Risk HIS neck going over those mountain roads
on wheels in the dead of winter, not if he knew himself.
"On the 9th of April he sold the saddle - said he wasn't
going to risk HIS life with any perishable saddle-girth
that ever was made, over a rainy, miry April road,
while he could ride bareback and know and feel he was
safe - always HAD despised to ride on a saddle, anyway.
"On the 24th of April he sold his horse - said 'I'm just
fifty-seven today, hale and hearty - it would be a PRETTY
howdy-do for me to be wasting such a trip as that and such
weather as this, on a horse, when there ain't anything
in the world so splendid as a tramp on foot through
the fresh spring woods and over the cheery mountains,
to a man that IS a man - and I can make my dog carry my
claim in a little bundle, anyway, when it's collected.
So tomorrow I'll be up bright and early, make my little
old collection, and mosey off to Tennessee, on my own
hind legs, with a rousing good-by to Gadsby's.'
"On the 22d of June he sold his dog - said 'Dern a dog,
anyway, where you're just starting off on a rattling bully
pleasure tramp through the summer woods and hills - perfect
nuisance - chases the squirrels, barks at everything,
goes a-capering and splattering around in the fords
- man can't get any chance to reflect and enjoy nature
- and I'd a blamed sight ruther carry the claim myself,
it's a mighty sight safer; a dog's mighty uncertain
in a financial way - always noticed it - well, GOOD-by,
boys - last call - I'm off for Tennessee with a good
leg and a gay heart, early in the morning.'"
There was a pause and a silence - except the noise
of the wind and the pelting snow. Mr. Lykins said,
impatiently:
"Well?"
Riley said:
"Well, - that was thirty years ago."
"Very well, very well - what of it?"
"I'm great friends with that old patriarch. He comes
every evening to tell me good-by. I saw him an hour ago
- he's off for Tennessee early tomorrow morning - as usual;
said he calculated to get his claim through and be off
before night-owls like me have turned out of bed.
The tears were in his eyes, he was so glad he was going
to see his old Tennessee and his friends once more."
Another silent pause. The stranger broke it:
"Is that all?"
"That is all."
"Well, for the TIME of night, and the KIND of night,
it seems to me the story was full long enough. But what's
it all FOR?"
"Oh, nothing in particular."
"Well, where's the point of it?"
"Oh, there isn't any particular point to it.
