The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-09-02
HOME, SWEET HOME.
Why Mr.. Sage Didn't Buy the
Old Homestead.


the Ian. Sc, George, now while the
s2G@ is Tasn may y yihGS pe ior now t shs
price for our splendid Spottsyl
vania corn lan's and magnificent med.
der bottoms. George" S e, stir your
stumps and sell the lam"
s. l: INA, when the pinch comes,
you amt agoin' ito get your own con.
sent to part with the old homestead"
s. e: George, now that the niggers
are free what Is to keep down the
bushes and briars? A lone, lorn widow
woman and one gray-headed boy OF
fifty (you know you are fifty, George),
can't manage all the Ian and stool,
we've got. Sell the Ian, George, and
me and you will board at the Exchange
hotel in Richmond, with the bong tong
of Virginia, in style"
MA" S l, 81 don't blieve you'll part
with your gums and gourds, not to live
with Queen Victoria and eat oyshters
three times day. / think know you
better'n you know yourself"
Then ma got mad and cried and said
was ''impident and sassy to her." aad
Id Oughter carry out her views aud
uphold her."
Pa had never crossed her liviu', nor
nobody else, so it ended in my postin'
down to Fredericksburg in my carryall
and putin the plantation, crops, stock,
etc, into the hands of Mckay, Ian
agent.
Tho u;
capitalists and visitors at that time.
Some came to see about their dead, in
TERED in the great union GENE terry
there, it bein' soon after the war was
over. 1t was like the verse we used to
say at school:
Many came to see the wondey,
To seek for gold and search for plumber"
and some few to cast in their lots with
ours.
Mckay told me of couple that got
off the train that day. Said the man
was polite to his wife and gave Lame
Bill dollar.
A lam agent knows how to pick a
wei as an old Virginia house Niger.
The one who used to tote the wood in
for the parlor fire, hang your horse or
carry him to water and bring your
boots.
Thinks l: "I'll drive 'em out, and
show the premises while ma is in the
notion"
So out l go with Mr.. and Mrs. Sage,
nice couple, rich and unhealthy,
wanting to try southern ar
There was a cheerful blaze on the
parlor hearth. Ma b'leeves in a little
blaze, all the year 'roun, though the
weather was mighty mild. Injun sum
mer.
kesia, the cook, tossed up little hot
dinner in no time, for we were hungry
as an army of locusses after our drive.
Drilled ham an eggs, fried sausage
and hoecales, and whilst ma poured
out the coffee and October peaches in
the gilt saucers | studied her face.
TO my establishment she run on about
the fashions-a thing she had took no
stock in since pa died.
She wouldn't catch my eye, and
sorter mistrustcd her, but carried Mr..
Sage all over the plantation, and he
was delighted.
Just what he was in search of. lie
wanted everything as it stood, the
colts, the calves, hogs, hats, boots and.
all Thought he would put "a new
barn here and n playhouse there, >
and n vineyard, and double the sheep
in the medder.'"
Him and Mrs. Sage mapped it off like
. picture by the time they were ready
u leave next day.
OF course, drove them back to town,
twcnty miles o rough roads and mighty
hliy time o year.
] and Mckay mace all the range
ments for the transfer of the property,
ard come on back home.
sill mistrustin' of ma, | KEEP cle'r o.
tae subject. We both Stunned it, and
1nrin' the fol!owin' week | smoked "A
months allowance of tobacco, and ma
clicked and ratified her knittin' needles
a. II life depended on her gcttin that
SOCK finished, and I'll bc shot If she
diGa't knit the leg yard long.
Byme-by Mckay came drivn' up in
"''F N'"''' Jug ~ WAN hIs phEc, 10
pay down the first installment.
When Cindy ushcred 'em in ma
dropped her long sock leg and her
hands commenced to tremblc
IL was a good sale. We were gettin'
ali we asked, and a cracllin price it
WAS; for ma thought her dirt was
sight bettcrn'n other folks dirt. Not
a hitch-nowhar.
All of us set talllin' as friendly as
you please round the blaze on the
hearth. Little black Joe on his own
'sponsibility hans round a waiter of
maiden blush apples, and Cindy, the
house gal not to be outdone, gifts out
ginger cakes and foamin' pitcher of
sweet cider.
Ma set shallin' and trembly the whole
endurin' time.
Mr.. Sage he set back in pas old
Stltfet leather armcheer, with heels on
the fender like comfort itself, and
diluted about the chances he'd mind to
make.
- hundred Southdown sheep" for