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Article SCENES IN AMERICA . ← Page 2 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America .
your road ; but devil dance me , for till that , if I ' in going to humour your foolishness , especially now , when we are almost at Buckley ' s , and the whole thing is to be tried and over . " " Harry , " said Ball , " you're right . " " To be sure I am ; now , hang it man , pluck up ; if you don't care for yourself , nor me neither , just remember you've got seven children , and I ' ve got five ; and thenPeterour children have mothersand they ' ve all got
, , , such things as ears , and feelings into the bargain , lean tell you that . " " Harry , " repeated Ball , with some animation , " I say you ' re right . " " To be sure , to be sure , " said Burns ; and addressing me , he added , " you see the thing clear enough , Stranger ? " " Certainly , " I replied .
" Now , Peter , " continued Burns . " I'll tell you what , I don't want you at all up any way , but plague me if I'd like you to be down in the mouth , no shape , at the Squire's ; there's Buckley ' s fence , and we shall be there in a twinkling ; so I depend on you , if it comes in the way , to call Hinkle a rascal every bit as often as if the scoundrel was alive ready again to take your life in the cowardly way he tried it . " Our road led us round the outer fence of the Magistrate ' s farm , to a lane which divided it into nearly equal parts . There were about a hundred and
fifty acres under cultivation , chiefly in Indian corn . The tall fences , the extensive stabling , the abundance of cattle in the pastures and standing in the lane as is usual in this country , and the large orchard near the dwelling , gave unequivocal evidence that we were approaching one of the principal men of the neighbourhood . We now perceived a grea : many horses bitched to the posts of the yard fence , and several groups of persons in the yard , and on the fence ; for there is a singular propensity in this country to sit ,
perched up , on the top rail of a fence , with the feet lodged on one of the other rails to secure the position , while conversation , or argument , or a "bargain" is driven leisurely on . A . s we rode up to the fence , every eye was turned upon us ; no one approached , however , but the Magistrate , who was ready to greet us the moment we had dismounted , performing the rites of hospitality before he assumed the duties of a Magistrate . Burns crossed the blocks into the yard first , Ball followed ; the Squire shook us all by the band very heartily , when the whole company came forward and did likewise .
After this we were pressed to take some refreshment , which being declined , Ball opened his business in coming there by saying , " Squire , I ' ve killed Tom Hinkle , an' I 've come to give myself up . " No one uttered a syllable : but there was not a face present that did not strongly express , as regards the killing , " Amen . " The Squire proposed holding the court under the trees in the yard , on account of the warmth of the morning , and the number of persons present , for the news had spread like lightning over the neighbourhood , and every body was curious to know and see as much of the matter as possible . In a few minutes a number of chairs and a table were brought forth and arranged in the yard , and the court was opened . The whole scene was
exceedingly strange and interesting to me . ' 1 he yard was so covered with locust trees , a few forest oaks spreading out their broad arms far above , that scarcely a direct ray of the sun fell upon the thick-set green grass that hid the earth . The chairs were arranged irregularly on each side and in front of the table , behind which sat the two Magistrates . At a few yards distance on one side , was the comfortable two story log-house , from the ground floor windows of which looked the wife and daughters of Squire Buckley and other females ; the chairs under the trees were occupied by some of the home-spun dressed company , while others stood behind , orleaned against the trees . Squire Buckley , with his perfectly white head ( he must have been at least sixty ) , and quiet sensible face , had at his side a brother
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America .
your road ; but devil dance me , for till that , if I ' in going to humour your foolishness , especially now , when we are almost at Buckley ' s , and the whole thing is to be tried and over . " " Harry , " said Ball , " you're right . " " To be sure I am ; now , hang it man , pluck up ; if you don't care for yourself , nor me neither , just remember you've got seven children , and I ' ve got five ; and thenPeterour children have mothersand they ' ve all got
, , , such things as ears , and feelings into the bargain , lean tell you that . " " Harry , " repeated Ball , with some animation , " I say you ' re right . " " To be sure , to be sure , " said Burns ; and addressing me , he added , " you see the thing clear enough , Stranger ? " " Certainly , " I replied .
" Now , Peter , " continued Burns . " I'll tell you what , I don't want you at all up any way , but plague me if I'd like you to be down in the mouth , no shape , at the Squire's ; there's Buckley ' s fence , and we shall be there in a twinkling ; so I depend on you , if it comes in the way , to call Hinkle a rascal every bit as often as if the scoundrel was alive ready again to take your life in the cowardly way he tried it . " Our road led us round the outer fence of the Magistrate ' s farm , to a lane which divided it into nearly equal parts . There were about a hundred and
fifty acres under cultivation , chiefly in Indian corn . The tall fences , the extensive stabling , the abundance of cattle in the pastures and standing in the lane as is usual in this country , and the large orchard near the dwelling , gave unequivocal evidence that we were approaching one of the principal men of the neighbourhood . We now perceived a grea : many horses bitched to the posts of the yard fence , and several groups of persons in the yard , and on the fence ; for there is a singular propensity in this country to sit ,
perched up , on the top rail of a fence , with the feet lodged on one of the other rails to secure the position , while conversation , or argument , or a "bargain" is driven leisurely on . A . s we rode up to the fence , every eye was turned upon us ; no one approached , however , but the Magistrate , who was ready to greet us the moment we had dismounted , performing the rites of hospitality before he assumed the duties of a Magistrate . Burns crossed the blocks into the yard first , Ball followed ; the Squire shook us all by the band very heartily , when the whole company came forward and did likewise .
After this we were pressed to take some refreshment , which being declined , Ball opened his business in coming there by saying , " Squire , I ' ve killed Tom Hinkle , an' I 've come to give myself up . " No one uttered a syllable : but there was not a face present that did not strongly express , as regards the killing , " Amen . " The Squire proposed holding the court under the trees in the yard , on account of the warmth of the morning , and the number of persons present , for the news had spread like lightning over the neighbourhood , and every body was curious to know and see as much of the matter as possible . In a few minutes a number of chairs and a table were brought forth and arranged in the yard , and the court was opened . The whole scene was
exceedingly strange and interesting to me . ' 1 he yard was so covered with locust trees , a few forest oaks spreading out their broad arms far above , that scarcely a direct ray of the sun fell upon the thick-set green grass that hid the earth . The chairs were arranged irregularly on each side and in front of the table , behind which sat the two Magistrates . At a few yards distance on one side , was the comfortable two story log-house , from the ground floor windows of which looked the wife and daughters of Squire Buckley and other females ; the chairs under the trees were occupied by some of the home-spun dressed company , while others stood behind , orleaned against the trees . Squire Buckley , with his perfectly white head ( he must have been at least sixty ) , and quiet sensible face , had at his side a brother