The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1896-09-11
.Long Luthcr and tho wldder."

gallin days.
"Long Luther and tho WIdder."
The crops was then laid by and it
was right in between fodder pullin
and cotton pickin time, you understand,
and Ben Chris he had come up from the
old Panther Creek settlement on short
visitation for few days with me, as he
is wont to do about onct year.
Hit is jest naturally marvelsome to
me, RUFF, how many strange and pc
curious things come to pass on the earth
and amongst men," Ben Chris went on
to say. "On my way from the cid set
tlement up here the other day, when I
struck the pleasant skirt of woods out
en- the ridge this side of Big Wolf creek,
who do you reckon [ met up with? No
body but Luther Ridgeway - Long
Luther, as we boys use to call him.
And the most strangest thing about it,
Rufc-when l druv up Luther was
Numbered down on the same spot of
earth and unser the same big oak tree
here me and you found him and had a
fight with him one Sunday mornin 80
years ago this summer"
And then Ben Chris he went on to
tell the story, which it was old as his
tory with me and him, but it may be
new to you.
Naturally, of course, Rufe, you are
bound to recollect that famous Sunday
morRin and the furious classification
we had with Long Luther Ridgcway.
We was both then right smart chunks
CDfI I. L.
at the picnics and protracted meetins
and on Sundays. If l remember right
we had started off that very Sunday
mornin down to old Pilgrims Rest
church, where three days meetin was
then goin on in session, whilst Luther
he had staT@ed over the creek to see the
Widder Hollis. Now you will recollect
that Luther was way yonder older than
me and you, Rufe, and big as both Of
US put together, but yet at the same
time be was the most awkward and
bashful youngster / ever saw. There
was about Is inches of his legs bent
down for feet, and then he stood six
feet seven inches in his socks. So fur
as l know, Rufe, the good Lord never did
make what you mought call pretty
man, and when he made Long Luther
Ridgeway He must of done His level
best in the other direction. Consequent
ly up to that time Luther never had
been out amongst the calico and the
ribbons any to speak of. But somehow
or somehow else had got up right bad
case of goneness on the Widder Hollis,
and it was the private opinion of every
h / j
was willin to meet him half way with
her double-breasted compliments.
''Well, at any rates Luther had started
over the creek to see the widder, and
weather was so furious hot that day
till he had shed his shoes and was bitin
off the distance at about six feet with
every lick, and barefOoted as he ever
was when he come into the world. And
if you recollect, Rufe, when we rid out
on the ridge that mornin we found him
Numbered down there under that big
oak tree moanin and groanin like his
heart would break. He had stumped
the big toe of his left foot and tore the
nail off on a root of that oak tree. To
us it was a tremendous funny sight-tO
see Long Luther Numbered down there
holdin his wounded toe with both hands
and cryin and blubberin like little
boy, lookin off now and then down
the road towards the widdcr's
house and sighin and sobbin like his
heart would bust wide open. When ]
look back now and think about it
serious, Rufe, I can sec where we done
wrong, but we was nothin but healthy
human boys then.
"And that's how come we put in, we
did, and laughed at Luther's troubles,
and poked fun at him, and bedeviled
him about the widder till he got foamin
mad and brung on a fight, wherein all
of US was monstrous busy for a few
minnits, but nobody bad hurt.
you see time is a mighty fortune
teller, Rufe. In spite of his sore toe and
all of his great trials and tribulations,
Long Luther brushed the dirt off OF his
Sunday clothes, took his shoes in his
hands and went right on down the road
to see the widder. One time subsequent
ly to that he told me of how the widdeF
tied up his sore toe in sperits-turpeD-
tine and brown sugar, and he tarried
over there with her all day. In the gen
eral run Of time and pursuant to adj
journment, they closed the trade and
went and got married. Henceforwards
after that, from all can hear they have
walked upright and faithful in the ten
commandments and replenished the
earth accordiD. They are livin right
there at the old HALLS place, jest across
the creek, with three boys and two girls
grown and married, and how many
more at home I couldn't say for GER
tain.
"But TO me the most strangest thing
Of II oil. Rufe-when I driy out int0