The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-04-18
CHAPTER Y.
NEIGIIBORI.T GOSSIP.

"GOu unS may say what you please,
an you uns may say it Jest as long as
you uns please; but. nS have said be-
fore an as III contincr to say, thars
somcthin pow'ful heavy u-wcighin on
Sim Banks mind"
"l.ord, Pap Sampson. you've been
| a-Snyin them words till we unS have all
done learnt 'cm by heart, an you can
keep OH n-Sayin 'rm till you've wore
'em plumb out il YOU want to. but
| tell YOU right now you're barkin up the
wrong tree. Nv" said before, an say
agin, that all on carth'S the matter
with Sim Banks IS that he's Gxim to
have spell Of frvcr.'
"NOu have said that. Jason Roberts,
an mchhy you have said somethln you
know, an mrbby YOU hain't. My no
tion is YOU han't. But If you'll allow
me | jest want To ask YOU one uucs-
ton"
You Jest so ahead. Pap Sampson, an
ask all the questions you please. I'll
answer all | kin Of 'cm, an when you
ask one can't scrapc up no answer for
III hOllcr."
every well. Now, then. Jason Rob-
crts, can YOU tell me why fcllcr tixin
to have Il spell OF fever would go mop.
In round for two long weeks, not a-feel-
In sick nor nOthin, but jest actin for nll
the world like he'd lost ever cent he
owned an ever friend he had to his
back? Can YOU jest tell me thnt!"
"Couldn't II fcllcr hxin to have the
fever net that away"
N Al 40 Inc h,,f =, ,,,,t
You hain't answered my question
though
"My notion Is. Pap, that thar aint III
| need OF him answerin 1t, for reckon
| you an Juson's both got the wrong pi,
| by the tail"
! "lf you're so smart. Jim Thorn, VIII,
don't you rctch into the pen an git
hold OF the tail OF the right pig?"
81 have"
| "rhen you jest show that pig to US n,
let us see its color, will you?"
"l will. All on earth's the matte
with Sim Banks Is Jest this. He's II
/ love with the Widher Mann, an he
moonin round cause he can't have her.
"Thats the color OF the pig you 90
by the tail is -"
at are
"Thcn, Jim Thorn. all got to say i
that YOU didn't even git your pig outer
the right pen. The one YOU COTS
plumb stray"
lhhts Jest your notion. Pap Samr
son, but You jest wait an yon'n see"
Pap thumpcd his cane down ulmos
viciouSly
"Jim Thorn" he said. you'll ncye
make me believe no Sich thing as tha
or sim Banks. not If YOU preach II III
your heads ns bnld as Il pumpkin, Nv
knowrd Sim since he want no biepc
than eat, an can say, an say it one,
an nborrbonrd, that | amt never yc
knowrd him to do nry single thin
that he had any call to be ashamed of
My lhhd' Zap, do You think bein fl
lo'e with MiS'us Mann il anything t.
be ashamed Of"
III would be for Il man That's nj
ready got n woman Shorcly, m don
know, jim Thorn, but what I'd y,
ashamed OF 1t even If didn't have II,
| woman"
There was general laugh Al this
which caused Pap to straghtcn up an,
look important.
"Thats putty hard knock on th,
widdcr' Hicks observed presently. "b;.
If Pap was widower bet he woulln'
talk no sich a way"
Nary time he wouldn't" Jason
agreed. Lord! II Pap was single, hc't
be cuttin round after tho womc,
wuss'n hungry cat after cream"
| That's all right. JASON" Pap said
'an l reckon you amt talkin SC
moughty much out OF your head a.
some folks mought think. Lord mas
sy, It's a pow'ful good thing for these
young chaps round here that | hain't
single. Lord, I'd soon have all their
noses out Of joint even IL am risn on
to TO-"
You low you could cut 'em all out,
Pap7" Ricks asked.