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| There was another clan of aristocracy around there—five or six families—mostly of the name of Shepherdson. They was as high-toned and well born and rich and grand as the tribe of Grangerfords. The Shepherdsons and Grangerfords used the same steamboat landing, which was about two mile above our house; so sometimes when I went up there with a lot of our folks I used to see a lot of the Shepherdsons there on their fine horses. | There was another clan of aristocracy around there—five or six families—mostly of the name of Shepherdson. They was as high-toned and well born and rich and grand as the tribe of Grangerfords. The Shepherdsons and Grangerfords used the same steamboat landing, which was about two mile above our house; so sometimes when I went up there with a lot of our folks I used to see a lot of the Shepherdsons there on their fine horses. |
| One day Buck and me was away out in the woods hunting, and heard a horse coming. We was crossing the road. Buck says: | One day Buck and me was away out in the woods hunting, and heard a horse coming. We was crossing the road. Buck says: |
| “Quick! Jump for the woods!” | “Quick! Jump for the woods!” |
| We done it, and then peeped down the woods through the leaves. Pretty soon a splendid young man come galloping down the road, setting his horse easy and looking like a soldier. He had his gun across his pommel. I had seen him before. It was young Harney Shepherdson. I heard Buck’s gun go off at my ear, and Harney’s hat tumbled off from his head. He grabbed his gun and rode straight to the place where we was hid. But we didn’t wait. We started through the woods on a run. The woods warn’t thick, so I looked over my shoulder to dodge the bullet, and twice I seen Harney cover Buck with his gun; and then he rode away the way he come—to get his hat, I reckon, but I couldn’t see. We never stopped running till we got home. The old gentleman’s eyes blazed a minute—’twas pleasure, mainly, I judged—then his face sort of smoothed down, and he says, kind of gentle: | We done it, and then peeped down the woods through the leaves. Pretty soon a splendid young man come galloping down the road, setting his horse easy and looking like a soldier. He had his gun across his pommel. I had seen him before. It was young Harney Shepherdson. I heard Buck’s gun go off at my ear, and Harney’s hat tumbled off from his head. He grabbed his gun and rode straight to the place where we was hid. But we didn’t wait. We started through the woods on a run. The woods warn’t thick, so I looked over my shoulder to dodge the bullet, and twice I seen Harney cover Buck with his gun; and then he rode away the way he come—to get his hat, I reckon, but I couldn’t see. We never stopped running till we got home. The old gentleman’s eyes blazed a minute—’twas pleasure, mainly, I judged—then his face sort of smoothed down, and he says, kind of gentle: |
| “I don’t like that shooting from behind a bush. Why didn’t you step into the road, my boy?” | “I don’t like that shooting from behind a bush. Why didn’t you step into the road, my boy?” |
| “The Shepherdsons don’t, father. They always take advantage.” | “The Shepherdsons don’t, father. They always take advantage.” |
| Miss Charlotte she held her head up like a queen while Buck was telling his tale, and her nostrils spread and her eyes snapped. The two young men looked dark, but never said nothing. Miss Sophia she turned pale, but the color come back when she found the man warn’t hurt. | Miss Charlotte she held her head up like a queen while Buck was telling his tale, and her nostrils spread and her eyes snapped. The two young men looked dark, but never said nothing. Miss Sophia she turned pale, but the color come back when she found the man warn’t hurt. |
| Soon as I could get Buck down by the corn-cribs under the trees by ourselves, I says: | Soon as I could get Buck down by the corn-cribs under the trees by ourselves, I says: |
| “Did you want to kill him, Buck?” | “Did you want to kill him, Buck?” |
| “Well, I bet I did.” | “Well, I bet I did.” |
| “What did he do to you?” | “What did he do to you?” |
| “Him? He never done nothing to me.” | “Him? He never done nothing to me.” |
| “Well, then, what did you want to kill him for?” | “Well, then, what did you want to kill him for?” |
| “Why, nothing—only it’s on account of the feud.” | “Why, nothing—only it’s on account of the feud.” |
| “What’s a feud?” | “What’s a feud?” |
| “Why, where was you raised? Don’t you know what a feud is?” | “Why, where was you raised? Don’t you know what a feud is?” |
| “Never heard of it before—tell me about it.” | “Never heard of it before—tell me about it.” |
| “Well,” says Buck, “a feud is this way: A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills HIM; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the COUSINS chip in—and by and by everybody’s killed off, and there ain’t no more feud. But it’s kind of slow, and takes a long time.” | “Well,” says Buck, “a feud is this way: A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills HIM; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the COUSINS chip in—and by and by everybody’s killed off, and there ain’t no more feud. But it’s kind of slow, and takes a long time.” |
| “Has this one been going on long, Buck?” | “Has this one been going on long, Buck?” |
| “Well, I should RECKON! It started thirty year ago, or som’ers along there. There was trouble ’bout something, and then a lawsuit to settle it; and the suit went agin one of the men, and so he up and shot the man that won the suit—which he would naturally do, of course. Anybody would.” | “Well, I should RECKON! It started thirty year ago, or som’ers along there. There was trouble ’bout something, and then a lawsuit to settle it; and the suit went agin one of the men, and so he up and shot the man that won the suit—which he would naturally do, of course. Anybody would.” |
| “What was the trouble about, Buck?—land?” | “What was the trouble about, Buck?—land?” |
| “I reckon maybe—I don’t know.” | “I reckon maybe—I don’t know.” |
| “Well, who done the shooting? Was it a Grangerford or a Shepherdson?” | “Well, who done the shooting? Was it a Grangerford or a Shepherdson?” |
| “Laws, how do I know? It was so long ago.” | “Laws, how do I know? It was so long ago.” |
| “Don’t anybody know?” | “Don’t anybody know?” |
| “Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon, and some of the other old people; but they don’t know now what the row was about in the first place.” | “Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon, and some of the other old people; but they don’t know now what the row was about in the first place.” |
| “Has there been many killed, Buck?” | “Has there been many killed, Buck?” |
| “Yes; right smart chance of funerals. But they don’t always kill. Pa’s got a few buckshot in him; but he don’t mind it ’cuz he don’t weigh much, anyway. Bob’s been carved up some with a bowie, and Tom’s been hurt once or twice.” | “Yes; right smart chance of funerals. But they don’t always kill. Pa’s got a few buckshot in him; but he don’t mind it ’cuz he don’t weigh much, anyway. Bob’s been carved up some with a bowie, and Tom’s been hurt once or twice.” |
| “Has anybody been killed this year, Buck?” | “Has anybody been killed this year, Buck?” |
| “Yes; we got one and they got one. ’Bout three months ago my cousin Bud, fourteen year old, was riding through the woods on t’other side of the river, and didn’t have no weapon with him, which was blame’ foolishness, and in a lonesome place he hears a horse a-coming behind him, and sees old Baldy Shepherdson a-linkin’ after him with his gun in his hand and his white hair a-flying in the wind; and ’stead of jumping off and taking to the brush, Bud ’lowed he could out-run him; so they had it, nip and tuck, for five mile or more, the old man a-gaining all the time; so at last Bud seen it warn’t any use, so he stopped and faced around so as to have the bullet holes in front, you know, and the old man he rode up and shot him down. But he didn’t git much chance to enjoy his luck, for inside of a week our folks laid HIM out.” | “Yes; we got one and they got one. ’Bout three months ago my cousin Bud, fourteen year old, was riding through the woods on t’other side of the river, and didn’t have no weapon with him, which was blame’ foolishness, and in a lonesome place he hears a horse a-coming behind him, and sees old Baldy Shepherdson a-linkin’ after him with his gun in his hand and his white hair a-flying in the wind; and ’stead of jumping off and taking to the brush, Bud ’lowed he could out-run him; so they had it, nip and tuck, for five mile or more, the old man a-gaining all the time; so at last Bud seen it warn’t any use, so he stopped and faced around so as to have the bullet holes in front, you know, and the old man he rode up and shot him down. But he didn’t git much chance to enjoy his luck, for inside of a week our folks laid HIM out.” |
Original Text | Modern Text |
| There was another clan of aristocracy around there—five or six families—mostly of the name of Shepherdson. They was as high-toned and well born and rich and grand as the tribe of Grangerfords. The Shepherdsons and Grangerfords used the same steamboat landing, which was about two mile above our house; so sometimes when I went up there with a lot of our folks I used to see a lot of the Shepherdsons there on their fine horses. | There was another clan of aristocracy around there—five or six families—mostly of the name of Shepherdson. They was as high-toned and well born and rich and grand as the tribe of Grangerfords. The Shepherdsons and Grangerfords used the same steamboat landing, which was about two mile above our house; so sometimes when I went up there with a lot of our folks I used to see a lot of the Shepherdsons there on their fine horses. |
| One day Buck and me was away out in the woods hunting, and heard a horse coming. We was crossing the road. Buck says: | One day Buck and me was away out in the woods hunting, and heard a horse coming. We was crossing the road. Buck says: |
| “Quick! Jump for the woods!” | “Quick! Jump for the woods!” |
| We done it, and then peeped down the woods through the leaves. Pretty soon a splendid young man come galloping down the road, setting his horse easy and looking like a soldier. He had his gun across his pommel. I had seen him before. It was young Harney Shepherdson. I heard Buck’s gun go off at my ear, and Harney’s hat tumbled off from his head. He grabbed his gun and rode straight to the place where we was hid. But we didn’t wait. We started through the woods on a run. The woods warn’t thick, so I looked over my shoulder to dodge the bullet, and twice I seen Harney cover Buck with his gun; and then he rode away the way he come—to get his hat, I reckon, but I couldn’t see. We never stopped running till we got home. The old gentleman’s eyes blazed a minute—’twas pleasure, mainly, I judged—then his face sort of smoothed down, and he says, kind of gentle: | We done it, and then peeped down the woods through the leaves. Pretty soon a splendid young man come galloping down the road, setting his horse easy and looking like a soldier. He had his gun across his pommel. I had seen him before. It was young Harney Shepherdson. I heard Buck’s gun go off at my ear, and Harney’s hat tumbled off from his head. He grabbed his gun and rode straight to the place where we was hid. But we didn’t wait. We started through the woods on a run. The woods warn’t thick, so I looked over my shoulder to dodge the bullet, and twice I seen Harney cover Buck with his gun; and then he rode away the way he come—to get his hat, I reckon, but I couldn’t see. We never stopped running till we got home. The old gentleman’s eyes blazed a minute—’twas pleasure, mainly, I judged—then his face sort of smoothed down, and he says, kind of gentle: |
| “I don’t like that shooting from behind a bush. Why didn’t you step into the road, my boy?” | “I don’t like that shooting from behind a bush. Why didn’t you step into the road, my boy?” |
| “The Shepherdsons don’t, father. They always take advantage.” | “The Shepherdsons don’t, father. They always take advantage.” |
| Miss Charlotte she held her head up like a queen while Buck was telling his tale, and her nostrils spread and her eyes snapped. The two young men looked dark, but never said nothing. Miss Sophia she turned pale, but the color come back when she found the man warn’t hurt. | Miss Charlotte she held her head up like a queen while Buck was telling his tale, and her nostrils spread and her eyes snapped. The two young men looked dark, but never said nothing. Miss Sophia she turned pale, but the color come back when she found the man warn’t hurt. |
| Soon as I could get Buck down by the corn-cribs under the trees by ourselves, I says: | Soon as I could get Buck down by the corn-cribs under the trees by ourselves, I says: |
| “Did you want to kill him, Buck?” | “Did you want to kill him, Buck?” |
| “Well, I bet I did.” | “Well, I bet I did.” |
| “What did he do to you?” | “What did he do to you?” |
| “Him? He never done nothing to me.” | “Him? He never done nothing to me.” |
| “Well, then, what did you want to kill him for?” | “Well, then, what did you want to kill him for?” |
| “Why, nothing—only it’s on account of the feud.” | “Why, nothing—only it’s on account of the feud.” |
| “What’s a feud?” | “What’s a feud?” |
| “Why, where was you raised? Don’t you know what a feud is?” | “Why, where was you raised? Don’t you know what a feud is?” |
| “Never heard of it before—tell me about it.” | “Never heard of it before—tell me about it.” |
| “Well,” says Buck, “a feud is this way: A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills HIM; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the COUSINS chip in—and by and by everybody’s killed off, and there ain’t no more feud. But it’s kind of slow, and takes a long time.” | “Well,” says Buck, “a feud is this way: A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills HIM; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the COUSINS chip in—and by and by everybody’s killed off, and there ain’t no more feud. But it’s kind of slow, and takes a long time.” |
| “Has this one been going on long, Buck?” | “Has this one been going on long, Buck?” |
| “Well, I should RECKON! It started thirty year ago, or som’ers along there. There was trouble ’bout something, and then a lawsuit to settle it; and the suit went agin one of the men, and so he up and shot the man that won the suit—which he would naturally do, of course. Anybody would.” | “Well, I should RECKON! It started thirty year ago, or som’ers along there. There was trouble ’bout something, and then a lawsuit to settle it; and the suit went agin one of the men, and so he up and shot the man that won the suit—which he would naturally do, of course. Anybody would.” |
| “What was the trouble about, Buck?—land?” | “What was the trouble about, Buck?—land?” |
| “I reckon maybe—I don’t know.” | “I reckon maybe—I don’t know.” |
| “Well, who done the shooting? Was it a Grangerford or a Shepherdson?” | “Well, who done the shooting? Was it a Grangerford or a Shepherdson?” |
| “Laws, how do I know? It was so long ago.” | “Laws, how do I know? It was so long ago.” |
| “Don’t anybody know?” | “Don’t anybody know?” |
| “Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon, and some of the other old people; but they don’t know now what the row was about in the first place.” | “Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon, and some of the other old people; but they don’t know now what the row was about in the first place.” |
| “Has there been many killed, Buck?” | “Has there been many killed, Buck?” |
| “Yes; right smart chance of funerals. But they don’t always kill. Pa’s got a few buckshot in him; but he don’t mind it ’cuz he don’t weigh much, anyway. Bob’s been carved up some with a bowie, and Tom’s been hurt once or twice.” | “Yes; right smart chance of funerals. But they don’t always kill. Pa’s got a few buckshot in him; but he don’t mind it ’cuz he don’t weigh much, anyway. Bob’s been carved up some with a bowie, and Tom’s been hurt once or twice.” |
| “Has anybody been killed this year, Buck?” | “Has anybody been killed this year, Buck?” |
| “Yes; we got one and they got one. ’Bout three months ago my cousin Bud, fourteen year old, was riding through the woods on t’other side of the river, and didn’t have no weapon with him, which was blame’ foolishness, and in a lonesome place he hears a horse a-coming behind him, and sees old Baldy Shepherdson a-linkin’ after him with his gun in his hand and his white hair a-flying in the wind; and ’stead of jumping off and taking to the brush, Bud ’lowed he could out-run him; so they had it, nip and tuck, for five mile or more, the old man a-gaining all the time; so at last Bud seen it warn’t any use, so he stopped and faced around so as to have the bullet holes in front, you know, and the old man he rode up and shot him down. But he didn’t git much chance to enjoy his luck, for inside of a week our folks laid HIM out.” | “Yes; we got one and they got one. ’Bout three months ago my cousin Bud, fourteen year old, was riding through the woods on t’other side of the river, and didn’t have no weapon with him, which was blame’ foolishness, and in a lonesome place he hears a horse a-coming behind him, and sees old Baldy Shepherdson a-linkin’ after him with his gun in his hand and his white hair a-flying in the wind; and ’stead of jumping off and taking to the brush, Bud ’lowed he could out-run him; so they had it, nip and tuck, for five mile or more, the old man a-gaining all the time; so at last Bud seen it warn’t any use, so he stopped and faced around so as to have the bullet holes in front, you know, and the old man he rode up and shot him down. But he didn’t git much chance to enjoy his luck, for inside of a week our folks laid HIM out.” |
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