The Somerset reporter., 1898-09-01

an yer daddy might both come"
"Pap'll come, but I've got ter see ter
strippin the sorghum cane"
II reckon / might git another hand.
Tell yer daddy ter bring one if he can y
"All right. Heard anything from
Ped lately?"
mot fer good SPELL"
"How's he gittin along?"
He don't never say. Jist SEE he's
well an workin every day"
Dom talk Nv comm homer"
"Noap Reckon he'll SOW his wild
oats first.
II low he will. Pap never lowed
Inc ter SOW no wild oats. WAL, must
be travelin Good day
He was walking away when Silas
called out:
"Say, Bud, ye didn't see anything nv
my ole speckled COW as ye came along,
did ye? She hain't bin up terday, dang
her ole hide, an the oalf's most bawled
itself ter death.
Bud stopped abruptly and came back
and stood by the fence.
~ must be a-losin my Senses by
gum, / must" he said, with an air of
vexation. 81 war jist goin ter tell ye
an forgot 1t. seed her down in the
woods as came aerost the crick. A
limb had fell off that big ellum an kill
ed her, an thar she lay deader AN a
doornail. "
Bugford took long pull at his pipe.
Nothing ever disturbed or excited
him in the least.
"She hadn't bin MIXED this mornin
nuther," he said, ian | reckon the dad
blamed tree has spilled the hide. Ye
can tell yer daddy ter come over in the
morning if it ain't rainin, an we'll git
at the corn cuttin.
The next morning as Mr.. White was
starting for Bugford's he saw young
man coming down the road from the di-
rection of the little railroad station. He
was dressed in a neatly fitting suit of
gray and carried a small leather valise.
The young man looked eagerly at
White, and, nodding, said:
Good morning, Mr. White.
He held out his hand, smiling as he
did so.
Mr.. White took the preferred hand,
looking very much puzzled.
aye seem to know me-but hanged
if-w'y, bless my soul, it's Ped Bug
ford"
$50 it is, " laughed the young man.
81 am glad to see some one who re-
members me. ;"
81 knowed We as soon as ye laugh
ed" said White. "But hang it, how
We have growed. Wy, We are man
now, bigger an yer father"
The two walked on in the direction
of Bugford's S.
Farmer White was not especially in
quisitive, but he was not altogether de-
void of certain amount of curiosity
regarding the affairs of his neighbors,
and before the two reached their desti
nation he had learned several important
facts relative to young Bugford.
Among other things he learned that
Ped had perfected most valuable piece
of machinery which he had been work
ing on for years. and having patented
his invention be had disposed of it to a
wealthy firm in Chicago for snug for
tune and was coming home to share it
with his aged parents.
White speculated on the surprise III
store for Bugford, and he chuckled in
wardly as he thought of the JOY and
amazement Ped's sudden return would
bring to the parents
81 81 60 u
they saw Mrs, Bugford coming from the
springhouse carrying pan of milk.
AS Ped came toward her she looked
at him keenly, then set the pan of milk
upon the ground, her form trembling.
Its Ped she said in an agitated
voice.
She took his hands and kissed him.
Then he put his arms about her neck,
while the tears ran down his cheeks.
aye have growed so" she said,
holding him at arm S length and gazing
fondly into his face
II was afraid you wouldn' t recognize
me" he said, "but you cannot deceive
a mothers eye.
They stood talking for some moments.
Some of the little ducks that were run
ming about the yard came up, and pounc-
ing into the pan of milk began to swim
about in the !iveliest manner.
where s father" asked Ped
"In the house eatin his breakfast.
Come, let's 90 in. E."
She stopped to pick up the pan
Them ducks have lied the milk, :"
she said, emptying ducks and milk out
into the grass.
"Peds daddy'll be mighty glad ter
see him." said White as the three
walked toward the house.
Don't say who | am, )" said Ped,
land well see if father will know me. :"
That's good" chuckled White.
"I'll bet he won't know ye at all. "
Silas was sitting at the table eating
his breakfast when the three entered
Eve brought ye hand, " said
White, nodding toward Ped
"All right, responded Silas. Set
up an have breakfast "
IL bin, )" replied White, but reck-
on the hand hain't."
"No, / haven't" said Ped, taking a
seat at the table.
"He don't know him, by jing!"
ohuckled White inwardly.
"Jist help yerself," said Bugford,
and Ped was not backward in obeying.
Little was said during the meal, and
when it was finished, without Bugford