Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-17
"Why, Uncle Dol, you are rubbing
away as if you were just learning your


away as if you were just learning your
trade and trying to earn your salt. +"
"No time fur foolin, Mars Adr'n.
Some folks wul1s they jaws, other folkses
wuks they elbows. Dolbear amt got no
time to wuk his jaws, less'n bout grub
time"
IT thought I told you to get help
about the stables"
"Dar he'-pointing the finger Of scorn
at Sandy-"darm my he p ef you is mind
to call him dat. Whar's your manners
,nigger?"
Thus violently introduced to public
notice, Sandy rose and made shutting
movement in Adrien S direction. Liber-
ally construed, he might have been said
to have bowed.
There was an air of vague uncertain
ty about all of Sandy's performances
a certain shy tentativeness as if the
willing spirit located somewhere within
his uncared for little body was sadly
conscious Of the flesh's weakness. He
was approaching manhood positive Of
but one thing--that it was impossible
for him to escape condemnation from
some one at every turn of his existence
Hence certain unresentful acceptance
of Dolbear's tart criticism. AS he
shuffied forward to where Adrien, re-
splendcnt in drab velveteen shooting
clothes, stood regarding him with coolly
investigative eyes. his own were lifted
deprecatingly as he ventured shy salu-
tation.
"Howdy, Mars Adr'n is monty glad
to see you ag'in.'
Furtively he was rubbing his be-
grimed right hand along the leg of his
ragged trousers. If Mr.. Adrien should
vouchsafe handshake, he wanted to be
found in complete readiness.
But Adrien $ ivory white hands, with
their carefully pruned pink nails, were
clasped about the stock and the muzzle
of the gun at rest across his shoulders.
He flung nod and smile at the boy.
The smile was bright and the nod
friendly. Sandy, the uncritical starve-
ling, appropriated them gratefully and
grew bold.
II is got pup for you, Mars Adm
rale setter pup. She ready fur to be
trained right now. / ben savin her fur
you. A setter pup he is"
"a setter? The very thing! am 60
ing to look for some birds this morning,
Sandy, and there isn't dog but Mar
tins old collie up at the house. l can
give her her first lesson this morning.
Sandy waxed descriptive under this
genial warmth OF appreciation.
''Her is ole Dido's pup an Hero is
hers daddy. Wen you went away to
school, ole mars sent ole Dido down
to mampiys house an tole me to TEX
keer er her, an us did, but her die all
the same. Her die six months ago. Her
was wore out, nanny say, but her lef'
a passed. er pups, an nanny she drown
'cm all but one, an she say mus raise
hit fur you. Us name her Say Jane,
an her is got three wife foots, jis' lax
ole Hero Her is mighty smart, Mars
Adr'n, but her don't know nothin--
nothin tall"
"Well, then, it is time was teach
ing her something. Go fetch her, Sandy.
I've been wondering all morning where
I could find bird dog"
Dolbear's jealous disapproval found
vent in snort of contempt as Sandy
leaped nimbly past him and disappeared
at full run in the direction Of the
quarters.
"Son, don't you be turnin that fool
boys head He's monty easy sot up,
an don't you be raisin no great spec
tashuns on that pup. Sandy is some on
the brag, I tell you
Adrien laughed absently and walking
to the end of the harness room looked
through its one broad, unglazed window
into the paddock beyond.
Il have changed my mind about rid
ing over to the Chamblisses this morn
ing, Uncle Dol. I think will take q
long tramp instead. l hadn't thought
much about the cartridges until Sandy
mentioned Sarah Jane. Where will be
most likely to find Bob Whitel"
No one ever questioned Adrien s
moods. Dolbear laid the drag harness
down reYretfully. But "white folks"
most generally were "notionate, &C.
cording to his observation.
"You oughter fin cartridges mos
anywhar jus now, but they principally
feeds up bout the buryin ground. The
peaields lays ali bout the buryin
ground, an the birds amt ben pestered
much Nv late. Ole mars Civ orders no.
body was to shoot the cartridges. He's
ben savin 'en fur you. Den you don't
want the mars put i'll the drag?"
mot until / give further orders.
wonder If one of the Martin boys would
not like to tramp with me?"
Dolbear waved a superb negation with
hand and head.
"Let the Martin boys lone, son they
is got work to do. Let 'em lone. 1t all
done ve'y well wen you was passed.
nv little boys together, runnin ba 'rfoot
an climbin pussimmon trees an not
KNOWN b from bull s foot, but you ain't
little b'arfoot boy now you is got the
family name to take keer Of. The Mar
tin boys is got to work out they own sal
walton. Let em lone, son. Birds Nv a
feather. is 'bleeged to flock tcgedder.
The Martin boys amt no bern gentle
mems.
In less questionable English, but with
similar mprcssiveness Adrien had al
ready received this advice twice over.
With gentle vagueness as one who
would temper justice with mercy, his
mother had said:
1.-THE Martin boys are worthy, excel
lent people i'll their places, my son. and
when you were all children together,
subject to my surveillance, the init
macy was not Objectionable, but of
course everything is different now."
Liza especially, she might have add
ed, but she did not.