The Swamp Doctor's Adventures in The South-West: Containing the Whole of The Louisiana Swamp Doctor; Streaks of Squatter Life; and Far-Western Scenes; In a Series of Forty-Two Humorous Southern and Western Sketches, Descriptive of Incidents and CharacterRobb, John S.
General
The Swamp Doctor's Adventures in The South-West: Containing the Whole of The Louisiana Swamp Doctor; Streaks of Squatter Life; and Far-Western Scenes; In a Series of Forty-Two Humorous Southern and Western Sketches, Descriptive of Incidents and Character
Robb, John S.
Southwest, Old -- Social life and customs
Molly fled, Pa chuckled to himself, and I crowed again--I tried to
hurrah! How shall I describe the change which stole over me, body and
spirit, as, nestling in my mother's sweet bosom and receiving her fond
caress, I was permitted abundantly to drink at “Nature's pure fount,
which, at my cry, sent forth a pearly stream to cherish my enamelled
veins.” A sweet sleep visited my pillow again, and the fond endearments
which waited on my waking moments were life and joy to me. My Ma, now,
is rapidly improving in health--I, of course, will grow fat; and just
wait until I'm able to wear them breeches and beat a small drum, if I
don't visit the Reveille office and give you the serenade of “Oh, be
joyful,” until your petrified stump will execute a double shuffle, then
say my name aint Bub.
NO. IV.--BUB FLOURISHING.
_Hello, Drummers_:--Whoop! hey! cock-a-doodle-doo-o-o! If I aint some by
this time I wouldn't say so! You remember what a sickly state I was in
when I commenced telling you my grievances?--how my complaints wrought
improvement and rescued me from nigger Molly? Well, ever since then,
it's a surprise to learn the way my body has spread--I'm a
small Lambert, and have got six teeth. Aint I some? Talk of your
Missouriums!--only look at me! Well, between you and me, I didn't cut
them teeth for nothing; I find a fellow don't get knowledge without
paying for it; I suffered in teething, but I learned some. Women who
pay no attention to their babies, envy me my fat--I'm a kind of living
rebuke to them, and, for a year old, I'm rather a heavy rebuke. They
every now and then say: “Why, bless me, Mrs. T--------, you'll kill
yourself nursing that big fat child.” The answer they get, generally,
is, “Well, it will get killed if I don't!” That's the way to tell
it!--bravo, Ma! “Well, but, Mrs. T--------, why don't you let Molly
relieve you of such a load?” Ma answers, “It's because Molly nearly
relieved me of him altogether--he would have died from her nursing.”
That's a fact!--hit 'em again, Ma. “My children,” says Mrs. Nevernurse,
“get along very well without me.”
“Yes,” answered Ma, again, “you have only two living out of six.” That
was a wiper!--how she twisted her face at it! I think I'm safe enough,
but my peace is sadly troubled with fear when I hear some of these old
women giving Ma advice. It would do you good to see old Molly look at
me, now and then, saying, with her big eyes, “Well, bress de Lord, I'm
clar ob dat brat, but I should jis like to hab him for a a week, I'd
take de sassy look out ob his face.” I'd like to try my six new teeth on
her black hide.
_You_ shall have that serenade, Drummers, and no mistake. Bub.
NO. V.-BUB AGAIN IN DANGER.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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