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"Tis the wind," said one of the churners. "Nay, look, somebody's a-tryin' to get in," returned the mistress, as the latch rose in a ghostly manner, fluttered, and fell. "Go to the door, Tom," she continued, "and see what's wanted." "'Tis maybe a spirit," said Tom, shrinking back. "Nonsense! What would a spirit want at the dairy door? 'Tis more like a tramp. Open it at once You go, Jane."
After a pause Jordan spoke up again: "Jim, it ain't for me ter try ter understand much, but ther kentry 'round heah and ther people we has seen kinder breaks me up. They tell us over ther to ther right, man fust cum outer his wild state; ez yo' has it, that 'ther cradle of civilization war fust rocked. For five thousand year, they has been a-tryin'. Look at 'em now!
Sometimes he says he don't feel as if he ought to keep his place in the church, but then ag'in he don't know. He keeps a-turnin' and turnin' on't over in his mind, and a-tryin' himself this way and that way; and he says he don't see nothin' but what's selfish, no way.
Instead he sat gazing at him, wide-mouthed, and after Old Jerry had borne the scrutiny as long as he could he took the initiative himself. "Well, I got here," he quavered. "I been a-tryin' to get upstairs to see you ever since about three o'clock, and they wouldn't let me in. Said you was too busy to be bothered, even when I told 'em I belonged to the Gov'mint service.
Suddenly Bowney uttered a deep groan. "'Tain't no use a-tryin'," said he, in a resigned tone. "Everybody'll be down on me, an' after all I've done, too! But yer ken hev their names, curse yer!" The woman went into hysterics; the children cried; Caney, of Texas, ejaculated, "Bully!" and then kissed the poor little bruised feet. The New Englander fervently exclaimed, "Thank God!"
For God's sake don't tell me I'm to be shot!" and his voice died away in a sob. "Of course, they're going to shoot you. The other sentry was jest a-kiddin' you. Jest like old Smith. Always a-tryin' to cheer some one. You ain't got no more chance o' bein' pardoned than I have of gettin' to be Colonel of my 'Batt."
I like your face and your manners, and if you can learn me 'em, I'll give you ten dollars a week to come to my house one hour every day, and be my private schoolmistress. It'll be rather hard, I s'pose, to learn an old dog new tricks; but there is no harm a-tryin'." Notwithstanding the oddity of the proposition, Miss Pillbody saw by the lady's face that she meant what she said.
He knew that sleep was dangerous. But he was too tired to walk and he soon came back and sat down again by the mule. "I'm a-tryin', Jasper," he said, "I'm a-tryin' my best to hold out; but I'm afraid it ain't a-goin' to do much good; I can't see much chance" He stopped suddenly. A thought had struck him.
"You remember what you said to me when you gave me this picture?" and she looked into his eyes with an expression which kindled even his dull senses. "Oh, shucks!" he said slowly, "I wish I could. I'd like ter 'blige yer, fer ye're right purty, en I am a-tryin' ter mind the doctor." Such a sigh escaped her that one might think her heart and hope were going with it.
Don't mind 'bout my leavin' my fishin'; do ye think I care 'bout that? I 'll jest lay down my pole ahin' the alders here, an' put my lan'in' net on the stuns, with my flies an' tackle the boys 'll like 'em, ye know an' I 'll be right along. "I mos' knowed ye was on'y a-tryin' me when ye said that 'bout how I had n't been a fisher o' men, nor even boys, on'y a dog.
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