Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-27
Copyright. 1901, by Thomas P. Montfort.
CHAPTER XII.


Pap Sampson, coming down the
street from the store. saw a woman
dressed in musty black leave his house
as he approached and walk away in
the opposite direction. Her head was
bent, and her attitude and movement
gave unmistakable evidence that she
was in deep trouble.
As Pap entered the yard Mrs. Samp'
son appeared in the open front door,
look of troubled anxiety on her wrin-
kled, homely. but kind old face.
"Mirandy," Pap said eagerly, want
that the widder Mann that jest went
out?"
Mrs. Sampson nodded.
81 thought it was" Pap went on,
Though l want clost enough to see
her face. Somethin wrong with her.
amt they?"
''The pore critters in peck Of trou'
ble," Mrs. Sampson answered.
"I'd say't" Pap exclaimed thought
fully. "Humph! All along of what
folks are a-sayin of her an Sim Banks.
reckon"
"Waal. it's along Of that, Pap, but
not bout that exactly. You know she's
got piece Of wheat down on her farm.
an it's ripe and needs cuttin."
"Waal?'
can it pears lack she'd made trade
with Sim good spell ago to cut it for
her on the sheers."
"She did. Mirandy. was witness
to the trade. an | mind K WELL"
"Waal. now. becus Of all the talk
that's a-gwine bout. Sim he's backed
out an won't tech that wheat"
"Why. wonder?"
"Becus he says if he did it'd give
more color to what folks are a-sayin."
"An it would. too, Mirandy; it would
shore"
$50. not havin no money to live with
an not bein able to make no trade with
nobody else, Mary Mann is plumb at
the end of her row, an she don't know
which way to turn"
Naturally she would be. Mirandy.
Yes, stree" Pap paused for quite
awhile. during which time he chewed
his tobacco vigorously, showing that
he was engaged in earnest thought.
Then he added slowly: "Yes, stree!
Naturally she would be; naturally she
would be-"
Cant you see no way out for her,
Pap" Mrs. Sampson asked.
81 was jest a-thinkin. Mirandy.
hain't no great admiration for Mary
Mann. an guess thar amt many as
has. but for all that she's a woman, an
wilder woman at that Wonder when
her wheat'll do to cut"
"Tomorry, she said"
"Waal. it won't nigh do to let that
wheat 60 to waste; so, as thar don't
seem to be nothin else for it. guess
better 60 out this evenin an gather up
q handful Of men an take 'em over
thar tomorry an cut it for her"
Mrs. SIMPSONS face frightened at
once. She was one Of those great soul
ed plain people who can never bear to
see any one in trouble without want
ing to move heaven and earth to re-
lieve his distress
"Are you shore you can git the men
to go" she asked.
Lord. yes! Yes. stree! Thar's ia
son Roberts. Jason an me has it up
an down sometimes. an | reckon the
chief enjoyment of his life is to take
sides ag'in me in everything say: but,
my land. that amt nothin. an when it
comes right down to the pinch Jason
will sw'ar ny me. Yes; Jasonll go an
Sam Morgan an Ebenezer Sparks an a
lot Of the others"
''Do you reckon they won't want to
charge her for their work. thought
Lord. Mirandy, you don't know
them fellers shorely! Charge woman.
an a widder woman at that. for helpin
her out Of pinch! Land! You jest
let Mary Mann give us good dinner.
an We'll have all the pay we want
Well even 60 to the length of furnish.
in cur jug Of liquor if we can git boy
to go to the still after It, an gueGs we
shorely can
Pap Sampson was buster tnat after
noon than he had been for long time
He hunted around till he found six
good men to accompany him to Mrs
Manns farm. Then he hunted up era
dies. and last. but not least. he hunted
boy to go after jug Of whisky.
"Mought jest as we'll try to git long
without cradles as without jug Of
liquor" be said to himself as he potter
ed about getting everything in read-
ness. "a getherin without a jug
wouldn't be no getherin at ALL"
Pap was in great spirits the next
morning when he marshaled his force
into the wheatfield and got the cradles
to going. He hoped about as spry as
boy and gave orders like general. He
even grasped cradle and prepared to
lead the way with the first swath. but
Jason took the cradle out Of his hands
and wouldn't let him.
'No. Pap" Jason said. Eve can,
have that Thar's plenty of US younger
men here You jest set down in the
shade somewhar an take 1t easy"
Pap fared up with resentment In an