Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-04-22

it in some hands, it seemed to be nothing
in the grip of the sturdy mountaineer,
(who had probably bought it from some
passing emgra Mt from the old worldly for
| observed even as he entered that he held
the gun vertically at length before him.
Still he seemed glad of relieving himself of
the weight as soon as possible, for he in
stantly advanced TO the farthest corner OF
the room, where he placed the piece with
some care ia an upright position agains'
the wall
"WeII! what for now" said the vira.
go, "why 60 you stand looking at the gun
after you've DOT it down?-you think she'll
walk off herself, do yel"
The youth looked gloomily at her
took stool on the opposite side of the
hearth TO his companions-leaned his
head doggedIy upon his hand, but said
nothing.
thought had never fallen in with
more strange set of people.
What Hank Stampers, haint yc
word to fling to a dog ~ cried the woman
advancing towards him, SIS that the way
you treat your dead fathers wife %
The young man looked up stupidity at
her, gave glance with something more
of intelligence at the gnu, but still said
nothing.
L" Yes--yer natral-born mo,her-ye
chuckle head, and she wilder. Can't we
speak up to hcr--where's the deer 1.-The
turkeys !--the squirrels liant we even
squirrel to show Tor four days work -
speak YOU, John Dawson, what's the mat
ter with the boy.-He ben'tGrunk be he!"
I" It's matter Of five hours, Mother
Stumpers, since either Of US touched a
DROP" replied one of the men briefly, and
he TOO, gave iurliye bance at the old
frelock.
WeIl--well, why don't We 90 on is
any one dead ARE yc all distraught >
Jackson Phillips, you--you've felt the
back of my hand across your chaps, afore
now, for your iuterperance--l know yc,
man, and that sober possum look means
something! Do you think to gum II over
me afore the ranger--speak up and that
onst, or it'll te The worst tor some Of re, Or
my names not Melinda Washington Stun
pers
Ct did not smile, reader as you do, at
Mrs SIS sponsorial dignl,y-l did not dare
to smile
You know he wouldn't offend YOU, no
how, Mother StLmpers," depreca,lngiy re-
piled the man whom she addressed as Phli-
| lips. "IIank's misfortune, you see, has
made us dull.Iike, as it were, and -"
"And what in the name Of SATIN is his
misf)rtune?" interrupted the mother, now
for the first time moved with concern as
well as anger.
"Thal's il--,hat's it, nanny" cried
Hank, with something of aIerinrss-"she S
druv the very nail in the head-Satdn is
at the bottom OF all Of it
cat the bottom OF all OF what!' scream
ed the vrlgo. and, even as she spoke, The
ancient piece in The corner, untouched by
any one-withOut the slightest mnvemen'
OF the lock-discharge itself toward the
ceiling!
"AI the bottom of the ar'l ofmy gun
he speaks for hms If" repl ell Hank mood.
| 'y, viii hi. mother stuffed back aud |
sprung t. my feet attic sudden report SO
near me.
"Your gun must be foul" said, resu-
ming nv seal, every ioul, TO hang fire 80
long. suppose she madea fash IN the
pan when attempting to discharge her just
Lefprc entering"
Stumpers Looked vacanty at me, shook
his head, mutered something about nc and
hi smother being ''ruinated," and then more
audiuly said, stranger, you may have
more book-larnin than me, but l tell ye
won'st for all, that Satan's got into that
gun!'
And bang! at that moment again went
the gun, as if to prove that his words were
true.
"This is certainly, most extraordinary"
exclaimed, as rose to examine the gun
Tor myself.
"You'd better no; touch her, stranger"
cried Phillips.
81 tell you she's got Satan in her," re-
peated Hank.
looked at Dawson, inqulringly.
"Facl! stranger, every word of it
Hanks not been able TO get that gun oft
since noon; but about hundred rod afore
we struck the clearing she begun firing of
her own accord, just as you see"
Bang! bang! went the gun.
81 told you that Satan was IN her" ejac-
ulated Hank.
"That's the way with her." said Phil
lips, in a tone of solemn sadness--'some
times she'll not speak Tor matter Of Ten
minutes or so; sometimes she gives two
little short banks like those; and some.
times she gives a regular rip-snorter--
(BANG! Numbered the gum