Harold Bell Wright

That Printer of Udell's Harold Bell Wright

"O God, take ker' o' Dick!-He'll sure have a tough time when I'm gone, -an' I'm er' goin'-mighty fast I reckon.-I know I aint done much ter brag on, -Lord, -but I aint had naryshow.-I allus 'low'd ter do ye better, -but hit's jes' kept me scratchin'-ter do fer me an'Dick, -an' somehow I aint had time-ter sarve-ye like I ought.-An' my man he's mostways-no 'count an' triflin', -Lord, -'cepten when he likers up, -an' then, -you knowhow he uses me an' Dick.-But Dick, he aint no ways ter blame-fer what his dad an'mammy is, -an' I ax ye-fair, -o Lord, -take ker o' him-fer-Jesus' sake-Amen.""Dick!-O Dick, -whar are ye honey?"A hollow-cheeked wisp of a boy arose from the dark corner where he had been crouchinglike a frightened animal, and with cautious steps drew near the bed. Timidly he touched thewasted hand that lay upon the dirty coverlid."What ye want, maw?"The woman hushed her moaning and turned her face, upon which the shadow was alreadyfallen, toward the boy. "I'm er goin'-mighty fast, -Dicky," she said, in a voice that wasscarcely audible. "Whar's yer paw?"Bending closer to the face upon the pillow, the lad pointed with trembling finger towardthe other end of the cabin and whispered, while his eyes grew big with fear, "Sh-, he's fullergin. Bin down ter th' stillhouse all evenin'-Don't stir him, maw, er we'll git licked somemore. Tell me