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- \u2026Back ’round jes’ atter th’ dust bowl … along ’bout 1933 or so\u2026
Sure’s I’m a-settin’ here, Chester, he found him a ledger right atter th’ tent revival. He had him a right gentle soul. Well now, Floyd, he got hisse’f kilt in th’ axident with th’ huntin’ knife. Caused quite a ruckus at th’ time – mebbe th’ early forties or so, back when we bought ever’thin’ out’n th’ Sears catalog.
I gotta hand it t’ Virgil, he was one obst’nate varmint. He wouldn’t give in. Jes’ a-lookin’ fer th’ letter t’ th’ gubmint. We ’splaint th’ situation t’ ’im … H’it’s jes’ how it goes … an’ right afore he finally got hitched, too. An’body’d tell yuh Abrum, he had him this thing he brought back from th’ war whut, frankly, made ever’body nervous. He liked t’ show off a touch too much. He was powerf’l gen’rous though. That thing whut happened up at th’ pharmacy, aw hell. Damn Jed an’ th’ thing whut he give that gal. He jes’ tried so hard. No use in that, o’ course. Sure as th’ coat’s on yer back, Abrum was as strong’s a ox. Man, he wouldn’t let it be. Th’ last time we seent ’im, we din’t ax no questions ’bout that.
An’body’d tell yuh Buck, he got hisse’f kilt in th’ winnowing machine incident. Caused quite a ruckus at th’ time – right atter th’ start o’ th’ Great War. I think Redd, he got hisse’f kilt in th’ mishap with th’ thing he brought back from th’ war. Caused quite a ruckus at th’ time – 1920 pert-near. Y’know Enos, he let ’er all go t’ hell. He made sev’ral enemies. Ain’t that sump’n? … cain’t change it now. I gotta hand it t’ Doc Wilson – he might like-t’ been remorseful, but he’d make th’ trip out t’ Pig Holler ever’ day anyhow. Jes’ a-lookin’ fer th’ snort. We made sure it din’t never happen agin … H’it was sump’n else.
Darn ol’ man Weatherby, he made us all uneasy, whut with th’ blunderbuss and all. He jes’ wun’t th’ same atter’n he come back from th’ war. I ’member Tom Firby, he had him this derringer (like th’ one Hobo Bill allus had) whut, frankly, made ever’body afeart. He jes’ wun’t th’ same atter’n he come back from th’ war. He shore liked havin’ a time though. He carried a great burden ’til it all come undone. Still makes me worried, aw hell. Don’t that tear yuh fer a duster?. Jes’ as sure as th’ coat’s on yer back, that was when Alvin got sidelined by th’ purpelia. He used a deadly pizen an’ that holp, fer a spell. He was right jovial, th’ most days. I seent it all … I heared tell he up an’ died by th’ time th’ hailstorm struck. I reckon Billy Ray, he got involved way out by Hog Lick atter his sweetheart done married that feller way out next t’ th’ swamp. Don’t I know it … I seent it all. Darn Walt, he made us all shameful, whut with th’ bit o’ “evidence” he had and all. He made sev’ral enemies.
If’n I ain’t mixed up, Orville Hicks, he got involved yonder not far from Hog Lick atter th’ welcome-home party fer Redd. Too late now, though. We never lookt at ’im th’ same atter. I kid yuh not, th’ whole damn town was in a uproar ’cuz he’d watched an’ waited ’til one day, he finally snapt. But that’s jes’ how ’twas … ain’t that sump’n?. Lessee now, Dale, he got hisse’f kilt in that snake attack. Caused quite a ruckus at th’ time – 1949. We’s all fixin’ t’ do sump’n, but Preacher Casey tole us t’ wait. We tried t’ reason with ’im. H’it’s jes’ how it goes – I kid yuh not, I seent it all.
An’body’d tell yuh Doc Wilson, he let ’er all go t’ hell. He was dangeris. Folks was right all het up. Those’r th’ days … don’t that tear yuh fer a duster?. I gotta hand it t’ Wesley, he was one obst’nate ninc’mpoop. He wouldn’t give in. Jes’ a-lookin’ fer th’ letter from his ol’ granny. We never brung it up agin … Cain’t git ahead fer tryin’ … don’t I know it. I seed whut Cullom Hodapp did – who’d’a thunk it? H’it’s jes’ how it goes … don’t wanna talk ’bout that no more.