Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-09
Aumuruus department.
AN AXE STORY,

Wal, l reckon about the idlest chap ever
knowed was chap they called Long
George, down to Red Pine.
Hehad bit of ground allotted him that
was some timbered.
was running post at that time on a
pony between the mines and the post-ofice
and so passed his location every now and
then, and noticing that he always sot on
log doing nothing, hailed him, aud asked
him why he didn't begin to clear his patch.
Wal, he said he hadn't nary an axe, but
that an old mate of his had got the next lot
and he reckoned he'd loan him his when he
come.
Time went on, and as he still sot doing
nothing about three months more, I asked if
his mate had come.
He said Pete had arrove about a month
ago, but as Pete had his own clearing to do,
he had made up his mind not to ask for the
axe till it was done.
Next spring when come by, I asked if
Pete hadn't done his clearing yet, and he
said, with mournful shake of his head, that
he guessed he had for bit, for he had took
very i'll.
So said reckoned he could have the axe
now, but he said he didn't want to bother
Pete while he wasn't we'll.
That autumn when passed again, l asked
how Pete was, and he said he reckoned he
was pretty we'll now, for theyed buried him
about month ago.
GLOW about that axe {" said |.
He up and said as Pete has left il behind,
but he wouldn't 60 sloshing round about a
triHe like that while the widow was just in
the first burst of her bereavement.
The following summer when saw him he
was still setting on the log.
"Been for that axe yet" said I.
"Well, l guess" said he, "the widder's mar
ried again, and amt been introduced to the
new boss yet, and he mightnt like my going
for the axe just now."
About the beginning of the winter, as was
returning from the mines, overlook little
party going East, and fell into conversation
with them and one woman said to me as we
were parting:
''Say, say stranger, when you 60 back to the
mines next time, will you just stop at Long
Georges? forgot to tell him that the axe
my last old man left him is lying at Jem
Browns store"
So next time l passed told the crittur.
He said he'd go and fetch it in day or
two, but bless you, when I passed there again,
there he was on the same log.
"Wall," says I, "whar's that axe?"
"Why, at Jem Browns" said he.
Thought you'd been to fetch it?" said |.
$50 I did," says he; "but ye see as Jem
Brown had had the trouble of keeping it for
me, felt it only proper to make him some
return so-wal, we drank that axe between
u.s."
l larfed some, and the next time passed
brought him young oak sapling and plant
ed it. Says 1:
"Thatll be just the size for all axe-helve by
the time you have got a head for it."
"Thank ye, stranger" says he, quite salts
fed; and it's my belief he's a.setting there
still, watching the darned thing grow
THE MAN THAT SPOKE MExIcAN.-Gen.
Wool the brave and heroic soldier of Buena
Vista, was strict and rigid disciplinarian
as we'll as gallant and accomplished officer.
The following "good 'un," which Captain To-
bin tells as happening in camp, must have
excited the fiery little General to degree.
While sitting in his marquee, Mexican was
ushered into his presence, whose demean-
or denoted the Importance of some weighty
communication which he wished to deliver.
The General could not speak Spanish, and
his Interpreter was sought in vain. A long
specimen of a sucker, who, from the oatre
style of his dress, the General took for a
ranger, happened at that moment to straggle
past.
"Come here, my man." called out the Gen.
eral
With an air of perfect nonchalance, the
sucker dotted his battered castor and entered
the tent.
"Do you speak Mexican ?" inquired the
General.
"Why, General, rather guess not"
"Well, can you tell me of some one who
does?"
Eyes, street. jist can," aswered the man.
"Quick, then, let me know where he il" J"
demanded the irrascible commander.
"Why, here," drawled the imperturbable
sucker, laying his hand on the Mexican,
with whom it was desired to communicate, "he
can't speak nothing else
Capt Tobin left just then.