Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-02-28
BIG Sis MIDDLETON.

BIG Sis MIDDLETON.
The other night went to bed feeling rather
unwell
Ny doctor had given me whole lot of little
papers with modicum of white powders in
closed in every one, and had kindly instructed
me to swallow one of these delectahe potions,
in water. every three hours.
If he had said in glass of bee: the task
would have been easier, or even if he had pre-
scribed 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 doze there was knock at the door,
and when went out to see what was wanted
the office boy handed me a note, instructing
me to take the next train for south Georgia.
The command was imperative, as newspa-
per commands usually are, and in fifteen
minutes l had 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 a long, weary ride, and l went to
sleep on a car seat and slept until the brake
man howled out "Doodeville," and opened
my eyes to find it broad daylight, and l in
the heart of the dear old piney woods.
The first thing thatstruc me was the scent
of the smoke of the burning log heaps. and
the chirp of the birds, and the sight of the
dogwood blossoms and l just felt too jolly
for anything.
got off the train and stared around at the
old familiar landmarks and tried to remem-
Der for what they had sent me south. Sud-
denly it occurred to me that in my bewilder-
ment had got off at the wrong station, and
1 turned around only to see the train rafting
away in the distance.
''When will the next train pass?" asked
the station master, who was cycling me Curl
ously.
''Going ups"
mo, going down?"
"Why?"
''Dad burn it, don't ask me why. I'm in
hurry"
''S'pos'n you aire Won't do no good"
s'When will the next down train pass,
please?"
''Freight?"
''No, passenger, you-beg pardon, but I've
got off at the wrong place."
"You have, Ell? Don't this town suit youa
If it don't, thar's the road"
''Oh, the towns all right, but had inn
portant business further down the road"
''Wel, thar's the crossties."
II know, but when will the next train
pass-passenger train, mean-going DOWN.
"Whyn't you ak me that at fust"
"Well, it's my fault. Will you tell me
nowg
swell, don't mind if do If it's on time,
it will be just this hour tomorrow. What
time you gots"
'Half- past by my watch, ," answered.
EDO you want to trade that ere turnip?"
"No, don't care to trade"
'sSeems to me ought to know you. I've
seen you som'ers, in spite O. them Clothes"
"Why, Dink Watson, as sure as I'm alive~
l exclaimed, as gave the fellow clearer
scrutiny.
''Thats me, old hoss Whar you ben So
long?'
'Oh, knocking around. Say, how's all tho
folks that we used to knowa'
"All bout the same Big log rollin' an
frolic over to OF man Dempsey Middleton's
today That is, the frolic's tonight"
SIS that sos'
ashore to be So You used to be sorter
soft on Big Sis, didn't you9"
eyes, how is she? Married, guess"
ever, an jest bout as spry. Looks as young
and dances as good as she arus did"
siWell, I'll be hanged if that isn't good
news"
''Wanter go to the frolic! You useter to
be hellacious sort of a Teller for frolickin'.
Ricollect them days when you useter walk
jawbone with the johnson galss"
"Oh, hush, Dink; you remind me of old
times"
'sHow'd you like to take in the frolica Can't
cit away FIN here nohow till this time to-
morrer, less'n you walk. Pm agwine, and Ell
you wanter go I'll borry Nathe Mixon's buggy
an we'll hitch pap's cretur to it and jest 60
asailin'."
"Dogged if I don't go, for little while
anyhow"
'All right. I'll be ready in jiffy."
While Dink was gone for the turnout sal
down on stump and INDUCED in some queer
"reminiscences Right around this locality, il
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 gosling, and dance, Great Caesar
True, when she had on her low quartered
shoes, her feet looked like funeral process
sion, but didn't care a cuss for that.
She could sling those feet around in way
tlaU WOulQ make UUo O6IIudu UIObuoIS weep
I got so absorbed until l began whistline
s'Chicken in the Bread Tray" and Dink hao
to yell 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
grass; the glimpses of old, broom sedge fields
and now and then log farm house, with the
well sweep and the martin gourds-and al
just as 1 left it.
Oh, gollyi Happya Why, I forgot thai
there was such thing as newspaper OF
earth. Brick walls and stony streets faded
from my mental vision, and the Jingle of thu
bell on the brindled COW took the place of th,
engine bells
The drive was very pleasant. The ole
mare went laundering along, and the rickety
buggy rocked from side to side, like a ship al
see, over the roots and through the mud wal
lows; and all the old familiar signs and scenes
ct my boyhood home in the wildwood.
Dink recounted to me the family histories
of every family in the district, told me who
had died, who had married, how many chill
| dren they had, who had moved away, anc
| where they had gone to and
"What in the dingnation did you wante,
leave here furs Don't you know this is the
gyaFden spot of the yearth?"
81 don't know, Dink; it is good country
and it is going to improve"
"Don good though as it is. That cussed
railroad-if 1 do work fur jt-kill one o
| papa's ikeliest yearlins, 'tother day. Thu
dadbiasted thing, but he'll git damages, reg
ular Jersey cow damages, shores you'r
horned"
''Dink, couldn't make living here"
i'Make the nation What d'you want With
any better'n we gotta Why, you never sot
down to better supper than we'll git at Old
Man pempsey's, and gals, phew.ew-ew?'
'sGirls don't help fellow to make living,
Dink"
"What's the difference eff they dontl
| Haint Sue bout all that's worth Twin furl
Gimme plenty o. good terbacker and ticker
fur Christmas. an plenty O. purity gals an
! durn the expenses"
About this time we drove up to the gate,
- Lz1ro 10 foil 40