Autumn.

There is no finer time than autumn. The very air is a refreshment – a washing out of your heart. But you cannot stay washed and autumn will not stay in place. Before long the bathwater grows cold.

Before long autumn will send you looking for warmer dress.

Ancient Dog kept the stoves of the grocery roaring at all seasons, on account of his hide being threadbare after seventy years of cussedness. The very air inside smelled burnt, but burnt were not warm enough for Dog. He were sewing up a winter coat such as Handerson or Panderson could never offer.

It was not a lie that Dog served in the rebellion against King George. Only he had not exactly fought but were a chore boy in an army camp. I do not know how he came to own a Continental Army coat, as he had never worn it in any battle. He only hung the mangy red-and-blue thing on the wall, pegged out like a pelt, and brought it down for parades and holidays.

I did not know what holiday he were expecting in early October but he took down his patriot skin and went after it with a sewing needle. I were back at the grocery working at the almanac, and Big with me, on account of he had no better use. I would scribble and try some of the stories on the ears of cats and loafers. Big – still gray hearted – would cheer some to hear his own feats. Dog sat at his mending and we made a regular family circle.

When I took a rest from my work, Big always liked that I read the news papers out loud. He had an idea that the papers would carry notice of troubles that might want Big’s prodigy. I did not say that by the time a crisis has washed up in the ARGUS or ADVERTISER or EAGLE there is nothing left but a mess to tidy, but I done the looking-out all the same. A Friday noon brought the latest of the ARGUS – ink still wet on the page – I set aside the almanac to read—

MOBS GENERAL. A season of disorder across the nation. At Cincinnati an unlawful assembly attacked the abolition society in that place. In Boston a convent is attacked. In St Louis the land office and a news paper office. In Troy banks and courtrooms.	We are not so wild here, considered Dog, the exploder of bridges.
BOY WANTED. Luke Oakly is seeking an apprentice at cabinet making.	Big scorned the idea of a life spent making cabinets. I felt a small offense – coffins is only cabinets for bones. Does no one want spirit work? Big asked.
Professor Thompson will visit to talk on TEMPERANCE at the Sessions House hotel.	Dog shook his head some as if he were disappointed at this professor.
Kreosote. FOR CURING THE TOOTH ACHE. This substance of a recent German discovery comes highly recommended. It destroys the sensibility of the nerve without causing any pain. Rely on Dr STRICKLAND for all matters relating to the health, preservation and beauty of the TEETH.	Will you be back to Dr S for more kreosote? I asked Dog. He looked up from his sewing and grinned – his teeth calicoed green and brown with spots of white left over from his treatment.
ACCIDENTS.—YL Honey, a citizen of Ohio city employed at the iron foundry, had one hand blown off and the other sadly mutilated by carelessness in that place yesterday.	General sorrow at YL’s misfortune. He come in for more than his share of trouble in this life.
ON THE BRIDGE TROUBLE.— Self-protection is a great law of nature, implanted in the human heart for wise purposes, and is a principle which will, and must be, called into exercise, not only in defence of life and limb, but also in upholding, what is in many instances, equally important, our dearest rights and privileges. It gives us pain to have any thing occur, calculated to excite ill-blood between these young and thriving cities. Their interests are nearly identical. Their prosperity—	Gasbagging over the bridge were the chief occupation and diversion of news papers on both sides of the river, always using ten cents of talk where a penny would suffice.
BOULDER TROUBLE—From Hinckley. The improved road to Medina is stricken. A collection of large and obstinate rocks tumbled from Whipps Ledges and efforts of draft animals and man are ineffectual in remov—	My brother grabbed the news paper and slapped his eyes to the bulletin.

I could hear Big’s mind chewing the news from Hinckley. His hair glinted some touch in the slanted grocery light. I seen a mood rolling into his mind – from familiarity I known how certain of his tempers troubled the air just before busting loose.

Dog hopped down from his stool, his bones clacking together.

Finished with the f____r

Every eye turned to see the wormy soldier coat, held up with mean pride. It looked just the same as before, though we complimented Dog’s work anyway.