Impressions 



more'n a minute or two all that day, an' the 

 Doctor said she was mending an' she did. See- 

 in' me set her right, for she'd a notion I was 

 drowned. It didn't take long to come 'round, 

 an' we both were up an' ready to be doin', only 

 she was baby-like and took hold o' cheers and 

 tables sort o' when she moved around. We 

 was in good hands, an' says I, ' Nance, now 

 you're 'round ag'in, I'll go look up your 

 Daddy.' 



"She gives a jump at that an' up an' give me 

 a smack I can hear the noise of yit. The 

 women 'round sort o' laughed, an' Nance got 

 red an' says, 'He's airnt it, if ever a man did.' 



" 'Them words is worth go in' it all over ag'in 

 for', says I, an' I went out with the fellers to 

 see the sights. The water was down a good 

 bit, an' I borrow 'd a skiff an' was for goin' 

 over to the ol' man's, but they said it was no 

 use. His house was gone down the river an' 

 no one had heard o' him. 'Keep it from 

 Nance,' says I, an' I went just the same. It 

 was a tough pull, but I got there. The ol' man 

 was a-walkin' up and down where the house 

 used to be, an' when he seen me, about a hun- 

 dred yards off he stopped a bit and then up 



17 



