St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-02-06

pulled out my watch and leant back to
see what time Of day it was. Right
there-inthat very same sad minute
old Ball tipped md fell to his knees.
and then houndered around there 50
terrific till hanged If it didn't look 10
me like he would tear the bridge down
before he could catch on his feet oncst
more. In the general shake up and
confusionment dropped my watch and
ii rolled OF Of the bridge and into the
creek below. I had saw right where it
fell, and it didn't take me long to see
what I had to do. or lose bully watch.
$50 driv out on the other side of the
bridge, turned old Rall out to one side
Of the road. climbed out Of my fine
clothes and my stovepipe hat. and went
down into the water after my watch.
Now presently, whilst was down
there chin-deep in the water feelin for
my watch with my toes-thinkin I
would find it for certain before made
the dive--I looked up the hill and there
was old Ball. polin of in a jog trot and
headed for the widders with my fms
new suit of store-boughtclothesa and my
stovepipe hat in the buggy.
Then, man. sir. I come up out cf
that water like was shot out of q can
NON and put out mp the road after old
Ball. / give him q clost race for some
thin better than . mile. and when
finally at last scrambled into the
buggy from behind we was right thers
in sight of the widder's house. Old Ball
had slipped the bride and was draggin
the lines on the ground. I couldn't
pull him in. and the blamed old skate
wouldn't stop for nothin. talked to
him kind and gentle like, then loud and
vehement. Ifirst begged him. and then
cussed him. but dadburn him he halt
his gait and keep the road never
missed lick uphill and downhill.
You can see, Rufe. where somethin bad
to be done right away Immediately.
and little sooner If possible.
"Consequentially clambered into .
few of my clothes and then wrapped up
snug and clost in one corner Of my
large and lovely lap robe. Likewisa
also, I pulled on my fine fur trimmed
dogskin gloves and my stovepipe hat
which in the mainline it had fell out
and got run over and mashed in tho
mud till it looked like the rugged edge
o. ruination. Time was so precious
then-the moments few so scandalous-
~ fast-and / done like you would do.
Rufe-like any man would do in q bal
cose Of pushency. And to speak forth
the great unwashed truth, when tell
you I had ON a stovepipe hat, . pair
OF gloves. lap robe and few under
garments-the story is told.
This and so we reached the Wild.
der's place. II had but only helt the
ribbons in one hand and . good whale
bone whip In the other, would Of driv
right on by there in q dead run. But
in gentle remembrance of his corn and
fodder in the past-for the sake Of bet
ter and brighter days gone by-that
blamed old horse turned out and trotted
right up to the front gate.
The widder, it would seem, she was
ready and . waitin-primped clean out
Of sight and dressed in an inch
Of her life.-Here she come prancin ous
to the buggy, with her ribbons and her
finery naturally rustlin in the wind and
whistlin Mt every step. We passed tho
reglar compliments in regards to the
weather, and when she wanted toknow
how was comm on, told her ruther
p0rely, thank the Lord. She wanted me
to light and come In and let her fix mo
up some snakeroot and pepper tea. But
/ was - hot as . fox right then and
sweatin like . free niger ON election
day. Then she put in and fixed the
bride and took up the lines and crawled
into tho buggy, and we rid OF towards
town. The widder she had circus ON
the brain, and nothin but the circus
would MI the bill for her. She could tell
that / was neither drunk nor crazy.
and from my general appearments
reckon she thought ! was too bad
skeered and ratified to know anything
for certain.
AS We driv on down the road won
dered in my soul what must do. And
what could do( Rufe. but put my trust
in the good Lord, and wait and watch
and pray. In my mind and ON the slyI
prayed. and I do reckon prayed the
out prsyincst prayer that ever went
mp to the throne of graceepgay-
in that somethin mought happen to
keep ma from goin to town and to the
circus with the widder under the sur.
roundin circumference.
We had went about two miles when
all Of suddent We turned . bend in tho
road and driv up behind John Andrew
d;l1is~m sud hia folks In q ~aO,nn Il
was . monstrous rough place in the
road. and old Ball stopped % quick and
suddent like till the couplin pin broke.
the buggy come uncoupled. and me and
the widder went down in on sad s:nash-
up. She fell out one way and fell out
the Other. whilst my new clothes tum-
bled out in . pile right there in the
mud.
but now, = for me and tie widder,
We have took out and quit heneefor.
wards and fogevegmore. I amt fittin
to be foolin and fumblin around
amongyt the female gsneF.tion, Rufe.
and it is everiastingiy too lats for meto
git Atten. And you are dead right in
regards TO one thing. Rufe-ther II
many . slippunce betwixt tho old
spring down under the hill and tho wa
ter bucket On tAe baek shelf"
NryUe eANpER@