Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-18
HONE, SHEET HOME.

boom is ragin' in Virginia, now is the
time we may hope for Twin price
for our splendid SpOttsylvania corn
lan's and magnificent medder bottoms.
George" s e, "stir your stumps and
sci the LAM"
S l, "Ma, when the pir ch comes, yOn
amt agoin' to get your own consent
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 wild
ow woman and one grey-headed boy
of so (you know you ere 50,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 III Richmond, with the beng
tamg of Virginia, in style"
"Ma," s. l, 81 don't believe you'll
part with your guns and g0utds, not
to live with Queen Victoria and cat
oysters three times a day. I think I
know you better'n you know yourself"
Then ma got mad and cried and
said l was 'fmpident and sassy to her
and I'd oughter carry cut her views
and uphold her"
Pa had never crossed her ivin', nor
nobody else, SO it ended in my postin
down to Fredericksburg in the carryall
and putin the plantation, crops,
stock, etc, into the hands of Mckay,
Lam agent
The town was alive with northern
capitalists and visitors at that time.
Seine came to see 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 and search for
plumber,
ours.
Mckay told me of a couple that got
oft the train that day. Said the man
was polite to his wife and gave Lame
Bill a dollar.
A Ham agent knows how to pick q
gentleman right well, though not so
well as an old Virginia house niger
The one who used to tote the wood n
for the parlor fire, hang your horse or
carry him to water and bring your
boots.
Thinks I, 'I'll drive 'em out, and
show the premises while ma is in the
notion"
So out l go with Mr.. and Mrs. Sage,
a nice couple, rich and unhealthy,
wanting to try Southern ar.
There was a cheerful blase on the
parlOr hearth. Ma b'leeves in a little
blaze all the year 'roun, though the
weather was very mild. Injun sum-
mer.
KeSia. the cook, tossed up a little
hot dinner in no time, for we were hun
CRY as an army of locusses after our
drive. Briled ham an eggs, fried sas-
sage and hOecal<eS and whilst ma pour
ed out the coffee and October peaches
in the gilt saucers / studied her face,
TO my astonishment she run on about
the fashions-a thing she had took nc
stock in since pa died.
She would't catch my eye, and
sorter mistrTsted her, but carried Mr.
Sage all over the plantation, and he
was delighted.
"JuSt what he was in search of. He
wanted everything as it stood, the
colts, calves, hogs, hat, boots, and all.
Thought he would put a new barn
here and a playhouse there and a
vineyard. and double the sheep in
the medder."
Him and Mrs. Sage mapped it off
like a picture by the time they were
ready to leave the next day.
OF course, | drove them back to
town, twenty miles o rough roads and
busy time O. year.
| and Mckay made all the range
ments for the transfer of the property,
and / come on back home.
Still miStrustin' O ma, | KEEP cle'r O
the subject We both stunned it. and
durin' the followin' week / smoked q
month 'sallowance of tobacco, and ma
clicked and ratified her kitten needles
as if life depended On her gettin' that
sock finished, and I'll be shot if she
didn't knit the leg a yard long.
Byme-hy Mckay came driyin up ii
a fine double buggy, with Mr.. Sage, tC
pay down the first installment.
When Cindy ushered 'em in ma drop
ped her long sock leg and her hands
commenced to trimble.
1t was good sale. We We're sit
tin all we askdan a crackin' price i
was; for ma thought her dirt was 6
sight betternnother folks dirt. Not 6
hitch-nowhar,
All Of set talkin' as friendly as yol
please round the blaze on the hearth
Little black Joe on his own 'sponsibil
ity hans round waiter Of nader
bulsh apples. and Cindy, the houst
gal, not to be outdone, gifts out ginge
cakes and foamin' pitcher of swee
cider.
Ma set snalzin' and trimbly the
whole endurin' time.
Mr.. Sage he set back In pas old
stuffet leather arm chair, with heels
on the fender like comfort itself, AND
diluted about the changes he'd mind t
make.
"a hundred Southdown sheep" fol
the hill pasture and ''grainin' forty
beeves:" "ten acres in turnips' and ter
in celery" and all such wild talk rs
city farmers indulge in.
Finally the pen was dipped and handed
ma, but 'tead er takin' it she clinche(
hands together hard and lauehin' {
tremulous little pitiful laugh, S 'e:
''Mr. Sage, do you know how higl