Thankful's Inheritance by Joseph Crosby Lincoln
page 42 of 440 (09%)
page 42 of 440 (09%)
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Winnie S. was righteously indignant. "Sooner!" he repeated. "Judas priest! I tell ye right now I'm lucky to get back at all. Took me pretty nigh an hour to get to the village. Such travelin' I never see. Tried to save time by takin' the short cut acrost the meadow, and there ain't no meadow no more. It's three foot under water. You never see such a tide. So back I had to frog it and when I got far as Jabe's house all hands had turned in. I had to pretty nigh bust the door down 'fore I could wake anybody up. Then Jabe he had to get dressed and we had to harness up and--hey? Did you say anything, ma'am?" The question was addressed to Mrs. Barnes, who had been vainly trying to ask one on her own account. "I say have you got our valises?" asked Thankful. "Last I saw of them they was in that other wagon, the one that broke down." The driver slapped his knee. "Judas priest!" he cried. "I forgot all about them satchels. Here, Jabe," handing the reins to his companion. "You take the hellum while I run back and fetch 'em." He was back in a few moments with the missing satchels. Then Jabez, who was evidently not given to wasting words, drawled: "Did you get the mail? That's in there, too, ain't it?" "Judas priest! So 'tis. Why didn't you remind me of it afore? Set there like--like a wooden figurehead and let me run my legs off--" His complaints died away in the distance. At last, with the mail bag under the seat, the caravan moved on. It was still raining, but not |
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