The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-09
BIG SIS MIDDLETON.

BIG SIS MIDDLETON.
Thoother night went TO bed feeling rather
unNell.
My doctor had given me n weDle lot Of little
papers with o modicum Of white powders In
closed In every one, and had kindly instructed
me 90 swallow one Of these detachable pouons,
d water, every three hours
n be had said in glass Of bees The task
would have been easier, or even If be had pre-
scribod nice little milk toddy; but he is a
strange man. this doctor is, and be simply
said water plain, old fashioned water
had taken those powders all the evening,
and felt dronsy. just as was getting into
q good doze there was % knock 90 the door,
and when / went ont 10 see what was wanted
the Office boy handed me a note instructing
me 20 take the next train for south Georgia
The command was imperative. as newspa-
per commands usually are, and 10 fifteen
minutes / bad my grip packed, and was On
my way 90 the depot.
The train was on time, and ! didn't have
time 90 get nip before ] was aboard and on
lhc way 90 my destination.
70 was q long. weary ride and ! went %
sleep ou "a car seat aud slept until the brake
man howled out "Doodleville," and opened
my eyc~ TO find it broad daylight, and in
the heart OF the dear old piney woods
The first thing that struck me was the scent
of the smoke Of The burning los heaps. and
The chirp Of the birds. aud the sight Of the
dogwood blossoms and / just felt too jolly
for anything.
got on the train and stared around 40 the
Ola familiar landmarks and tried 20 remem.
Der for what they bad sent me south. Sud.
denly it occurred TO me that in my bewilder.
meut bad got or at the wrong station, and
turned around only TO see thetrain rattline
away in the distance
"When viii the next train passT asked
the station master, who was cycling me curl
ou-iv.
"Going up"
"No, going DOWN.
"Why"
Dad burn it, don't ask pe why I'm in a
hurry
"Spos'n you aire Won't DO no good
"When wl the next down train pass
pleaseF
"FregltF
$50. passenger, you-bog pardon, but I've
got of at the wrong place.
"Nou have, ehi Don't this town suit YOU
II 10 don't, thars the road.
"Oh. tine towns ali right, but / had i'm
portant business further down the road"
"Wel. thar's the crossties.
81 know, but when viii the next train
passenger train, going DOWN.
"Whynt you ask me that 40 fustf
"We.l, its my fault VIII you tell me
now r.
"Wen. don't mind If I do. II it's on time
it viii be just this hour tomorrow What
time you gotf
"HaIf-past3 by my watch, lauswered.
"D0you want 70 trade that ere turnip"
$50. don't care 90 trade"
"seems 20 me ought TO know YOU I've
seen you somors. in spite o. them clothes"
"Why. Dus Watson, as sure as I'm aliycl
exclaimed. as / gave the fellow clearer
scrutiny.
That's me, old hoss Whar you ben s,
long|
.Oh. knocking around. Say, how's all The
folks that we used % known
"All bout the same Big log rollin' an
fronc over 20 OBJ man Dempsey Middleton
today That u.s. tie frolic's tonight"
"Is that son
ashore 20 be so. You used to be sortei
soft on Big Sis, didn't you|
eyes. how is She, Married, guess"
"No. sho haint. mother Fat am sassy "a
ever. am jest bout as spry Looks as youn.
and dances as good as She al'us did,"
"Wcl, I'D be hanged IT that isn't goo'
news"
"Wauter go TO the frolicl You useter q
be q hciacious sort of Teller for irolickin'
Ricollect them days when you useter wall
iawbone with the johnson calsN
"Oh. hush, Dins, you remind me Of OLD
times
How'd you like 20 take IN the froiici Can
git awny I'm here nohow tili this time 90
morrcr. le.sn you walk lm agwiue, and q
you wautcr go I'll berry Nathe Mixon's bugg.
am we'll hitch paps crctur 20 1t and jest e
asliliu'
"Dogged if don't 60, for little while
anyhow"
"An right I'm De ready in a iiTy."
While Diuk was gone for the turnout ] So
down ON % stump and inlulgcd in some quee
remni-cences Right around this locality, b
years gone by. spent some wild and rockies
days Big Sis Middleton was one Of m
favoritos Sao weighed lGj pounds, was "a
plump as a gosling and dance, Great Caesar
True when She had on her low quarters
shoes. Der feet looked like a funeral proce.
I D I..ff f..fs |..f
Sine could sling those feet around in a wa
that would make tho German trOttcrs weep
got 50 absorbed until began whistiin
Chicken in the Bread Tray, and Dink ha'
10 yell 40 me two or three times before
heard him.
Soon as we got away from the little clear
ing around the station everything began e
look familiar There were tho long avenue
Of pines. carnotcl with the dull, gray wiz
grass: the giimp,es Of old, broom seige fields
and now and then a log farm house, with th
wcll sweep and the y rtin Courds-and al
Just as loit it,.
Oh, gollyl Happy' Why, I forgot tia
there was such q thing as newspaper o
earth Drici, walls auu stony streets fade
from my mental vision, and tine jingle OF th
bell on the brinlled COW tool, the place Of Oh
engine bells.
The drive was very pleasant The oil
mare went hlunlerlg along, and the ricAet
buggy rocked from side % side, like ship q
s,a over the roots and through the mud wal
lows: and an the old familiar signs and scene
# my boyhood home in the wiliwogd.
pink recounied 20 me the family historic
OF every family in the district told me VIII
bad died, who had married, how many Chi
dren they had, who had moved away, am
where they had gone e and
"What ia the dingnat.on did you waute
leave here furi Don't you know this is Ga
ryarlon spot Of the yearih|
81 don't know, Dink; il is good country
and 10 is going % improve"
Don COOL inough as it is That cus'e
railroad-n / do work fur it-kill one
napa's Mkeliest yearlins 'tothcr day. TIL
dadblasted thing, but he'll sit damages, REG
ular Jersey COW damages, shores y5ur'
| borncd -
"Dink, I couldn't make living here"
"Nlake the nationl What d'you want Wit
any bottern we gotl Why, you never sol