The Starbucks | Page 9

was
the smartest one of the fam'ly. But finally a doctor teached him how to
talk and then they found out that he wan't nuthin' but a damned fool."
The profane twist of the old man's defense amused Mrs. Mayfield. And
Jim smiled. It was not only in keeping with the old man's half innocent
character--it was the honest spurt of sinful Adam, remaining with the
most of us--which the devout preacher may deplore for the sake of
example and yet inwardly accept because he is human. I am told that
there are languages that hold no profanity and we know that there are
tongues too delicate for philosophy and too gentle for blank verse.
"Now what do you want to pester a body thatter way for?" Margaret
rejoined, thankful that Mrs. Mayfield had not been shocked. "I never
seed a body that could be so aggrivatin'. Miz Mayfield, don't pay no
'tention to him when he talks thatter way, fur when he wants to he kin
be right bright.
"Oh, I understand him, Mrs. Starbuck," and then of Jasper she inquired:
"How far is it to the post office?"
"A little the rise of three mile. As soon as I git this gear in shape I'll
have Kintchin hitch up and drive a passel of you over thar. I reckon
we've got one of the smartest post-masters in the country. I've seed him
rip open many a man's letter an' read it off just like print. Here,
Kintchin! Kintchin! That nigger's asleep somewhar. One of these days
somebody will fill him so full of lead you couldn't turn him over with a
hand spike." Kintchin appeared at the door, stretching himself and
rubbing his eyes. "What have you been doin'?"
"Who, me?"

"Yes, you."
"Wall, suh, I ain't been ersleep ef dat whut you means."
"Then why didn't you answer me?"
"W'y, suh, I had my min' flung down on er 'ligious subjeck an' it wuz
all I coul' do ter t'ar it off."
"Ah, thought I hearn suthin' rip like a piece of tent cloth," and giving
Kintchin the harness he continued: "Here, hitch up old Dick and drive
these folks over to the post office."
"Yas, suh."
"And when you come back you can break that young steer."
"Yas, suh, break de steer."
"And when you get the steer broke," said Margaret, "I want you to
make me an ash hopper."
"Yas'm," replied the old negro, looking at her and then at Starbuck.
"And then," said Jasper, "I want you to hive the bees."
"And then," Margaret spoke up, "you may fix the loom."
"Yas'm, fix de loom."
"When that is done," said Starbuck, "you may rive some clap-boards to
cover the spring house."
"Yas, suh, ter kiver de spring house;" and scratching his head he stood
for a moment as if in deep thought. "An' look yere, Mr. Starbuck, while
I'se gone to the pos' office don't you reckon you kin think up suthin' fur
me ter do?"
"How willing he is to work," Mrs. Mayfield sympathetically remarked.

Kintchin ducked his head at her. "W'y, Lawd bless yo' life, honey, I
doan know nuthin' else. One time not long ergo I foun' o' er mawnin'
dat I wuz monst'us tired, an' den I come ter fin' out dat I been er gittin'
up an' er workin' in my sleep. Yas'm."
He looked at Jasper, expecting something, and it came: "Was that the
time they found the ham under yo' bed?"
"Mr. Starbuck, whut you all de time come er talkin' datter way fur?
Ain't dar nuthin' in dis life ter talk erbout 'cept politics? Doan you know
you got er soul ter save? Doan you know dat de Lawd frown on slander?
I doan care fur myse'f but I hate ter see er good man fling erway his
chances o' de salvation. An' suthin' gwine happen ter you ef you keeps
on 'sposin' yo'se'f."
Starbuck good naturedly drove him out, clucking at him as if he were a
horse. Lou slowly folded the paper which she had been gazing at during
all this time and said: "Oh, you must let me keep this."
"It amounts to nothing," replied Tom, making a pretense of taking the
paper but permitting her to retain it. "I will write you something
prettier."
"No, I want this."
"She is beginning early to mistrust promises," remarked Mrs. Mayfield.
"Oh, she knows the world," said Mrs. Starbuck. "She went to school for
two years over at Dry Fork. That's where she l'arned to play that
melogian."
"Yes," Jasper spoke up, "and the fust time I hearn it I thought a tree had
fell on one of the calves. Why, helloa, mammy, come in. Lookin' fur
suthin'?"
"I must er lef' my old pipe yere summers,"