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"Ah knows jes' what yo' done got in your mind, Brer Possum," said he. "It's that trifling, no 'count cousin of mine. He's a Buzzard, or a Vulture, if yo' like that better, jes' like Ah am, but he belongs to another branch of the fam'ly. He has a bald haid, jes' like Ah have, but his haid is black instead of red. That's because his grandpap was trifling an' po' trash, jes' like he is."
At the mouth of the creek he hailed the old circuit rider's house, and the old man and his wife both appeared in the doorway. "I reckon you couldn't help doin' it?" "No," said the old man. "Thar wasn't no reason fer me to deny 'em." He looked confused and the old woman gulped, for both were wondering how much the lad knew. "How's grandpap?" "Right porely I heerd," said the old woman.
"Grandpap, hit's Smiles back ergin'," called the girl softly. "An' I've brought leetle Lou Amos. She haint feelin' right well, an' I allows I hev got ter take keer of her here." The old man uttered a low growl of protest, which caused Rose to run to him and tenderly lay her hand on his lips, with the words, "Hush, grandpap. The baby haint in nowise ter blame fer ... fer what Judd done.
I wish he couldn't swallow till he give me half his land. An' when he got old an' wobbly on his legs, tow-headed brats a-waitin' for his money couldn't a-p'inted their fingers at him an' said, 'Ma, how old's grandpap? An' when he died, nobody could a wrote on his tombstone, 'He robbed the poor an' he cheated the rich, an' he's gone to hell with the balance a' sich."
"Tell him erbout the shootin' matches at the County Fairs whar yo' used allus ter bear erway the prize, grandpap," interposed Smiles hurriedly, with the obvious design of changing the current of the old man's thoughts.
Then the leer came back into his face. "Ever hear of the Garden of Eden, Lemuel?" "Yes," said Marks, glad to divert the dangerous drunkard. "You ought," said Peppers. "Your grandpap was there, eatin' dirt an' crawlin' on his belly." We roared, and while the tavern was still shaking with it, Roy came in carrying an old and badly battered fiddle under his arm.
"One day this no 'count, trifling cousin of Grandpap Buzzard get cold in his feet. He look 'round right smart fo' a chimney fo' to warm his toes, an' pretty soon he see one where he never been before. It was on a lil ol' house, a lil ol' tumble-down house. Mistah Buzzard fly right over an' sit on that chimney-top fo' to warm his toes.
The woman's interest was aroused now, for she wondered if he were coming over to ask her any troublesome questions. "Well, ain't that queer!" "An' that boy an' gal who was a-stayin' with grandpap was thar at school too, an' she axed me to come over an' see her."
"Grandpap would not have been out of place there, or in a king's palace. He was a king, Miss Merriman." "Yes, dear, he truly was," the other responded seriously. There was a pause. "Isn't Dr. Bentley nice," said Smiles, softly. "He must be splendid, for Dr. Donald likes him a lot." "He likes you a lot, too! My, aren't we vain?" smiled Gertrude. "Oh, I didn't think how that was going to sound!"
Poor grandpap, he had suffered sadly from the cold during those last few months when he could not keep the circulation up in his massive body by accustomed exercise. Below her lay the still sleeping city. Snow covered the untenanted portions of the Fens, and hid its ugly nakedness with a soft mantle, which seemed to hold a silken sheen, as the first flush of morning touched it.
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