Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-07-07
ONE SIDE OF A. TALK.

A windy November evening closed in
dark and dismal, threatening wild
weather in the night. The tea things
put away early. we gathered around the
FIRE, each Of MS in chosen coy corner,
for long, quiet evening, listening to
the wind and the surf, half looking for
shipwrecked crew to come tous, when
brisk footsteps sounded, outside and our
friend Robinson Crusoe bounded in,
leather jacket and fishing boots dripping
with rain and salt spray, his cheeks
glowing and his black eyes swapping
with fun.
We all started up with the same quick
question Of what was the matter, fancy
ing all sorts of mishaps to his lighthouse
or his dory to account for his appear
ance in the storm and darkness from the
farther side of the always rough chan
mel. But he seated himself serenely near
the door, merely saying by way of an
swer: "Well, how's things over your
way? Thank you, marin, won't come
no nearer the fire; I'll set ri'lown here
with my boots, SOS not to mus yer floor
up none," hanging his sleek wet fur
cap on his knee to drip and to dry.
'.That plaguy dory of mine. she leaks
like thunder. Dunno how she'll stand
it, laying to your wharf in this way c.
the wind, while set. But / guess she
won't damage none but what can git
acrost in her. Tain't only couple
o. miles anyway"
His shaggy black hair dried in a
tangle as he talked, smoothed down
from time to time by hand sent aloft
when not fidgeting with his buttons, or
the chair, or his cap.
81 dunno how my man Friday'n get
along while I'm gone. He's kinder scat
O. that leetle tower O. mine, an don't he
hate wuss'n pison havin me gone! BY
thunder! But eff he amt old ernuf ter
stay 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-fvel
An amt scat Oh, he's big fool!
It's his watch till 10 tonight, anyway,
an 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 glimpse
of his faraway light.
'There she goes" he said. "She's all
right. Red, ten; white, five; oh, l guess
the old boy knows what he's about, but
he's sucd an old fool, really, he don't
know halS the time which side his breads
buttered."
Sitting down again he stretched one
leg out, while he dragged up from the
depths of his trousers pocket a letter
wrapped in newspaper.
~ come over tosee if I could borry a
postage stamp" he said; then suddenly
laughed aloud at his thoughts.
''Jim's SO scat | didn't say darned
word how was comm off after supper.
jest set him washin dishes, and that
takes all the mind he's got, an snuck
out an let the dory fly; an when she
struck the water he come a-bustin out
the door on deck; thinks I'd fell over
board, ye know; and sings out, pullin
out from the tower, an the wind blow
in--I says, 'Goodby, Jim,' says I, I'm
goin ter leave yer now;' an my Lord! he
stomped int the entry and slammed
the door to. Choking mad, he was. My
Lordl guess he hain't got over a-cussin
yeti Allus says when do somethin out
O. common, says he, 'Deuced tomfool-
cry says he;" and Crusoe buffeted his
cap in a tumult of boyish glee.
when git back he'll be awful glad,
but he amt a-goin ter let on, mind; he
thinks ] hain't got. but half an eye, any
how, an amt never up to his tricks.
But know him, sir-marm, like q book!
He'll let me haul. the old dory up single
handed an think he's takin his spite out
that way, but, good Lordi kin run all
round him, as fur as tricks goes. Why,
it don't take more mind than I've got in
my collar button to git 'roun ole Friday.
Don't mean no reel harm, nor / don't
never RELY hurt him, but he is sich an
old fool like to hector him some. Eff
it blows haf puff o wind he's scat er
the tower tumblin down.
"That night it blowed so-it's two
weeks come next Monday-I tell yer the
old gal shook, an that's fack. But, my
gracious! she's as tight as the hair on
yer head, an don't scare me none. But
when we was to supper, an the seas was
a-bangin an a-bustin on her, and the
dishes a-rattlin, jest hit the table leg a
clip an says solemn ter Jim, says, Jim,
we're goner? an he up an down a-pray-
in. 'Oh, what'l we dor says he. An
says, Jim says I, 'mebbe she'll fall to
landward,' | says, an by goshi wasn't
he mad when he ketched onl
81 ben washin today. Did yer see my
washin out? Washed and ironed same
day. See my shirt? Amt it clean?
Can't wash good?' he asked brightly,
standing up and throwing open his
jacket, beating his breast, as If we,. too,
might come forward If we would and
smite upon his manly shirt front.
A fine deep red surged up in bis
weather beaten cheeks in pride of per-
formance. we git done terrible quick,
we do. Shove the table up longside the
stove an let her go. Hain't got but one
fatiron, so drive her awhile, an then
Jim, when she's hot agin. But don't
Jim make kick, though! My Lordi
Says hisn good enough eff he folds 'em
an sets on 'em awhile, but / don't want
no man roun me that don't iron his
cloes good, an | keep him at it, an while
he's jawin jest keep to leeward an lay
quiet.
I'm o aterrible good washer an ironer
myself, but it's mendin gifts me. Tvegot
ahole in tHesneel q this sock I've got on
now, an kills me to wear hole. An
blamed ef ] kin sew it up An buttons
off cant 20 that neither: I've got three