Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-21
THE LAND SALE.

Ma got into a perfec' swivel to sell the
Ian. s. 'e, George, now while the boom IS
ragin in Virginia, now is the time we may
hope for q Twin price for our splendid |
Spotsylvania corn lan's and magnificent /
medder bottoms. George" s e, stir your |
stumps and sell the lam"
s. |, MA, when the pinch comes, you |
amt agoin to get your own consent to
part with the old homestead"
s. 'e, George now that the ngEers are |
free, what is to keep down the bushes and
briars? \ lone, lorn widow woman, and
one gray headed boy of fifty you know
you are fifty, George can't manage all the
Ian and stock 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 $ /, Il don't b'lceve you'll part
with your gums and gourds, not to 1.-Two
with Queen Victoria and eat oyshters three
times II day. | think l know you bctter'n
You know yourself"
Then ma got mad and cried and said |
was "impident and sassy to her" and I'd
pughter carry out her views and uphold
her"
PA had never crossed her livn, nor no
body else, so it ended in my postin down to
Fredericksburg in the carryall and putin
tue plantation, crops stock, etc, into the
hands of Mckay, Ian agent.
The town Nvase alive with northern CAPT
talists and visitors ut that time Some
came to about their dead inferred in
the great Union cemetery 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 wonder,
To seek for gold aud 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 a dollar.
\ Ian agent knows how to pick a gent
man right well, though not SO well 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,
md bring your boots.
Thinks |, IN drive EN- out, and show
the premises while ma is in the notion"
so out ! 90 with Mr.. and Mrs. Sage a
nice couple, rich and unhealthy, wanting
TO try southern ar
There was cheerful blaze on the parlor
hearth Ma b'leeyes in "a little blaze, all
the year 'roun, though the weather was
mighty mild lnjun summer.
kesiu, the cook, tossed Us up little hot
dinner in no time for were hungry as
IN army of locusscs after our drive. Brled
ham au eggs, fried sassage and hoecakes,
and whilst ma poured out the coffee and
served cream and October peaches i'll 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 ""uIdn / eaten my eye ana l sorter
mlstrusted h"r' nut earned MI sage an
over the plantation, ana he was deIShted'
just what he was IN search OF. lie
waute cVcrVt hing as il stood The colts
valves, hogs loWlS, nat, boots ana all.
Thought he would pun u new barn mere,
ana Il niYnouse uhere' ana vineyard
anu double me Sheep III Ihe lneuuer.
HIM ana Mrs. sage mapped IL OIL IKE IL
picture by the time they were ready to
ieitVc next gay
or course l drove them back to town,
twenty miles o rough ROADS, ana mighty
busy time o year
ana Mckay MADE all the 'ran@ements
Tor the transfer oil the properly, ana come
Oh back home
sun mlatrustln o, ma KEEP cIer the
subject we ooth summed IT, ana dunn
the lolIoW!h week smoKcu u month al
lowance of tobacco, and ma clicked and
ratified her knittin needles as If life de-
pended on her gettin that sock finished,
md II be shot if she didn't knit the leg a
yard long!
Byme-by Mckay came drivin up IN n
fine double buggy with Mr.. Sage, to pay
down the first inStallment.
When Cindy ushored 'em IN ma dropped
her long sock leg and her hands commenced
to tnmble.
IT was good sale, We were gettin all
we asked, and crackin price 1t was; for
ma thought her dirt was sight better'u
other folks dirt. Not hitch-nowhar.
All Of us set talkn as friendly ~ You
,,1a hn m hn l.
Little black Joe on his own 'sponsi bihty
hans 'roun a waiter of maiden blush
apples, and Cindy, the house gal, not to be
outdonc, gifts out ginger cakes and foam
in pitcher Of sweet cider.
Ma set shakin and trimbly the whole en-
duriu time.
Mr. Sage he set back in pas old stuffet