The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-03-18
WEDNESDAY, MARCH IS, 1881.
SHE WON THE TRICK.
Mrs. Smart's Story-How She Obtained
Her New Brown Silk Dress.

ing. I do myself. Jonathan used to
say that. woman's kingdom come
was spending the afternoon some
where's and drinking tea.
He'd never own that be keered a
red cent about going enywheres;
alters said that he jest as lives stay to
home the rest of his life as not; but
Jest between you and me, this was
the tremeniousest lie that ever my
dear pardner told! He warn't mite
to blame for it, though; all the men
folks in the universe has got into the
habit OF saying that they don't think
much of visiting, and, yer see, it
kinder runs in the blood of EN-! Got
to be hereditary. But don't believe
no such thing that are, for amt true.
Every man that I seed loves TO go
where there's something good to eat,
and that most folks want to visit for.
And now, while I'm on that pint,
Jest allow me to observe that when
ever you hear anybody say that they
don't care fig for politics, or religion,
or any other afair-and you may set
it night down that they've got a terri
bic strong prejudice one way or
t'other! And they say they don't
keer jest to blind peoples eyes!
This mot caring anything about it
amt natral, by no means; it's onac-
conntable hard work to stand on both
sides of a river at once, unless you're
ike the fener that I heared yer Cuzzin
Seth reading about the other day,
: that had legs so long that he stood
with one foot on the island and 10th
er on the main land, somewhere out
in the Subterranean sea. I've forgot
what his name was-terrible old cog
nomen, anyhow
The Bible that I read says, "You
can't serve God and mammon.' ~ Now
Iexpect ssmammon" means old Nicho-
las (though our minister scys i
means money!, and the way ! under
stand it is that yo've got to be in IA
vor of one or t'other, and 10 back
ing out! 'Tain't best to stand nenter
gender in anything!
The growers last summer was fne
Illustration of my doctrine. We had
three of 'em-nice, sleek, handsome
fellers as ever You seed. Seth kept
'em for the sake Of their growing
Time and again I've seen Seth hop
mp on a log and try to crow hisself
but ne never made out much. He
has grand ear for music, but nc
voice.
He named the three growers
respectfully-Hob, Mob, and Bob
Well, one day Hob and Mob was on
agreed about something and they
concluded to fight it out to their sat
isfaction. I was washing the dishes
at the sink by the scullery winder
and had good chance to watch the
combatters-
They strutted out to a piece of lev
el ground and had a little private
conversation together, then they went
st It. It was regular bona fde
duel only both Of 'em had the choice
OF weapons. Bob stood q little ways
of, and I could see by the blink o
his eyes that he had made up hi
mind not to have nothing to do will
nary one of 'em. Every once in {
while he'd stretch hissef up and crow
as though he was Major Ginral of al
creation. Hob and Mob they 6t ont
t'other till the blood run from boil
their heads, and their eyes was en-
tirely bunged up; and then all a
once they wheeled right about anc
fell upon poor Bob! Aud gracious
goodness! such a thrashing as they
give that poverty struck son of a pul
let I never seed. They picked him
they spurred him they crowed anc
cackled over him, if all the neute,
gender warn knocked out of him by
the time they got through, then Tn
slightly mistook.
When they finished with him they
'peared to be good friends themselves
and kinder shook hands on it-that is
they stood up side and side and crow
ed in concoort. had to take poo,
Bob into the house and rursed hin:
up for more'n a fortnit; and I cues:
it was full three weeks afore he dared
to crow and say his soul was his own
So much for standing neuter!
But to git back to my topic
which is going visiting. Two year:
ago come November Mrs. Green give
an afternoon party and invited all the
married ladies-myself concluded
to come. Materially enuff I wanted te
go. I'm a social sort of body anc
injoy neighborly chat and cup O
Tea powerfully. And Mrs. Green wa:
famous for her nice s'set downs" My
gals was gone over to their Aunt Nab
by's to stay week, and there was no
body to hum but Seth, Jonathan
and Z
I told Jonathan that I guessed he't
have to perpair his own supper thai
day, for I was going to tea party
I told him he could eat some bread
and milk, and cake and cheese and
pie, and Seth could do likewise
Seth said he was bound for Bungtowr
to stay all night with Ruben Smith,
crony of his; and so there would not
be anybody to eat supper at oul
house but Jonathan. My husband
was awful grouty about it, but little
did I care. He was pretty apt to be
sulky when anything run across the
grain. Some folks is.
At precisely two o'clock I started