Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-24

down early, amin to be on nan an
thiukin / could hs'p roun mebbe,
fetchin wood an drawin cider. got
thar soon arter dinner. an Nancy's little
sis Ten. she seed me comm an runned
an tol the yuthers An, by gum.
whenst Skinned over the fence an
started up the parth to the house. thar
they all was big as life came to the do
to watch me. Thar was Nancy an her
nam, an her dad, an Buck an Jeems
an Marthy Ann an Randy Gibbs FUN
over at Jasper, what had come to stan
up at the weddin, an that little blame
Tennessee, an-Nanoyl Lord. how they
seem to swell thar in the cabin do as
fumbled up to the house tn ough the
dead leaves. Seem like thar was a plum
army ov 'em thar-an Nancy Ian look
like my legs tangled up same's inter-
ferin horse, an my arms growed so long
they fetched the groun, an my feet so
big the yearth couldn't hold 'em. My,
stranger, but I was hot whenst ! did
get to that cabin do, which it natchel-
ly seemed to be miles away. Well,
whenst I did get thar. thar was Nancy
Thomas MoTair. she said, pyeart-
like, steppin to the front, an Randy
Gibbs a-eggin her on fun benin,
Thomas McTair-pap his name is
Thomas, an mann j'ined on the MoTair
for the bishop what uster be down to
Nashville-'Thomas McTair, says Nam
TO, ir,f
jeans garments?' she says. Them was
my intentions, says 1. seein she had
spoke so proper. We'll. Mr. Lane, she
up an answer, If them is your inten-
tions you'll git some yuther gal to mar.
ry you. If a man is too low down to
git par er sto' bought olo'es to marry
in, why the Lord have mercy on his
soul, fur I won't Yes. sir, them was
Nancy's very words war. an with that
the do slammed, an whenst l looked
up thar warn't Nanoyl o Lord. .
Lordl'
Stranger, he began again after
moment, eying my rough tweed suit,
"did you mean them words you spoke
about this here dad blamed suit or
jeans? Did you now?'
well, yes," answered, from my
standpoint, that is first rate suit,
straight goods, all wool and yard
wide
"Thanky. stranger, thanky," said
Thomas McTair exuberantiy, "blamed
ef don't tell the ole lady them words
ner yourn, but see here, stranger,
would Won min s,yonnin2n
What? Suits?' l asked. smiling at
the remembrance of the 12 inches Of diff
ference in our heights.
''That's what" he said eagerly.
"You see, it's thisser way Thar's
plenty time yit TO- the weddin was to "a
been, an ef you air min to 'commo-
date me kin get thar by the time the
squire'll come, an, bless Ga1Ed, I'll git
Nancyr'
II am afraid your clothes won't fit
me, +" said temporizincly.
His face fell. LOCKER here stran-
GER" he said, and there were tears in
his eyes, I'm a-losin the chance er
Nancyl You don't know what that
means, ca'se you've never sot eyes on
that purity face er hern, nur seen her
walkin in tho mist Nv a mornin with
the dampness curlin that yeller hair Nv
bern, an-O Lord. stranger ain't thar
gal somers as you'd die to git?'
Right you are there, Thomas"
said dismounting. you've hit the nail
on the head, and I'll tell you what I'll
do for you. Mans cooked up lot Of
good things. hasn't she, back at the
cabin. for you and Nancy to start honey
incoming on?''
''That's what" he answered
well, shuck off, I'll lend you my
suit till the weddings over. provided
you'll put me Oh the trail to your cabin
and give me supper and bed. A fell
low gets kinder played climbing noun
tains"
stranger, you're trump" cried
Thomas, with effusion. You're man
ever inch nv you, an you're treatin me
white. 0 Lord, jest to think, I'll git
Nanoy!'
81 say, Thomas" said 1, after we
had both disrobed, you'll have to get
that turkey grease out of your hair, or
am afraid my hat won't stay on your
head. 1t will slip off, you know
"Right you air, stranger" he said,
eying my rough shock "Mebbe little
stragglin outlook, as you mought call it,
would go better wit sto' clo'es But
come down this way piece"
He picked up my bundle Of clothes.
and his own big boots, which he had
been compelled to remove in order to
skin his trousers over his feet, and led
the way down the trail in his under
suit of unwashed Sea island
We came presently upon little cove
under overhanging lodges of rock,
whence spring bubbled, trailing its
way noisily down the mountain side.
Before / knew what he was about
Thomas McTair had thrown himself
forward on the palms Of his hands and
was standing feet uppermost over the
stream The ripples gurgled through
his long hair, washing the Oil out upon
the troubled waters.
''Never wet thread, did I?' he said
by and by as he turned a somersault
and landed Oh his feet
By this time l was comfortably hab-
ted in his hickory shirt and brown
jeans. with about a foot of trousers
turned up in an English roll around
my ankles.
Thomas McTair's dressing proceeded
more slowly, converting him into a
forked sight My. trousers struck him
about the region Of his calves and re-
fused to be coaxed any lower. but this
was a minor defect. as his cowbide
boots nobly satisfied the deficiency. But
up above there ware no extenuating cir
cumstances The button tab at the end
of the shirt bosom struck him amid seas
and Topped over the top of the low cut
vest. The short sack coat failed to hide
the strap and buckle of his trousers in
the rear and showed a suspicious line of
white round the waist places when he
raised his arm. About three inches Of
Sea island undershirt formed cuff pro-
truding beneath the coat sleeve His
wet hair stood out in little weepy wisps
all over his head, but the biggest thing
in sight was the smile that pervaded
his countenance.
Dent happen to hev lookin glass
about You, do you, stranger" he asked