The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-07-03

you JUMPED UP AND DOWN AND h1CAhO
THE PUMP"
stable door. When it would not open
you banged and kicked and muttered,
and after five minutes you picked up a
big stone and smashed at the door with
all your might. At the same time you
said something. I was too far OF, and
you saw me and didn't repeat it. but I
want you to tell me right here, now.
what 1t was. Certain rumors have
reached my ears. and I want to know
II there is any truth In them. Did you
say sPshawr Sugar? or-or-or did you
make any reference to that place where
bad people go when they die? I know
how q door may bother and provoke a
person. l had the Kitchen door stick
with me once, and I hauled of and
kicked It and almost said something.
You had on q collar that was choking
you and was complaining Of the ear
ache when you went out, and If you
really did forget yourself for once I
can find an excuse for you. Throw
yourself on my mercy, Samuel. and tell
me what you said"
Deeply Interested.
The deacon had reached testimonial
No. 4, and he became deeply interested
and forgot to answer the question.
Had it been otherwise he might have
been compelled to admit that his ex-
clamation had neither "Pshawr nor
Sugar. in it. Mrs. Dolby sat looking
at a three-quarter view Of him for two
or three minutes and then continued:
AT the dinner table today I asked
you to pass the fried eggs. The plate
was hot, and you burned your fingers
and dropped it with a crash. 1t was
bad enough to have the plate broken
and the contents spilled over the table
cloth. but that was nothing to what
you said. AS the plate fell you yelled.
AS I didn't say anything at the time,
you probably thought I didn't pay at
t%ention, but I want you to know that
I did. Samuel Dolby, you are a man
ffty-nine years old, a deacon Of the
church and supposed to be a living
example before the world, and yet
when you burned your fingers you yell
ed 'Thunderationv Don't deny it, sir.
I not only heard it, but I wrote it down
on the pantry door as soon as I got up.
It will remain there as long as we live
in this house, and I shall never see it
without having cold chills go over me-.
What have you got to say for your
selfw
he had nothing whatever to say, but
something like a smile appeared at the
corners Of his mouth. He was think
ing what he would have said had he
stubbed his toe instead Of burning his
fingers. he could have defended the
word "thunderation" as perfectly prop
er under all occasions Of sudden eX-
element, but before he had made up
his mind to do so Mrs. Dolby went on:
Fell Downstairs.
AT 3 o'clock this afternoon I asked
you to 60 up into the garnet and get
down my quilt frames while I went
over to see Mrs. Green about fall
pickles. Just as I returned you fell
downstairs with such a clatter that for
a moment l thought the house had been
struck with j cyclone. I was SO ex-
cited and I came so near fai1ting away
that l don't remember what you said,
but I know you yelled out at least four
times. Samuel, I want you to tell me
exactly what you said. 1t was some
thing dreadful, but perhaps under the
circumstances I can excuse it. and
you can make a fresh start. l know
that 4 fall downstairs is a sudden
thing, and it is liable to throw ever 4
deacon off his balance. Did n of
your expressions refer to the bad place,
Samuel?"
All four of his yells were directly
connected with the locality mentioned,
as he distinctly remembered, but the