch paps cretur to it and jest &c
asailin.7
"Dcgged if don't go. for little while,
anyhow
"All right I'll be ready in jify."
While Dink was gone for the turnout sat
down Oh stump and indulged in some queer
"reminiscences. Right around this locality, in
years gone by, spent some wild and reckless
days Big Sis Middleton was one of my
favorites She weighed 165 pounds, was as
plump as a goling, and dance. Great Cesar
True, when she he'd on her low quertered
shoes, her feet looked like funeral process
SION bat didn't care a cuss for that.
that would make the German trotters weep
/ got SO absorbed until l began whistling
Chicken In the Bread Tray" and Dink had
to veil at me two or three times before
heard him
Soon as we got away from the little clear
ing around the station everything began to
look familiar. There were the long avenues
of pines, carpeted with the dull, gray wire
Stl3
and now and then log farm house, with the
well sweep and the martin gourds-and 81
just as left it.
Oh, golfy! Happya Why, / forgot that
there was such thing as q newspaper on
earth Brick walls and stony streets faded
from my mental vision, and the. Jingle of toe
bell on the brindled COW took toe place Of the
engine bells
The drive was very pleasant. The old
mare went laundering along, and the rickety
buggy rocked from side to side, like ship st
sea, over the roots aud through the mud wal
lows; and all the old familiar signs and scenes
OF my boyhood home in the wildwood.
Dink recounted TO me the family histories
of every family in the district, told me who
Lad died, WHO had married, how many chill
Cren they had who had moved away, and
where they had gone TO and
"What in the dirsuation did you wanter
leave here fur. Don't you know this Is the
garden spot of the yearth."
Il don't know, Dink; it is a good country,
and it is going to improve
Don good 'nough as it is That cussed
railroaai-if | do work fur it-kiu one o
papa's hkeliess yesrhus. tother day. tbs
dadblaseed thing, but he'll git damages, reg
q ~
,orred."
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