Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-23
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 us in chosen cozy corner,
for q long, quiet evening, listening to
the wind and the surf, half looking for
a shipwrecked crew to come to us, 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; III set ri down 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 l can git
acrost in her. 'Tain't only a couple
o. miles anyway"
His shaggy black hair dried in q
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.
~ dunno how my man Fridayll 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 gonel 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-6vei
An l amt scat. Oh, he's big fooli
It's his watch till 10 tonight, anyway,
an he can make the old gal go well
enough if he's mind to an don't go ter
dickerin with the machinery"
There was 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, guess
the old boy knows what he's about, but
he's such an old fool, really, he don't
know half 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 letter
wrapped in newspaper.
81 come over to see if could borry
postage stamp" he said; then suddenly
laughed aloud at his thoughts.
"Jim's SO scat l didn't say darned
word how was comm off after supper. l
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 l sings out, pullin
out from the tower, an the wind q blow
in-I says, 'Goodby, Jim,' says l, I'm
goin ter leave yer now;' an my Lordi he
stomped int the entry and slammed
the door to. Choking mad, he was. My
Lordl guess he hain't got over a-cussin
yet! 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 book!
He'll let me haul the old dory up single
handed an think he's takin his spite out
that way, but, good Lordl / 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 l don't
over 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
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, 'JiIn,' says l, 'mebbe she'll fall to
landward,' says, an by goshl wasn't
he mad when he ketched on!
II ben washin today. Did yer see my
washin out? Washed and ironed same
day. See my shirt? Amt it clean?
Can't wash goodY' 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 his
weather beaten cheeks in pride of per-
formance. 1--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, thought My Lord!
Says his'n good enough eff he folds 'em
an sets on 'e1n 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
"Tm terrible good washer an ironer
myself, but it's mendin gifts me. I'VE got
a hole in the heel O. this sock I've got ON