The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-07-29

But If you holler before you get out of
the woods somebody may come and help
you out. How's that, Zib?"
The boy did not look up and the old
man shouted: "Zibr' and the boy looked
mp quickly and replied: 'Zib, lib"
AT the breakfast table the next
morning the old man said:
Martha. me and lib are goin' out to
the post Office this mornin', for l be-
lieve there must be letter for us.
Heigh?"
You don't believe nothin' of the
sort. You just want to go there and
get drunk; that's exactly what you
want, or You wouldn't go such cold,
snowy day as this"
There you go" the old man replied;
you are the most suspicious creature
ever saw in my life. Why, if l was as
suspicious as you l wouldn't believe
wouldn't believe the Bible, even. Let
me tell you one thing right here: there
amt money enough IN this county to
put drop of liquor in me. DO you I'M
derstand? Not money enough in this
whole country. Pm goin' out there, and
If there amt no letter tor me I'm
comm right straight back. Now mark
what l tell you-right straight back"
OFF they went on the roam mare-the
gray old man and the deaf and dumb
boy. The day was intensely cold, with
a spitcful splitting of snow. A log
fire cracked in the back room of the
general store and post office and loud
company was gathered there. Old
Jobley, with the boy on his knees, sat
for time listening to the stories he
had often heard before. Lem" he
said, speaking to the postmaster, lit
struck me last night that there must be
letter here for me-"
why, who on earth would waste
time a-writin to you?" Pud Perdue
cried.
Never mind about that, Pud," the
old man answered. Bet | get ten
letters to your one"
Bet neither one of YOU never did
get ten letters" red-eyed fellow
shouted
That's neither here nor there" said
the old man. Il lowed last night there
was letter here for me, and wish
you'd see IL there is, Lem"
mo use lootin', Jobley, for know
there amt" Lem replied.
well, then, reckon about all I've
got to do is to go home"
"Oh. don't be snatched," said the red
eyed fellow; "wc're going to open a
kag of nails in mint"
You can go home when you can't go
nowhere else" Lem remarked with a
quotation from the time houored lore of
the backwoods.
"Ies, guess that's so, but told the
old woman I'd he right back"
"And of course She knowed you were
lynn" said Pud.
"Sorter seemed like she did, the old
man replied, Say, boys, il has been
seven months since touched drop"
"oh, come now" Lem protested.
"Yes, I'll swear to it. Seven months;
and it strikes me that man ought To
gather up pretty good control of him
self in that length of time"
Seems like he ought" said red
eyed fellow.
There are times" remarked the old
man, when a little liquor does man
heap of good"
II reckon you're right"
Say, Lem, draw us off some in that
pint cup"
When old Mrs Joblsy, after an anx-
ious night of waiting, opened the door
ut early morning, she saw the roam
mare, with snow on her back, standing
at the gate.
The ncighbors turned out to search
the woods, and at noontime they came
upon the old man lying in the snow;
and the boy was crouched down beside
him. with his face hidden in the folds
of his grandfathcrs coat. They saw
at once that the old fellow was dead.
A man touched the little fellow and
cried:
"Zib"
But the child did not look up.-Opie
| Read, in Banner of Gold.