The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-01

woman but I was dead alone and a
cripple. 1 had been told that the Lord
would punish me, and it looked as if
He had been in a hurry about it.
fired off my rifle a dozen times, hopin'
some one would hear it and come to
me, but it was no use. All the folks
around had gone to the Skule house to
hear that new preacher preach. 1t got
to be noon and was still sittin' and
cussin' when the old woman showed up.
She had the mewl and the cart. She
comes up and looks at me, sees what
the trouble is, and backs the cart up
to the log for me to crawl in.
Was 1t purity good preachin' 2"
says 1, as we jog along.
She don't answer.
Did he tell about Dan'l in the
lions den?'
''She huns a tune to herself, but
don't make me no answer.
Seem she was so high and mighty
/ got that way too and determined that
she'd speak first or I'd never speak to
her agin. When we got home she
helped me out of the cart and on to
the bed, and then she did everything
she could for my hurt. Not word did
either of US say. When 1 wasn't grit
tin my teeth with the pain I'd whistle
and purtend to be havin' a mighty
good time, and when she was workin
around the house she'd sing hymns
and pay no attention to me. She never
asked how I got hurt nor give me a
right thar sooner than let her see that
cared.
''I had given that ankle a powerful
wrench, and 1t was three weeks befo'
could limp about. Sunthin' happened
befo' that time. however. Ten days had
gone by, and 1 was still in bed, when
thar come bright moonlight night
1t was so bright that one could see
about as well as by daylight. Soon arter
night come 1 heard the squeak of a
'possum. couldn't be fooled about
it. 1 had killed hundreds of the crit
tiers, and l knowed the squeak of a
'possum from the growl of coon
every time. Twas long befo' I heard
two of 'em about-then three and To-
and five. You can reckon that it made
me powerful narvous, and 1 had to
bite my tongue to keep from askin'
the old woman questions. She must
didn't let on a word. She jest rocked
back and 10th in her char and sung
hymns.
| "Bimeby them possum squeaks was
soundin' all around the house. /
knowed thar must be hundred crit
tiers by the sounds and I got so Tightly
that begun to cuss. I had kept this
up for ten minutes, mebbe, and was
| still at it, when the old woman wheels
a char over to the winder, hists up
| the curtain. and then comm to the
bed she takes me in her arms and
carries me over so l could look out.
1 what QI0 L see! wen, now, DuI the
| reckoleckshun of it makes me weak in
the knees The hull clear space in
| front of the cabin was kivered with
possums. Thar was possuns of all
sizes and ages, and the hide of each
and every one was prime and worth
fo' bits in hard cash. / counted up to
about IniIlyon, and then my head got
| to swimmin' and I had to stop. I'm
a teliin' you, sah-Tm tellin' you
that thar was mo- possuIns around my
cabin that night than 1 ever thought
| to hear of in all America, and thar
was. as helpless as a baby.
| stranger, excuse this emoshun, but
/ 1 can't hold her back When 1 think
of an even billyon of possums, all OF
,em come thar to be killed-all of 'em
waitin' for me to come out-aIl of 'em
just pleadin' and begin to be knocked
on the head. it makes wheels go round
in my head. 1 never shall be the man
II was befo' that-never. was so
amazed that I couldn't say a word to
the old woman, and it was a long time
befo' she said a word to me. She
must have knowed how felt, and