Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1892-05-12
'E SIDE OF A TALK.

windy November evening closed in
and dismal, threatening wild
ther in the night. The tea things
away early, we gathered around the
each of us in chosen cozy corner,
! long, quiet evening, listening to
wind and the surf, half looking for
kipwrecked crew to come to us, when
* footsteps sounded outside and our
nd Robinson Crusoe bounded in,
Eher jacket and fishing boots dripping
b rain and salt spray, his cheeks
wing and his black eyes swapping
b fun.
We all started up with the same quick
stion of what was the matter, fancy
all sorts of mishaps to his lighthouse
his dory to account for his appear
Be- in the storm and darkness from the
her side of the always rough chan
But he seated himself serenely near
door, merely saying by way of an
er: "Well, how's things over your
y? Thank you, marin, won't come
nearer the fire; I'll set ri down here
th my boots, SOS not to mus yer floor
none," hanging his sleek wet fur
b on his knee to drip and to dry.
That plaguy dory of mine. she leaks
ke thunder. Dunno how she'll stand
laying to your wharf in this way c.
ke wind, while l set. But l guess she
on't damage none but what l can git
Frost in her. 'Tain't only couple
miles anyway"
His shaggy black hair dried in a
kngle as he talked, smoothed down
om time to time by hand sent aloft
then not fidgeting with his buttons, or
BE chair, or his cap.
II dunno how my man Friday'll get
Tong while I'm gone. He's kinder scat
\ that leetle tower O. mine, an don't he
late wuss'n pison havin me gone! By
Bhunder! But eff he amt old ernuf ter
tay alone nights awhile I'll tell him he'd
better be gettin him another job. Lordl
he's forty-one, an me goin on twenty five!
An amt scat. Oh, he's a big fool!
IT'S his watch till 10 tonight, anyway,
IN he can make the old gal go we'll
Enough if he's mind to an don't go ter
dickerin with the machinery"
There was a shade of anxiety in his
tone; he rose and tiptoed heavily to the
window, peering out to catch a glimpse
Of his faraway light.
"There she goes" he said. "She's all
right. Red, ten; white, five; oh, guess
The old boy knows what he's about, but
he's such an old fool, really, he don't
NOW half the time which side his breads
buttered."
Sitting down again he stretched one
eg out, while he dragged up from the
lepths Of his trousers pocket letter
Wrapped in newspaper.
u come over to see if could borry a
postage stamp" he said; then suddenly
aughed aloud at his thoughts.
"Jim's so scat l didn't say darned
Ford how was comm off after supper. l
est set him washin dishes, and that
axes all the mind he's got, an l snuck
'ut an let the dory fly; an when she
truck the water he come a-bustin out
be door on deck; thinks I'd fell over
,Oard, we know; and sings out, pullin
'ut from the tower, an the wind a blow
nj says, 'Goodby, Jim,' says L, I'm
|oin TOR leave yer now; an my Lord! he
touped int the entry and slammed
be door to. Choking mad, he was. My
Lord! guess he hain't got over a-cussin
let! Allus says when do somethin out
common, says he. 'Deuced tonfooi-
ry,' says he;" and Crusoe buffeted his
zap in tumult of boyish glee.
when l git back he'll be awful glad,
|ut he amt a-goin ter let on, mind; he
hinks hain't got but half an eye, any,
low, an amt never up to his tricks.
Put know him, sir-1narm like book!
He'll let me haul the old dory up single
landed an think he's takin his spite out
pat way, but, good Lord. kin run all
found him, as fur as tricks goes. Why,
don't take more mind than I've got in
~ collar button to git 'roun ole Friday.
yon't mean no reel harm, nor don't
ever RELY hurt him, but he is SIGH an
d fool like to hector him some. Eff
blows hat puff O wind he's scat er
Pc tower tumblin down.
"That night it blowed so-it's two
eeks come next Monday tell yer the
q gal shook, an that's fack. But, my
acious! she's as tight as the hair on
Pr head, an don't scare me none. But
hen we was to supper, an the seas was
bangin an a-bustin on her, and the
shes a-rattlin, jest hit the table leg a
PIP an says solemn ter Jim, says, Jim,
ERE gonerr an he up an down a-pray-
oh, what'll we dor says he. An
gs, Jim, says l, 'mebbe she'll fall to
ndward,' says, an by gosh! wasn't
mad when he ketched on!
u ben washin today. Did yer see my
Pshin out? Washed and ironed same
y. See my shirt? Amt it clean?
fnt | wash good?" he asked brightly,