, 1898-08-19
PED'S

NJ was Ill Ills SnlrC sleeves, ana MS
coarse straw hat lay on the grass at his
side.
He was leaning forward, his chin
resting o. his hands, his elbows upon
his knees, calmly putting a short cob
pipe. Near by sat his wife, busily en-
gagged in stringing beans for dinner.
"It's bin most ten years since Ped went
away" observed Mr.. Bugford, blowing
q cloud of smoke over a vagrant hum
blebee that was buzzing about q holly
hook.
ten years come this fall" remarked
his wife without looking up.
"Come this corn cuttin time" cor
rected Bugford. Il reckerlect it we'll.
He went off jist when 1 war busiest
outtin corn, an l had ter hire Sug John
son in his place. Sug warn't worth his
salt, an it war a clear loss Nv 50 ter
me-"
"But you can't blame Ped for that, y
said his wife.
"He might "a stayed till the corn was
cut"
"He lowed you wasn't treatin him
jist right-then Ped was our only
child"
II war an only child myself" COM
planned Bugford, ian l reckon I warn't
treated any better AN Ped, but I didn't
go runnin away. You remember my
daddy wouldn't hear ter our bein mar
ried in a bizy time. Sez he ter me:
'Silas, l amt goin ter have q weddin
goin on right in plowin time. Wait till
the corn's laid by, an then thar'll DO
plenty Nv time fer fixin fer the we'd
din"
Eyes" said Mrs. Bugford, Fan we
had ter wait too. My mother was sot
ag'in our bein married right in gardenin
time. She sez ter me, seq she: Mandy,
1t amt no use in talkin NV yer bein
married this spring. Sayin nothin NV
the work that's got ter be done, it
would be q waste ter kill them chickens
till harvest, an then thar's nothin in
the garden ter make pies but ~pieplant
an gooseberries, an they never did agree
with me. Wait till after harvest, Man
dy.' sez she, AN the blackberries will
all be ripe Mother was powerful sot
ag'in extravaganza an believed in
young folks mindin their parents"
$50 she did, an so did my daddy"
said Bugford, "but things are different
now an mebby I war a little hard Oh
Ped"
"Ped val q good boy"
Eyes, but he kept goin with them
Wykoff boys when he knowed that ole
Wykof had treated me than
dirt, then he war forever workin with
that fool machine idee Nv his, when he
ort ter bin at work on the farm"
He said the machine might make us
all rich il he got it fixed up right"
suggested Mrs. Bugford.
"But SIGH fool things don't ever git
fixed right, declared Silas, ian l reck.
on he's found it out by this time. Ped
wal a good hand ter work, though,
when he did work, an mebby 1 ort ter
lowed him ter have his way about
them fool idees Nv his"
1T would have been the best thing
boys will be boys"
$50 they will, an Ped was only 49,
list when . boy knows the least an
thinks he knows the most"
Silas arose and stood leaning against
the big oak. His wife got up and went
into the kitchen. Presently Bud White
came along the road, carrying q corn
knife, and, stopping, he leaned against
the fence.
He was . young man Of spare build,
with a half inch of downy beard upon
his freckled face.
"Pap lowed ye might want some un
ter help ye cut corn," he said, after ex-
changing greetings with Silas.
II dunno jist yit," the farmer re-
piled. "I'm intendin ter commence ter
morrer mornin, though the fodder is a
little green yit. My cor is later AN
yourn."
eyes, bout two weeks. Pap sed if
ye needed any help he'd come in the
mornin."
"Waal, I'm goin ter want a couple
nv hans fer a few days, an I reckon ye
an yer daddy might both come"
"Pap'll come, but I've got ter see ter
strippin the sorghum Ant
~ reckon I might git another hand.
Tell yer daddy ter bring n if he can.
"All right. Heard anything from
Ped lately9"
mot fer a good SPELL"
CLOVIS he gittin along?"
HE don't never say. Jist SCI he's
well IN workin every day. =
Don't talk nv comm homer
"Noap. Reckon he'll SOW his wild
oats first"
II low he will. Pap never lowed
me- ter SOW no wild oats. Waal, I must
b travelin. Good day"
He was walking away when Silas
called out:
"say. Bud, ye didn't see anything nv
my ole speck1ed COW as ye came along.
did ye! She hain't bin up terday. dang
hsr ole hide, an the calls most bawle
itsslf ter DEATH"
Bud Stopped abruptly and came bacl
end STOOD BY the fence
II must be a-losin my senses, By
gum, I must" he said, with an air d
vsxstion. 81 wal jist goin ter tell u
IN fersoe Il. I SEED her down in thu
woods a. I came acrost the crick. a
limb had fell Oh that big ellum an kill
ID hsr, n thar she lay deader AN
doomail"
Dessord took . long pull at his Pipe
xoehans svr disturbed On excitet
Nh = ~ leask
ssGlhe hnAn't bin milked this mornil
nu1hGen - I'D. IAN I reckon tbs dat
- - - Q,Jsd ~ hidA 7,
~3 JN6e1&0ns oysrjn ~