I had a fire going and the coffee on to boil before he rode in. It was in my mind that he was waiting for the coffee to be ready before he showed up.”
–D.C. Adkisson (Redemption)
Mornin’ Pard. Hmmm, yuh sorta remind me of the lad in the story above. Waitin’ for the work to be did ‘fore yuh show’d up to do yur share. Some folks are like that. They’ll hide somewhere in a corner if’n there’s wood to be chopped, or get over in the shadows if’n there’s some liftin’ to be done. Always showin’ up in the nick of time to do no heavy work. Nah, Pard, I’m just a-joshin’ yuh. I know yur a hard worker. My mercy, I’ve seen that right arm of yourn dig into some hash quicker than a strike of lightnin’. Go on, the coffee’s ready–oh, I see yuh didn’t wait none for that.
Say, did yuh hear I get to speak at the Coldspring Library fundraiser come this Friday. I’ll be tellin’ ’bout my books. No, I won’t be speakin’ no lies, but I might spin a yarn or two. I’m like my ol’ Grandpa. Grandpa always said that he and George Washington were similar, ‘ceptin’ that George Washington said he could not tell a lie. Grandpa always said that he could lie, but just didn’t do it. Should be some fun times at the gatherin’ an’ if’n it was like the last time I was there, well, boy howdy, there were plenty of fixin’s to eat.
This book reviewin’ reminds me of a story tolt by Leroy Brownlow. Yuh might recall the Brownlows from down there in Mocassin Holler. Well, he has a story ’bout his Grandpa who happened to be a preacher. Now this is his exact words:
A big city preacher requested grandpa to give him a statement of recommendation for his new book. Grandpa hated to decline, but had to on the grounds that it was not exactly in keepin’ with his views.
The author replied, “You can’t appreciate it, because you never wrote a book.”
“No,” retorted the country preacher, “and neither have I ever laid an egg, but I think I’m a better judge of an omelet than any hen in the world.”
Ha, don’t be snortin’ in yur cup, ’tain’t polite. Well, let’s finish this pot. Sure am thankful that the good Lord sees over us, every day. Yuh be prayin’ for me next Friday. And I’ll be prayin’ that the Lord will lighten yur load this week. Yuh be walkin’ where He leads, and we’ll have some coffee again next Saturday, the Lord willin’. Be sure and check yur cinch, He won’t do that for yuh.
Vaya con Dios.
(story from A Time to Laugh by Leroy Brownlow)