The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-01-27
HOME, SWEET HOME.

Ma got into a perfec' swivet to sell
the Ian. s. e. George, now while the
boom is ragin' in Virginia, now is the
time we may hope for livin' price for
our splendid Spottsylvania corn lam
and magnificent medder bottoms
George" S e, stir you" stumps and
sell the LAM
s. |. Ma. when the pinch comes,
you amt agoin' to get your own con-
sent to part with the old homestead" :"
$ e, George, now that the Mig
gers are free, what is to keep down
the bushes and briars? A lone, lorn
widow woman and one grey-haired boy
of 80 (you know you are 50 George),
can't manage all the lam 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 |. Il don't believe you'll
part with your gums and gourds. not
to live with Queen Victoria and eat
oyshters three times a day. [ think |
know you better'n you know yourself" p"
Then ma got mad and cried and said
l was 'impident and sassy to her" and
I'd oughter carry out her views and
uphold her"
Pa had never crossd her livin' nor
nobody else, so it ended in my p"stin'
down to Fredericksburg in the carry
all and putin, the plantation, crops,
stock. etc, into the hands of Mckay
Ian agent.
The town was alive with northern
! =: i
Some came to see about their dead,
inferred in the great Union cemetery
there, ii bein' soon after the war was
over. 1t was like the verse we used
to say at SCHOOL,
Many came to see the wonder.
10 seek for gold ana search for plundSr
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 a dollar.
A Ian agent knows how to pick a
gentleman right well, though not SO
well as an old Virginia house nigger.
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 |. iii drive 'em out, and
show the premises while ma is in the
notion"
So out l 60 with Mr.. and Mrs. Sage,
a nice couple, rich and unhealthy, want
ing to try Southern ar.
There was a cheerful blaze on the
parlor hearth Ma bleives in little
blaze all the year 'roun, though the
weather was mighty mild. lnjun
| summer
kesia, the cook tossed up a little hot
! dinner in no time, for we were hungry
as an army of locusscs after our drive.
Briled ham an eggs. fried sassage and
hoecakes, and whilst ma poured 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 no stock in since pa died.
She wouldn't catch my eye, and |
sorter mistrusted her, but carried Mr..
Sage ali over the plantation, and he
war 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 picture by the time they were
ready to leave next day.
OF course, drove them back to
town twenty miles O rough roads and
mighty busy time O year.
| ! and Mckay made all the range
ments for the transfer of the property,
and | came on back home.
Still mstrustin' O ma, | KEEP Clc'r O
the subject We both Stunned it, and
durin' the folloWin' week | smoked a
mouths allowance Of tobacco, and ma
clicked and ratified her knitting-mced-
les as if life depended on her gettin'
that sock finished, and I'll be shot il
she didn't knit The le~ It yard long.
Byme-by Mckay came driyin' up in
fine double buggy, with Mr.. Sage to
pay down the first in>talmpnt.
When Cindy ushcred 'cm in ma
dropped her long sock leg and hel
hands commenced to 1rimble.
1t was good sale. We were gottin
all we asked, and a crackin' price ii
was; for ma thought her dirt was q
sight bettern'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 round waiter OF
maiden blush apples, and Cindy, the
house girl, not to be outdone, gifts out
ginger cakes and a foamin' pitcher OF
sweet cider.
Ma set shakin' and trimbly the whole
endurin' time.
Mr.. Sage he sat back in pas old
stutfet leather armcheer, with heels on