Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-06-24
THE LAND SALE.

Ian. s. e, George, now while the boom is
ragin in Virginia, now is the time we may
hope for a livin 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 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 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," s. l, II don't b'leeve you'll part
with your gums and gourds, not to live
with Queen Victoria and eat oyshters three
times day. I think know you better'n
you know yourself"
Then ma got mad and cried and said
was ''impident and sassy to her," and I'd
oughter ''carry out her views and uphold
her."
Pa had never crossed her Twin, nor no
body 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, Ian agent.
The town was alive with northern CAPT
talists and visitors at that time. Some
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,
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 Ian agent knows how to pick 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,
and bring your boots.
Thinks l, 'sI'll drive EN- out, and show
the premises, while ma is in the notion"
So out / go with Mr.. and Mrs. Sage a
nice couple, rich and unhealthy, wanting
to try southern ar.
There was cheerful blaze OH the parlor
hearth. Ma b'leeves in little blaze, all
the year 'roun, though the weather was
mighty mild. Injun summer.
Kesia, the cook, tossed us up little hot
dinner in no time, for we were hungry as
an army of locusses after our drive. Briled
ham an eggs, fried sassage and hoecakes,
and whilst ma poured out the coffee and
served cream and October peaches in the
gilt saucers l 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
mistrusted 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, fowls, hat, boots and ALL
Thought he would put a new barn here,
and "a playhouse there and 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 next day.
Of course 1 drove them back to town,
twenty miles O. rough roads, and mighty
busy time O. year.
and Mckay made all the 'rangements
for the transfer of the property, and come
on back home.
Still mistrustin O. ma I KEEP cle'r O. the
subject We both stunned it, and durin
the followin week I smoked months al
lowance of tobacco, and ma clicked and
ratified her knittin needles as if life de-
pended on her gettin that sock finished,
and I'll be shot if she didn't knit the leg a
yard long!
Byme-by Mckay came drivin up in a
fine double buggy, with Mr.. Sage, to pay
down the first installment.
When Cindy ushered 'em in ma dropped
her long sock leg and her hands commenced
to trimble.
1t was good SALE We were gettin all
we asked, and a crackin price it was; for
ma thought her dirt was a sight better'n
other folks dirt. Not a hitch-nowhar.
All of us set talkin as friendly as you
please round the blaze on the hearth.
Little black Joe on his own 'sponsibility
hans 'roun a waiter of maiden blush
apples, and Cindy, the house gal, not to be
outdone, gifts out ginger cakes and a foam
in pitcher of sweet cider.
Ma set shakin and trimbly the whole en-
durin time.
Mr.. Sage he set back in pas old stuffet
leather armcheer, with heels on the fender
like comfort itself and diluted about the
changes he'd mind to make.
"a hundred Southdown sheep" for the
hill parster-an "grainin forty beeves;;"
''ten acres in turnips" and "ten in celery"
and all such wild talk as city farmers in
dulge in.
ma, but 'sted er takin it she clinched her
hands together hard, and laughin tremu-
lous little pitiful laugh, s. e:
"Mr. Sage, do you know how high corn
grows on this plantations"