The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-05-28

St9eXAEAp I Brown. who had
@TTGS liEed by herself
ET nearly twenty
&zA%S years. For the
p..~~ .~~ years her only work had
oeen to knit such articles as "Ma'am
Wallet" had directed. Granny's
house was built of logs. At one end
4 rough stone chimney rose two or
three feet above the moss-covered
roof; at the other a wooden door
swung on great hinges and a small
window, covered with creased paper,
admitted a few rays of light into
the single room. A stone threshold.
scrubbed to pearly whiteness,
leaned to one side, threatening to
lose its place, and near by a single
moss rose bush nodded and waved.
Inside old granny sat in a great
armchair, her needles Gathering
busily. Her gray, wavy hair was
parted in the Middle ard d-1wa back
over her large forehead. Her eyes
were little and deeply set, but they
sparkled and blinked as they super
vlsed the work of her large, hardened
hands. Unconsciously her large red
lips moved about as she worked. dis.
playing a white row Of teeth. which
occasionally parted, showing a thick
tongue. She was clothed in a red
checkered gingham wrapper, of which
she was evidently very proud, for
now and then her knitting would cease
while she carefully smoothed some
wrinkled place in her dress. On a
table near by a few pieces OF china
ware were arranged with precision on
small blue and red mat In one cor
ner of the room was an old-fashioned
bed, whose coverlets were spotlessly
white. The earthen floor had been
swept, but was uncovered.
1t was dusk when granny carefully
put away her work and settled back
in her chair for a nap. She was
nearly asleep when she heard a noise.
Thud! thud! it went, then was still
for an instant. when it was repeated.
Visions of ghosts, hobgoblins and
other unearthly things came into her
mind. She walked to the door. No
body was outside. She looked around
the room, but saw nothing unusual
"Wat yo'se 'fraid of, nohow? Ar'n't
nauthin' roun' hyah," she mumbled
to herself as she sat down again.
Some time passed. The old woman
was DOING again, when suddenly the
floor near her began to crack She
stared in terror. A dirk, grasped
by a human hand, appeared. The
hnI IL ef-
ed at the ground, until white mans
face and shoulders appeared in the
gap.
"Oh, God! hab mahcy!" granny
cried, gathering up her skirts and
preparing to run.
"Be quiet. my good woman" came
from the stranger. Il am nothing
but 4 wounded soldier. Be quiet
now, I'll reward you. Close your door" 4"
Keeping her eyes upon the unwel-
some visitor, she reluctantly did as
she was bid. The soldier stretched
out his hand. saying. "Now, help me
out. aunty." Granny took his hand
in hers and pulled him to his feet
His face was thin and pale and be-
SAAANaA VO WIN MS eyes were
surrounded by dark circles and blood
came from a cut in his forehead
One arm dangled uselessly at his
side and his clothes were torn and
bloody.
How'd yer get. hyah, chile?" asked
granny, eyeing the poor man from
head to foot. 'I'll tell you all after
Vyhi1a - 1,a faohIv onSwarad. 6stbo -oho
Will be after me again. No place to
hide here, is there?" lie looked de-
spairingly around the room. Granny
brought out a pot of tea that she had
had hidden somewhere and offered a
cup to the man, who gripped the
chair as he drank whats that
noise?" he asked, setting the cup on
the table.
"Git back in thet thah hole. quick"
granny said, pointing to the place
from which. the stranger had come.
Its tn whole ahmy"
Further direction was unnecessary.
Into the gap jumped the frightened
man. Granny pulled the table near,
placed her chair over the hole in the
floor, sat down and spread her dress
put around her. Seizing her needles
she began to knit rapidly, singing
loudly:
"De sun shines bright in de ole Kain.
lucky home,
IT'S asummah an d darkies are
ga"
Don't make so much noise, mig
gah." spoke a young officer, poking
his head in the door. "Show us thar
clevah rascal you've got in hyah or
well whip you soundly."
'Sakes alive, man, wha don yo' al
scah a pooah woman?' granny said
teigning great surprise. "Whar's iAat