The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-22
HOME, SWEET HOME.
why Efr. Sage Didn't Buy the
Old Homestead

Ma got into q pertec S~tret 70 sell
the Ian. s. e, George. now while the
boom is ragin' In Virginia, now Is the
time we may hope for a lfvin'
price for orr splendid spottsyl-
vania corn ian's and magnificent med
der bottoms George. - e. stir your
stnmps and sell the Lam
s. |: ..Ma, when the pinch comes.
you Amt agoin' TO get yo6E own con-
1 sent TO part with the old homestead. /"
81 q: George, now that the niggers
are free what IS 70 keep down the
bushes and briars7 A lone, lorn widow
woman and one gray headed boy Of
fifty tyou know you are fifty, George).
can't manage all the Ian and stock
we've got Sell the Ian, George, and
me and ron VIII board at the Exchange
hotel in Richmond, with the bong tong
81 Virginia. ia style
Ma, s. I. II don't b'lieve you'll part
with your gums and gourds, not 70 live
with Queen Victoria and eat oyshters
three times day. think ! know you
better'n you know yourself
Then ma got mad and cried and said
was ''impidefit and sassy - her." and
Id onghter carry out her views and
uphold her.
Pa had never crossed her livin', nor
nobody. else, so II ended In my postin'
down tor fredericksburg in my carryall
and putin the plantation. crops, stock,
etc, into the hands Of Mckay, Ian
agent
The town was alive with northern
capitalists and visitors at that time.
Some came TO. see about their dead, In
tered in the great union cemetery
there, II beins soon after the war was
over II was like the verse we used TO
say at school:
2 Many came 10 see The wonder.
To seek for gold and search for plunaer,'
and some few TO cast in their lots with
ours
MeKay told me Of couple that got
of the train that day Said the man
was polite TO his wife and gave Lame
Eli a dollar.
A Ian agent knows how to pick .
gentleman right well. though not SO
we'll us 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 1; "rlI drive EN- out. and
show the premises while ma is in the
notion
So ont go with Mr. and Mrs Sage.
nice couple, rich and unhealthy,
wanting to try southern ar
There was o cheerful blaze on the
parlor hearth. Ma b'ieeyes in little
blaze, all the year 'roun, though the
weather was mighty mild Injun sum
meE.
Kesia. the cook, tossed up little hot
dinner in no time, for we were hungry
us an army Of locusses after our drive
Drilled ham an eggs, fried sausage
and hoecaltes. and whilst ma poured
ont the coffee and October peaches In
the gilt sAucers studied her fase.
To my establishment she run on about
the fashionsa 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 II stood, the
colts, the calves, hogs, hats, 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 of like
n picture BY the time they were ready
70 leave next day.
Of course, Idruve them back to town,
& twenty miles o rough roads and mighty
busy time 81 year.
and Mckay made all the range
ncnts for the transfer OF the property,
and come on back home
Still mistrnstin' OF ma, KEEP cle'r O.
the subject We both stunned it, and
durin' the followin' week,I smoked a
month's allowance Of tobacco, and ma
clicked and ratified her knittin' needles
as If life depended on her gettin' that
sock finished, and III be shot II she
didn't knit the leg'a yard long.
Byme-by Mckay came drivin' up in a
finc double buggy, with Mr. Sage, to
4 pay down the first installment
When cindy ushered EN- in ma
dropped her long sock leg and her
hands commenced to tremble.
II wassa good sale. We were gettin'
all we asked. and erackin' price 1t
was. for ma thought her dirt was a
sight bettern'n other folks dirt Not
hitch-no whar
All Of Us set talfin' as friendly as
you please round the blaze on the
hearth. Little black Joe on his own
'sponsibility hans round a waiter Of
maiden blush apples. and cindy. the
house gal not 70 be outdone. gifts ont
ginger cakes and foamin' pitcher Of
sweet cider
Ma set shaki ii' and treInbly the whole
cndurin' time
Nj sage he SGT back il pas old
stnffet leather arfncheer with heels on
the fender like comfort itself. and
diluted about the chances hes mind to
rnakE
"A hnpdrcd southdown sheep for
q