The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-09-04

Dary Ann brushed tear from hcr
light lashee, as she picked up the
heavy basket aud began 10 drop Up
and down, aud mp and down,
the long rows she went, her bare feet
sinking ankle.doep into the steamiug
loan, stopping now and again to I'll
her basket at the big bags stationed
here and their, throughout the held.
Away over TO the other side she
could sec Uncle Jerry and tho red
oxen, and hear his voice as he urged
them along with the heavy drag.
"Hell git it al in aioro sundown,
easy" she unused, as she shifted her bur
den from one hand 10 the other, and
looked prospectiyely about her. 'But
Andy hain't goin' TO drop no more Of
em, if kin help it He's jest about
tuckeredl" and she glanced anxiously
over to the detected little heap under
the Eastwood shrub.
Andy had taken of his ragged straw
hat, and it lay upon the ground be-
side him. The locks Of light hair
falling about his thin face the sad
expression in the blue eyes thatlooked
up at her occasionally; the weary at
titude he had taken, with his elbows
rested on his knees, and his chin
plunged into two scrawny hands,
seemed to nerve Sary Aun into greater
activity.
The sun crept higher and higher,
and a brazen yellowish glare seemed
TO overspread the blue sky. Still Sary
Ann worked on, and Uncle Jerry
plodded patiently along behind the
red oxen. It was only when the
cheerful sound of the dinner-be
came over the fields, that she set the
empty basket down beside one of the
hAlf-filled sacks, and went over to the
stone where Andy sat.
She dropped down on a little clump
of sod in front of him, and picked up
his ragged hat to fan her warm face.
"Ny, it's hotl" she murmured, as
she united her sun-bonnet, and
brushed back the locks Of rough brown
hair that hung Imply about her face.
"But it's cool an breezy 'nough in
this sh0dder though. Be We gettln
rested?" she asked. anxiously, look
ing up quizzically into the boys face.
Yes" answered Andy, in a SLOW
meditativo way. eve been think
in'-Say I'm an awful bother to you,
amt ], Sary Ann? You're allus a-spell
in me off, an doin' my work. Say
don't you git tired O workin', Sary
Ann?"
''Now, don't you go to frettin' 'bou
tibet, Andy, I'm stouter'n you be
sides I'm lots older. I'm most ff
teen, jest think o tibet, Andy Wher
you get as old as am, mebby yoJ
won't need no spellin'," and sh
reached out and laid her arm caress
ingly on the little scrawny arm.
"When / get big" said Andy
eagerly, an take care O you, Sar
Ann. Do you think I'll be stout ar
big, like Uncle Jerry, when I'm fiji
teen?"
Eyes, when you're fifteen you'll b
lots robuster'n ye b. now, l reckon,
said Sary Ann, hopefully. But nc
another later be you goin' to drar
Andy Smith; do you hear?"
But Aunt Marthy--" proteste
Andy.
~ don't keer nothin' bout Aun
Marthyl" interrupted Sary Ann. g
reckon all the Aunt Marthys an Uncl
Jerrys there be won't git no NOR
drappin' out O. you, beiu' rs 1 ki
help it," she added, Indignantly.
Uncle Jerry counted on gettil
this patch in fore dark" said Andy
doubtfully.
} "Well, 'twon't be much Of q still
5 fur me to drap EN-, 'thout any bel
frum you. You kin stay an hel
. Aunt Marthy bout the house-dra
F.; the water, an split the wood, an sec
d like. You hain't got to come out her
: ag'in.
> "Tain't no httin' work fur gal
= said Amt Marthy, when sary An
= proposed taking Audy's place in Il
e ,,ot,to 6alJ stXVban 10 n O,l 90