SMITH:  Those were stirring times.

GRANDMOTHER:  More stirring than you’ll ever see.  This war—­Lincoln’s war—­it’s all a cut and dried business now.  We used to fight with anything we could lay hands on—­dish water—­whatever was handy.

SMITH:  I guess you believe the saying that the only good Indian is a dead Indian.

GRANDMOTHER:  I dunno.  We roiled them up considerable.  They was mostly friendly when let be.  Didn’t want to give up their land—­but I’ve noticed something of the same nature in white folks.

SMITH:  Your son has—­something of that nature, hasn’t he?

GRANDMOTHER:  He’s not keen to sell.  Why should he?  It’ll never be worth less.

SMITH:  But since he has more land than any man can use, and if he gets his price—­

GRANDMOTHER:  That what you’ve come to talk to him about?

SMITH:  I—­yes.

GRANDMOTHER:  Well, you’re not the first.  Many a man older than you has come to argue it.

SMITH:  (smiling) They thought they’d try a young one.

GRANDMOTHER:  Some one that knew him thought that up.  Silas’d help a young one if he could.  What is it you’re set on buying?

SMITH:  Oh, I don’t know that we’re set on buying anything.  If we could have the hill (looking off to the right) at a fair price—­

GRANDMOTHER:  The hill above the town?  Silas’d rather sell me and the cat.

SMITH:  But what’s he going to do with it?

GRANDMOTHER:  Maybe he’s going to climb it once a week.

SMITH:  But if the development of the town demands its use—­

GRANDMOTHER:  (smiling) You the development of the town?

SMITH:  I represent it.  This town has been growing so fast—­

GRANDMOTHER:  This town began to grow the day I got here.

SMITH:  You—­you began it?

GRANDMOTHER:  My husband and I began it—­and our baby Silas.

SMITH:  When was that?

GRANDMOTHER:  1820, that was.

SMITH:  And—­you mean you were here all alone?

GRANDMOTHER:  No, we weren’t alone.  We had the Owens ten miles down the river.

SMITH:  But how did you get here?

GRANDMOTHER:  Got here in a wagon, how do you s’pose? (gaily) Think we flew?

SMITH:  But wasn’t it unsafe?

GRANDMOTHER:  Them set on safety stayed back in Ohio.

SMITH:  But one family!  I should think the Indians would have wiped you out.

GRANDMOTHER:  The way they wiped us out was to bring fish and corn.  We’d have starved to death that first winter hadn’t been for the Indians.

SMITH:  But they were such good neighbours—­why did you throw dish water at them?