Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-04-22

llN Siuhl lldlllt.
Peck. peck! as of sharp bill striking
on bare boards came from the inner
room. Mr.. Beckwth looked at his wife
nquiI'ingly.
THE rumpluS pullet. she explained.
"While the buclira and the dog was
runnin' down the other fowls it fly in
there and squat down under the bed,
so | just shut the door and amt say
nothin'. Seemed like the Lord aimed
/ for we to keep it,"
Her companion chuckled. There's
near bout four buShel of corn down
/ yOnder in the fence corner" he said,
but it amt gone there itself took it
out while he was gone to the sto' for
nails. He amt gon' to miss it out of
the main batch'
The rumpluS pullet. released from
treSs, pecking at the oven. against the
rim of which a few crumbs from the
last cooked bread stuck fast.
The pullet's red feathers stood up
in appearance but Heartsie took it up
and stroked it gently. ITS one of the
four that was hand raised" she said.
THAT what make it come in here to
hide. That white hen what died on the
nest was its mother"
\ boy of about 10 years came in with
his arms full of wood. He put his bur-
den down. then drew near one corner
of the fireplace and stood silent, look
Ing into the flames.
rs You hungry, bud" asked his
grandmother. There's piece of corn
cake in the cupboard. Where's Boil
lum?"
II left him in the branch He had
jump a rabbit replied the child
THAT dog got sense" pronounced Mr.
Beckwith. "IIe know when there amt
nOthin fresh in the house. If that clock
man had knOwed he'd n carried Boil
lum off long wild the other things. You
see. If he don't fetch in rabbit to-
night he'll get one by sunup. He's suit
tngly KNOWN dog"
Humpy was asleep and Bollum, the
yellow spotted cur dozed titfully be-
fore the fire that night but the excite
mcnt of the afternoon had baniShed
sumber from the eyes Of Heartsie and
her spouse. They discussed and redis-
cuSSed every phase of the situation.
rs you think to mention them things
to him, baby the old man asked.
Them things is rightly worth heap
more than So"
Il amt crack my teeth on him about
en- said his wife. Il just was all
timerSome like for fear he would go
S'archin' about and stumble on 'em. 1t
never Cured to him though to look in
that old trunk with the cover all feared
loose ana rags stickin' out. He'd'a'
took 'em soon as his eyes light on 'em.
but it wouldn't have been for no pay he
would have took. He'd "a said as we
stcalcd them things and had us up be-
fore the trial juStice-you as 'specta-
bic member in good Standn' and me
what is always been held to be right
couS livin' woman. He'd tooken that
ground sure"
81 believe yOu! calculated 'Riah.
looking admil'ngly at his quicker wit
ted partner. IL never thought of that"
Mr. Beckwith," said Heartsie at
length in an impressive undcrtone. us
got notion that them things is Il car
ryin' us to the devil Is ponderated on it
now Il long time, when YOU amt had no
notion | was pondera tin. and accordin'
to my stakin' off we won't have no let
up this gom' down hill we're doin' till
we gets rid of them things for good and
all. Amt we work hard this year every
day the Lord send?" she went on.
Oats what we DONE" affirmed her
spouse.
We'll! Amt we try our best las
year,"
Dat we did"
And de year before that? Amt we
always been hard workin. and amt
everything gone against us? The chol-
era KILN off lis hogs and fowl and
tingS and skippin other peoples? Our
COW crackin of her neck in the ditch
and Black Sally just naturally gittin
poorer and more perish-away lookin',
the more feed we give her? Till the boss
say we can't keep her no longer? Amt
all this what | tellin' you precisely so?"
Mr.. Beckwith nodded. His pipe had
long since gone out and he did not
know it.
We'll. Mark my words" emphasiz-
ing them with uplifted finger. lust so
long as that candlestick and that
breastpin and that piece of watch chain
stay there in that trunk where they is
the old boys goin' to follow us"
Mr.. Beckwith groaned with excess of
intprpSf nd hplinf