St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-10-31

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WN\MNSMN ' Ben Chris" says
I. And with that me and Ben Chris
Weaver-the playmate of my Childhood
and boyhood, friend of my manhood
and side partner in thousand trials
and troubles and temptations-wet then
went on to talk about them good CID
times that use to be in our young and
gallin days.
sLoag LatheF and the WlddeE."
The crops was then laid by and il
was right in between fodder pullin
and cotton pickin time, you understand
and Ben Chris he had come up from the
old Panther Greek settlement on shor'
visitation for few days with me. as he
is wont to do about .onct year.
"Nit is jest naturally marvelsome to
me, Rufe, how many strange and pc
curious things come to pass on the earth
and amongst men," Ben Chris went or
to say. ION my way from the old set
tlement up here the other day. when
struck the pleasant skirt of woods out
en- the ridge this side of Big Wolf creek
who do you reckon I 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 druv up Luther was
hunkered down On the same spot OF
earth and under the same big oak tree
where me and you found him and had a
fight with him one Sunday mornin 30
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
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 I remember right
we had started OF 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
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 he was the most awkward and
bashful youngster l 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 I know, Rufe, the good Lord never did
make what you mought ca.ss pretty
man, and when he made Long Luther
Kidgeway 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
body in the settlement that the widder
was willin to meet him half way with
her double-breasled compliments.
swell, ut 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
OF the distance at about six feet with
every lick, and barefooted N he ever
was when he come into the world. And
II you recollect, Rufc. when we rid out
on the ridge that mornin we found him
hunkered 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 OF on = root of that oak tree. To
us It was q tremendous funny sight-to
see Long Luther hunkered down there
holdin his wounded toe with both hands
ard cryin and blubberin like little
boy. lookin on now and then down
the road towards the widder's
house and sighin and sobbin like his
heart would bust wide open. When !
look back now and think about it
serious, Rufc, I can see 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 bedeviletl
him about the widder till he got foamin
mad and brung on q fight, wherein all
Of us was monstrous busy for few
minnits, but nobody bad hurt.
"You rec time II mighty fortune
teller, Rufe. In spite Of his sore toe and
all of his great trials and tribulations.
Long Luther brushed the dirt on 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 widder
tied up his sore toe in sperits-turpen-
tine and brown sugar. and he tarried
over there with her all day. In the gen.
eral run Of time and pursuant to ad-
journlnert, they closed the trade and
went and got married. Henceforwartls
after that, from all can hear they have
walked upright and faithful in the ten
commandments and replenished the
earth accordin. 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 couldn't say for Ger
tain.
'But to me the most strangest thing
Of it all, Rufe-whea driv out into
that pleasant skirt this side Of Big Wolf
creek, u I started up here 70 zee you
vas to find Long Luther Ridgeway
huakered down there On the very same
spot Of earth and under the same old
oak tree where me and you found him,
wounded in the big toe and weepin
great drops of grief p years ago this
summer"
4 9aAe see l1ss 90 Osaak
~And don't Joa resnembcr the si0e,
Rufe, when Buck Nilligan thought TIE
tse rein of hls bei1le Was = snake, and
ior ! little more woqld have r1n ~
1unl sr]f to death?