Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-07-27
Mountain Life i'm kentaeky.

Inc following sketcn Ol lie among the
mountains in Kentucky is furnished by cores
pondcnt Of the Louisville (ky.) Examiner
Dr., whom some Of you know,
called upon re yesterday aud said he had been
sent for 10 vista patient some six or seven
miles over the mountain, and III would accom-
pany him there, he thought he could present
me with a fine t0Jicau-r!rdR, Of mountain life.
Accordingly had pony saddlcd and booiing
myself, we started. Our road lay almost per-
pcndicularly up one side Of the Cumberland
mountain, and down the other. Toward ever
ing, We arrived at a place iamiliarly known
hereabout as old Jack----'s, and were cor
daily received and welcomed into his cabin, a
single log hut, with rudcly constructed camp
bed in one corner, which, together with four
or five rude stools, home made, few pots and
kettles, an old chest, and nine children, com
posed the entire furniture of the room. The
Doctor went up TO the bed side of his patient
and ] seated myself upon one Of the stools in
the chimney corner, and while he was profess
ionally engaged ! was making the above survey
of the premises.
From Kentucky1' . SAID mine 9ost inquiring-
ly.- Yes sir From the settlements,
s'pose!' Yes sir Pretty good country =
Very good So I've hesrn; smart chance
for craps this ycarr He inquiries in regard
to the agricultural prospects of your yicnage,
kindly explained the Doctor, speaking in Z
strange language as far as our entertainer,
were concerned. Tie knows but little abou,
that he added, addressing old Jack. Sells
goods, ! reckon, said Jack. No. replied the
Doctor, wishing to try TO puzzle the inquirer
Mechanic, ihcn he laconIcalIy added, wit!
a audable spirit Of stigatlon.-( Mechanic
means blacksmith IN the mountain lngO.) NO
sir said the Doctor, She is an authorize makes
books lie was mmoyablc---' Pretty consdera
bic trade in books in the settlements, stranger
said he. The Doctor and both laughed out
right at this odd reception of authorship, anC
old Jack was senccd.
Soon after this the daughter, a good-lookin;
girl Of some II or 10 summers, salutcd MS with
come folks, set up 10 supper looked roun'
for something 20 sit up to, IN vain There wa!
nothing in the remotcst degree resembling ;
table, and no plates, or knives. and forks
or any of those little indispensabcs to the nea
usual with us. turned an inQuring face Il
the Doctor, but he seemed to be pursuing a.
investigation similar to my own.-"Where d'
YOU want us TO set up to I! he said, 'Oh,I Sc
YOU and the stranger aint usen TO us folks, sa
here 0l the stool
We sat down, and the daughter soon came
toward US, dandng huge cake, made q
pounded corn, upon her hands, tossing II up az
inch or two and catching then tossing it agair
to keep 1t from burning her hands. Put YOU
! knees together, she said 10 the Doctor. liC
passivey obcyed and received the cake upor
his knees, where for moment or two he KEPT
il dancing as she had done. Presently she
came round again with skillet, and stopping
before the i-iated Doctor, she poured It's con
teats, which contested ofelccs Of fat middlmg
fried in grease, upon the cake aforesaid, anC
then raking some Irish potatoes out Of the ashes
she tumblcd them in a pile on the floor bcwcer
us. And this constituted the supper W bruk
of pieces ofthe bread from around the edges
and took the bacon and potatoes in our finger
as best we might, not however, without beln,
reminded by our host Of that ancient and vcrlta
bic aphorisln, that fingers pdS made alore knlve
and forks
After supper a batch Of straw and corn sLucs
was thrown into n corner, and a couple ot bea
skins put upon 1t, and our bed was ready for us
Had 1t been great dcll worse We could have
sept upon it, for our Journey had fatigued VI
no ltte After a breakfast the next morning,
differing but little from the supper of the night
before, we prepared to start. Our host iollowet
us to the Geld where our horses had been put
and demanded of the Doctor his bill for medca
services why, said the Doctor, where
the use Of charging you anything, you woulc
not be able to pay it, May he | wouldn't,
said old Jack, and he displayed a roll of bill
that could not have amounted to lees than
hundred dollars This brought forth from thc
Doctor pretty severe lecture, addressed to olC
Jack, on the improperly Of keeping his family
and living himself in such a destitute condition
when he was ahundanty able TO provide thcu
with plenty of comforts. If its good enough
for me, rcckin You haint no reason to ohec
to it,, said the old fellow. very much nculed
He paid his bill without word of objection
and We ch him alone in his glory