Free Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen Page A

Carolina he had to take care of his mother and sister with his father gone off to war and he hardly had no chance to go to school. Taught himself to read and rite and kept up his jernal from his youth. Mama said she was plain terified to touch Papas jernal let alone read it.
    Rob was near twelve when Papa went away. That was back in the Indian Nations when Lucius was a baby. Rob stood up to those rough men that came galoping in. He told em they better look out cause they was trespissing on Papas propity and might get shot between the eyes. And one man said In the back more likely like Belle Starr. Rob went after him and it was terifying that big scared horse and that pale thin boy socking so fureous at that mans boot. Got his hand cut bad by spurs and got knocked sprawling.
    Mama said Papa had bizness in Oregon and might be gone awhile. Oh we were so cold and hungry in those years. But finely our cousins sent some money for our rail tickets back to Fort White Florida. We stayed almost a year with Granny Ellen Watson and Aunt Minnie Collins.
    That darn old Rob has acted mean about coming to see Papa. He made Mama admit she wrote to Papa and that Papa never sent for us until she did that. Probably has another woman now is what Rob told her. Its bad enough Rob is rude about our Papa but hes also rude to Mama reminding her every two minnits that shes not his real mother so he doesnt have to mind her less he feels like it. And Mama says clamly I may not be your mother Rob but Im the best youve got. Just goes on about her busyness leaving Rob looking kind of twisted up and funny. One time Rob caught me looking at his tears and raised his fist to me. Scowled something terrible but never said one word.
    Rob passes for hansom with his black hair and black brows and fair white skin with round red blushes on his cheekbone that jump out on his skin like dots of blood when hes upset. From Papa he got those blue blue eyes like the highest heaven where blue comes from. Blue eyes with black hair are not comon Mama says. Papa is so weather browned and ruddy that his blush dont hardly show. His blushes arent so comon either Mama says.
    Lucius has Papas blue eyes too—what Granny Ellen in Fort White called crazy Watson eyes. He will be the tall one. Eddie takes after Papa more same dark redish chesnut hair that turns gold brown in summer, but his hole demeener Mama says is very diferent. He has Papas fire color she says but his flame needs a good stoking.

    I was first to see the sail white as a wing way down toward the mouth of the Peace River. We had never seen a sail before! I wanted to run right over to the landing but Mama said Wait till we know for sure its Mister Watson.
    Soon the sail was so near that when the boat turned toward us we heard the canvas rumpus in the breeze. Mama said Just in case thats Mister Watson wed best stand up sos he can see us and not make him go over there to that hotel for nothing. So we stood up in a line outside the deepo all but Rob who was slowched off to one side. Rob wanted to make it plain as plain that he had no part in this hole dumb plan of accepting Papas charity down in south Florida.
    It was pretty close to noon there was no shade and we stood in the hot wind watching as two figures walked toward us. In the glare they looked like two black insects a thick one and a thin one kind of shimering on the white sand flat. When I reconized Papa I cried out because I wanted to run to meet him but Mama only shook her head. We just stood there stiff as sticks. Here come our long lost Papa and nobody calling and nobody smiling! I started to cry.
    Mister Watson was dressed in a linen suit string tie and black boots glissening and big mustash and sideburns. Stopped a few yards away took off his black Western hat and made a little bow. Nobody made a move nor spoke a word. Im sorry we are late he said after a look at a gold watch on a chain. Rough wether on the gulff. His voice was deep and pleasant kind of