Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/170

166 "Well, in co'se I's reglar an' Young Abe an' Lil' Abe; then thar's Jim Strong, what was kinder married ter my gal Sukey, an' his son Jeemes. That's all what we has ter say on the steady pay roll."

"What are they all doing right now—to-day?"

"Well, Young Abe air kinder po'ly with a tooth what done been botherin' him off an' on fer nigh on ter thirty years. I 'member it wa' befo' I jined the chu'ch he had the fust beginnin' er pangs an' he wan't mo'n about twenty-five then. He air the skeerdes' nigger I ever seed 'bout that there tooth. He done swo' up an' down 'tain't the same tooth, but I tell you, Phup—Mr. Phup—Young Abe ain't ter say right bright 'bout tellin' the diffunce in his teeth."

"What is he doing for it?"

"Mam' Peachy done fixed up a cha'm poultice, but his wife done 'lowed she's gonter fetch him over ter the blacksmith an' have it pulled. She's wo' out with his gruntin' an' groanin'." "Where are the other hands?" asked Philip, patiently.

"Well, Lil' Abe an' Jeemes air done tuck the clay-bank mule over ter the Co't House ter git him shoed."