The Van Buren press., 1896-10-03

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curious things cone TO pass en- the sarrh /
and amongst men Ben ghrIs vFeaz ca I
% say. -0u nv Way frun the ID SET I
tIement Up here TIE other dry VIXEN {
struck the pleasant skirt 81 woods cut +
CT the ridge this side Of Big Wolf creek /
who do Won reckon 7 met up with2 No- /
body but Luther Ridgeway = Long |
Luther, as we boys use to call him |
And the most strangest thing about IT, |
Rufc-when l druy up Luther was
Numbered down on the same spot of
earth and under the same big oak tree
here me and you found him and had
fight with him one Sunday mornin 30
years ago this summer"
And then Ben Chris he went on TO
tell the story, which 1t was old as his
tory with me and him, but it may be
new to you.
Naturally, Of course, RUFF, you are
bound to recollect that famous Sunday
mornin and the furious justification
we had with Long Luther Ridgeway.
We was both then right smart chunks
of boys and gallin around considerable
at the picnics and protracted meetins
and on Sundays. If | 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 started over the creek to see the
Wilder Hollis. Now you will recollect
that Luther was way yonder older than
me and you, RUFF, and big as both of
Us put together, but yet at the same
time he vas the most awkward and
bashful youngster / ever saw. There
was about Is inches of his legs bent
/ down for feet, and ihen he stood six
/ feet seven inches in his socks. So fur
as know, RUFF, the good Lord never did
make what you mought call a pretty
man, and when he made Long Luther
/ Ridgeway He must Of done His level
/ best in the other direction. Consequent
I 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 a right bad
I case of goneness on the Wilder Hollis,
and it was the private opinion of every
body in the settlement that the wilder
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 wilder, and
weather was SO furious hot that day
till he had shed his shoes and was bitiI
off the distance at about six feet with
every lick, and barefo0ted as he ever
was when he come into the world. And
II you recollect, RUFF, when we rid out
on the ridge that mornin we found him
Numbered down there under that big
oak tree moanin and groanin ike his
heart would break. lie had stumped
the big toe Of his left foot and tore the
nail off on root of that oak tree. To
us it was a tremendous funny sight-to
see Long Luther Numbered down there
boldin his wounded toe with both hands
ard cryin and blubberin like little
boy. lookin off now and then down
the road towards the widder's
house and sighin and sobbin like his
heart would bust wide open. When
1r1lr hail md shir1r about -
serious, RUFF, can see where we done
wrong, but we was nothin but healthy
human boys then.
"And that's how come VIC put in, we
did, and laughed at Luther's troubles.
and poked fun at him, and bedeyiled
him about the wilder till he got foamin
mad anu Dfung ON a iighi, wherein All
Of us was monstrous busy for few
minnits, but nobody bad hurt.
'fou see time is a mighty fortune
teller, RUFF. In spite of his sore toe and
al 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 wilder. One time subsequent
Nv 10 that he told me of how the wilder
tied up his sore toe in sperits-turpen-
tine and brown sugar, and he tarried
over there with her all day. In the gen
cral 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 accordin. They are Twin right
there at the old HALLS place, jest across
the creek, with three boys and two girls
grown and married, and how many
more OF home | couldn't say for GER
tain.
"But TO me the most strangcst thing
= Of IL all, Rufe-wben / driv out into
that pleasant skirt this side of Big Vol
rreek, as | started up here to see you
was to find Long Luther Eidgeway
Numbered down there on the very sam,
: spot Of earth and under the same old
b oak tree where me and YOU found him
D wounded in the big toe and weepir
e great drops of grief 30 years ago thi'
? summer"
Race for Life and Death.
a "And don't Won remember the time