The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-13

well when he goes away-I call it
scandilous-''
'Thcn she hasn't much to say to her
husband?" asked Miss Brainerd, feel
ing moro interested. "NIuch to saw"
screamed Mrs Armil Law. me. WHY,
she amt spoke mortal word to him
for morc'n ten years. That boy of hers,
Leon, amt never heard his mother
speak to his father"
do you mean that literally, Mrs.
Armil? Not world"
Not a word? Amt it owdacious?
1t would make my blood run cold to live
that way for week. told Hetty,
says 1: 'Armil wouldn't put up with
sech foolin'.' That's my husband; real
nice man, but u German, and liked his
own way. He had the same pretty
blue eyes like Emil, and sortcr sulky
streak pintblanll like Emil, too. But
Seth, he's terrible patient and he sets
the world and all by Hetty-always did;
and they do get on better than you'd
think they could; she cooks everything
his way, and furnished the house with
her own money jest to please him. He's a
great hand for rcadin' in books about
things and he paints beautiful-he
painted their rooms inside, but IIctty
painted the outside. She's q splendid
farmer, too, and can pillow and plant
better than man; yes, he would pint
edly be fool to mad lefty! So, some
how, they get on; when they want any
thing they talk it out to Leon. He's a
terrible bright boy, got awful big
mouth, see 1t coming round to his ears
from hea 1r Of
to smile; but he is jest as good as gold
and is on to fractions in the 'rithmctic.
If lletty wants to know anything she
tells Leon, and he asks his paw, and
Seth the same way with her; and there
is advantages; he never gets harsh
word from her. But law, me, it's the
funniest sight l ever did see, him and
her a-talking-"
"Tallling?"
"Ycs, ma'am, to Leon. He sets
atwcen them, and first she says: Leon,
I'm mighty dubious bout this trying to
turn the whole world upside down,
cause we all don't have the money to
pay our honest debts: for that's what it
comes to- says she. Perhaps the Lord
made the world in seven days says
she, but we can't make it over so
briefly Leon says he, those East
ern land sharks and the money power
land he Sings out n lot of fine words
like he gifts out of boolis-I disrcmcm-
Der thcm) they are going to skin u.s.
and SO it goes on, first and last, Leon
never opening his head; only when he
gets right tired he sometimes does say:
Paw and NAV, are You all done talk.
ing?' and gifts OFF that way"
But what do they do when they arc
ill, any of thcm?"
"Ill? he amt bit i'll to her or to
him; it's tho peacefulest family YOU
ever did ben in!'
II mean sick" Miss Draincrd amend
ed, recalling the southern interpreter
ton of the word.
"Well," Mrs. Armil answered. reflect
lively, they amt ben much sick, worst
was when llctty broae her arm; that
was bad. You see IIetty and me was
raised together, and first cousins and all
lills we be, we think n heap of each
other, SO I'm over there all the time
can; and was there that day. Yes
ma'am, don't reckon ahall ever forrct
the way lIctty looked marching into tho
room with Leon in her poor arms and
one of them plumb broken and Leon all
bloody. The way of it was the bull
run at Leon-he want only five then
and puny as puny-never believed they
could raise him; and he want much
hurt, but lie fell down, that was how,
and bloodied himself and looked the
worst in the world; and she'd made II
run for him and wrapped the bulls
head up in the cloth, and, Lord only