Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-05
NECK OR NOTHING.
By JEANETTE Il. wALwoRTH.


copyright. 1897. by the Author.l
CHAPTER VII.
Life at Sans Souci moved to livelier
measure when Adrien came home, ex-
changing the stately andante Of its
everyday routine for a brisk allegro
movement, expressive Of the holiday
spirit of gladness that seized upon
everybody OH and about the premises.
Old Dolbear struck the keynote to the
situation tersely, standing over Sandy,
his helper at the stables. tAdrien'
home coming meant good deal in the
direction Of extra work.
lyon see, boy. it is lax lettin down
the checkreins for all construed. Miss
Adele, she darsn't be 10 rigydificd bout
givin out pervisions, wen, jus as lax
as not, wen the dinner Is ready to be
dish up, Mr.. Adr'n yher he come 'lopin
wild three er TO young gent mems Nv
quality. all es hungry rs wolfzis. An
cook Nancy, she sorter slack up some,
bekase she know Mr.. Adr'n don't favor
6 O'Clock breakfusscs, an she kin lay
all her own laziness Mt his door. An
black Suzanne. she take her own time
cleanin up NV mawnin's, for there's
such sight NV pickin up arter that boy
that hurryin is out nv de question. But
nobody amt keerin. Lud. no. sir.
Who's keerin: Not If he mex work
enough for fo'ty extra hands. An old
mars gov'nor, he step roun lively as
You please lax he want that boy dis
timely mderstan he amt out nv de
ring hissel yit, nur ready to be lay on
de shelf. Nuther is /. F"
With quick transition from colloquial
leniency to judicial severity, Dolbear
| laid violent hands on the piece OF har-
ness Sandy was rubbing.
Does you call that clean? Bekase l
begs leave to diffah wild you"
His bushy, gray brows contracted ON
hously as closer scrutiny revealed great
or ohliquity on Sandy's part.
SANDY, you is low life, trifiin.
rood fur nothin, quarter nigger. You
amt wuth shucks. No, sab. You
amt wu'h the powder il 'ud take
t blow Your aphaid of n with. An you
spires to wait on Mr.. Adr'nr'
Sandy did not look mt all aspiring at
that moment. He seemed to b. taking
himself rather seriously, as Dolbear's 3
denunciation grew in the direction OF
infinite contempt and forcible invec-
tive"
Il p'intedly tole you to bresh up the
drag harness. now, didn' |, boy: An yher
You is ben wasen solid hour on the
buggy crupper. You is got sight to
learn yit. Sandy-a sight. tell you.
You pun kin haid raskil you!
Wen the Strongs goes a-co'tin, they
does il in style. You needn't trouble
youseff to hitch up AIRY one horse con-
traption for my w'ite folks. They is
blue blood quality, that is what the
Strong family is, root an branch, boy.
/ driy' Mr.. Gabriel, Mr.. Adr ms pappy,
bout w 'en he was waitin ON the ladies,
an we went i'll style, tell you, boy.
Mars Gabr'el's gone now, an Man
Adr'n's havin his day, but ole DolbcaI
amt furgot yit'what's fittin IN colud
pusson which spires to wait on gent
men Nv cibility You amt much to looh
at. Sandy"
Sandy, nowise disconnected by this
slighting personal mention, surveyed
himself gravely, hitched his solitary
suspender farther up ON the patched
shoulder Of his ragged cotton shirt and
answered with cheerful optimism:
but i kin fix up some. l amt got
no Sunday shoes nur no hat wuth talkiI
bout. but nanny wash my yothcl
shirt yistiday, an i got better PA
breeches than these yher, them as
keeps for buryins an bapiizin :"
Dolbear waved his hand majestically
Il is glad to hear it, Sandy, ! is GLAD
70 hear it, but you needn 'sturb youseif
Mr.. Adr'n is already signify that the
bobtail mars an the drag an ole Dol
bear is good 'nough to git him over thu
road in style To Mis- Chan.Lliss' place
Miss Amy done come home. Miss Amy
she's ole Mis- Chambliss' onlies gal
an she'll b. rich Us Shorthorn cream
some NV these days reckon them bob
tail mar's'll trample the weeds dowI
right smart OIL the road 'twixt our plac'
an hern. 1t won't be the fus' Strong
ole Dolbear is gone co'tin with. Yher'-
with a spasm Of conscientious energy
"you chuckle head calf, git to work OF
dem harness.
The fragrance Of good cigar fol
lowed by quick, firm football, perhaps
had something TO do with this newborn
zeal. Adrien s slender figure was framet
in the doorway of the harness room TIT
next second.
why, Uncle Dol, you are rubbin,
away us if you were just learning you
trade and trying to earn your salt. y
"No time fur foolin, Mars Adr n
Some folks wuks they jaws other folkse
wuks they elbows Dolbear amt got III
time to wuk his jaws, less'n bout grul
time.
II thought l told you to get he'll
about the stables.
"Dar he''-pointing the finger OF scor1
at Sandy "dar my he p eff you is mine
to call him dat. Whar's your manners
,,;y,nar2''