Stiddy

"Ye got the drop on me," he said; "I ain't got no gun; but look-a here, stranger, that there little B'ar is the only pard I got; he's my stiddy company an' we're almighty fond o' each other.

Ma always likes to have me, I'm so patient and stiddy, she says," answered Prue, for the responsibility of this great undertaking did not rest upon her, so she took a cheerful view of things.

On special occasions at Lythe the old stiddy (anvil) is dragged outside and primed with wooden plugs containing gunpowder. When all spectators are well out of any possible danger, the plugs are fired with a prod from an iron pole.