Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-08-17
THE TALK STICK.
By yMARYHARTWELL OATHRRWooD.
Copyright. 1879. by the Au.hor.I


\ fare Of yellow light from tin
torches lighted the corn slreds There
were two long sheds. each covering its
mountain ridge Of green corn ears, at
the bases Of which the busy has1ers
worked 4 surf of shucks WIS thrown
up behind the huskers faster than con-
staEtly moving cGrts could sweep it
away. The canning factory was max
ing Il night run. 1t glowed with lights,
like huge steamer The -mpkestack
lowered against a moon whltened SKY,
machinery clanked and voices shouted
across its roar and the bathroom vapor
turned one entire side of the building
TO mist.
All the huslers were unskillful poor
people of the town, old men and wom-
en-, boys and girls and widows with
dirty brocds playing or browsing among
the sweet cornhusks and taking their
chances among hoofs and cart wheels.
One widow in particular had more
than her share, for besides four skinny,
dark limbed children bearing her cast of
features she had nested down by her
measuring box pink and white plump
little girl, years old and golden haired,
who held between the thumb and two
fingers Of her right hand a stunted red
ear of corn. The torch fame hared and
smoked above her head, showing how
wrapped she was in her own play and
how unconscious of the human and iron
noises shifting the night all around her.
Her cheeks and chin We're curved with
dimpling smiles, and her curls and
short nose We're tipped and defined by
glints of light as she focused her atten-
ton upon the ear of corn and talked TO
imaginary creatures.
Good evening, Mrs. Seventeen it is
a very fine day. | brought my baby
along because it isn't very well. The
lightning rod struck my baby, and l
was so scared l didn't know what to
do So | took her to the doctor. and he
said, Give her some me 'ssOn. gave
her some me 'sson and she never made
face, because she was trained to a sys-
timony"
what ON earth is that youngster
talking about?' inquired cart driver,
as he forked up husks beside the widow.
'She's talking to her talk stick. ." re
piled that hurried automaton, never
pausing an instant from stripping green
ears "She'll take something in her
hands that way and play and talk for
hours and never trouble nobody. It's a
good thing she does. for if she was
pestering at my heels don't know how
/ could keep her.
isn't she your n, thenT'
mo; she's n child that was brought
along here a spell back. Seems like she
was with her grandmother, and her
grandmother died sudden on the train.
NV SON s a brakeman, and ls fetched
the little girl tor house till her folks'd
have time to send. But she amt been
sent for. and it discourages a body when
they have such a hard time to get
along.
Didn't anybody know her grand
muthcrt' continued the cart driver,
forking steadily.
=" Pears not, said the widow. max
ing the husks fly. They both had to
pitch their voices by the key of the ma
chinerv. .'Sho br-ied Loro at the
county's expense. Some says if they's
me they'd take the child to the super
visor but | ain't done it yet
The widow grasped her full box and
tugged il to a side door of the factory,
where the marker stood on his platform.
The box was emptied in flash and
tossed back to her. she held up her hand
to the marker and he credited her with
another busheL
The cart driver was gone with his
load when she resumed husking, and
her peach faced foster child was smiling
on in conversation with the talk stick.
Il 'ioyed the noise and 'joyed the
shine. 1t was the Fourth of July, and
they cent up rockets in the night, and
they were lovely fireworks when they
bloomed. Next Fourth of July I'm go
ing to April fool somebody, because 1t
is happy thing.
AS the little girl talked she chuckled
aloud and perked her head with bird
| like turns, quivering as if with the joy
| full quality of her own nature.
"All of 'em ought to be at home and
asleep instead of tagging around me
| here, " grumbled her protector "Ain't
| you sleepy yet p
The little girl shook her head and re-
| piled, 81 IN conf tie, " turning imme-
! diately back to her talk stick.
Presently the cart driver was forking
| beside them again, and he resumed
with interest, nodding his head toward
the talk sticks holder:
whats her nameT'
"Minty Coan," said the widow.
Couldn't she tell anything about
her folks?'
| "Why. yes; she could tell something,
but it's all tumble. Sometimes /
think the woman that died wasn't her
| grandmother, and other times l don't
know what to think. Maybe her folks IL
turn up and maybe they won't lt'n
be my luck for them not to. said the
widow despondently.
"See here, now, said the cart driver,
indicating that he wanted her atten
tion an instant. "You know my wife
ana me. Sposen you let me take the
little girl home and keep her with us a
spell She's pretty little thing.
Eyes she's pretty enough. " said the
widow And hain't nothing against
her in the world; only it's hand to
mouth for to get something for my
own.
eyes, | know that. And it stands to
reason that them that are better fixed
ought to help you do for her. This is
my last load for tonight. and when I've
dumped it III come around and get
her
al kind Of hate to let her go when 1t
comes to the pinch. And that's another
thing I've dreaded, - said the widow.
''You can see her often as you want
to viii you 90 with me. Mintyr p
"Hell give you lots of good milk to
drink at his house, I'll be bound. sug-