The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-01


81 suppose, 'mothering' includes the
usual spankings, SO l agree with you
answered LaVinia. and there hasn't
been an hour since ] came that
haven't ached to administer a good old
fashioned one and see if that would
take the crankiness out of her
Mrs. Hawkins laughed. "Rhody is
queer" she said, "and I don't think
she's ever been just the same since
that affair with Nels Rabbit"
What was that"
Wal, if Rhoda amt clus- mouthod!
but she was so wrought up over this
thought shed tell We about it, sure.
You see Nels used to set the world by
Rhody an ev'ry body thought she
fabored him"
Lavin;a nodded. She had thought
so herself, and had felt disappointai
that morning that nothing had come
of It.
You know what a bashful cretur
Nels allus was" continued Mrs. Haw-
kins, "and arter your ma had that
shock she got it into her head that
he'd keep comm to see Rhody. an
never git spunk enough to pop the
question.
"Nels used to come In every day
an lift her up an down, an he an
Rhody was real friendly, till one day
what does your ma do but av him
why he an Rhody didn't git married ?"
She said Rhody was dead in love
with him an 'twould be real handy
to have him in the house"
"Nels said he sould like nothin' bet
ter an your ma thought twas all set
tied an was as happy as a child.
"Rhody was in the next room an
heard ev'ry word an 'Phrony DYER
she was workin' here then--said she
never see madden girl
Did she say anything to mother?"
asked Lavinia thoughtfully
Lor' no. Your ma wouldn't ha'
sensed it if she had. Twas only the
day afore she died
'Nels went to the fun'ral an see to
things an arter twas all over he
come over one eVenin' to see Rhody.
Nobody knows what she said. but I
guess she was pretty hash for they
amt been friends sense.
Then that affair of the pig didn't
help things any,"
What was that"
Mrs. Hawkins laughed. Bless nv
soul, Why, I keep forgittin' you've been
away she answered.
But seems you really hey. I sh'u
hev to tell you about that.
You know how much your pa an
old Br Barrett, Nels' pa, though o.
keepin' hogs an what lot they allus
had?"
Lavinnia nodded. she remembered
how afraid she had been of those great
droves of hogs.
"Arter Nels an Rhody got the farms
twas only natral they should keep
on as their pas had. so the hogs run
in the pastur same as ever.
Then one day there was a great TO
do, for the fences were fiat an the
hogs all together.
They finally got 'em separated. all
but one pig that Rhody claimed, an
Nels said was hisn.
They couldn't agree, an things went
from bad to wuss till twas taken into
the church, Nels an Rhody both bein'
professors.
Folks took sides. an l snummy II IL
didn't come nigh breakin' up the church
itself.
"Mebby twould ha done so il II
hadn't been for Deacon Welman.
They'd been sayn' some pretty hash
things one eyenin'. an he got IN AN
says he. I've been thinkin' this trouble
over an it's borne on me that the
only way 10 settle there he stopped
an looked AZ Nels an Rhody. an
everybody waited 10 hear what was
comm the only way 90 settle 10. he
said again. is for sister sutton an
brother Rabbit to pit married. an
keep the pig in the family
He set down AM you never herd
such "a roar Folks laughed an