American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-01-11
VOL. XIII.

the mountain, and thought what fools
people was to shut 'emselves up in stores
and factories when they could be a-breath-
in the pure air and enjoyin' 'emselves in
sensible sort o. way. 1 s'pose every
body ID take to coalin' if 'twarn't for the
trouble O. learnin'."
"Lucky for you, Sam, that they don't
1t would spoil your business.
Yes. It's a wise provision O. Natur'
that we ant all made alike, and don't all
to preachin', for Example; nor for all to
try to he guv'nor to once"
"There you hit the nail on the head.
But do you never feel lonesome up here?''
Lonesome! Now you make me laugh.
Most o. the time JOe's here. When he's
away Bosses all the company l want
Amt We, old fellow? There
down.! No time for foOlin' now. When
Bose and Joe are both gone, talk to that
dog. Foolish, dispose, but does me good.
Sometimes it pears as if it knew all l was
a-ssyin' to it, and answered in its dumb
way. And, when ye come to understand
pit, there amt a puff o. smoke comes
out that hain't meanin' to it. There's
yailer smoke, and white smoke and black
smoke, and blue smoke, and smoke that
zee that, then's the time for tn exper'-
ence to come in. When she's Albumin
she's got to be watched every minute,
might an day. If it rains, We must see
that yer fires amt put out. If the wind
blows hard, We must bank 'er up, or she'll
burn uneven. Sometimes the top'n cave
h on one side or t'other; that must be
txed. Sometimes she blows. Then
5ou've got to fly around lively"
I" What do you mean by blowsT"
"Why, busts, of course. If We don't
Heep the vents open the gas elects, and
FIST We know she blows. If you'd been
s-watchin' that pit all alone to-day, she'd
ha' blowed sure. Come near it as twas. -
Livery likely" I said, meekly, for be-
4n to appreciate my ittleness when
brought into contrast with Sans superior
knowledge.
i"MusG keep yer vents open. It's ies'
% with a steam-biler. Keep yer safety
Plve right, and the steam blows off; git
1r jambed, and bang goes yer biler. But
Hcant't begin to tell ye. 'Twould take a
week. There's sortin' the wood. Must
lave hard coal to smelt iron, and you
ont get hard coal out o. soft wood. But
ypu may burn the best o. chestnut and
maple and oak, and git only soft coal, il
" don't run her right. I've seen one-half
pit as good hard coal as ever went into
afurnace. and t'other half soft and mealy.
a pit wants as much nussin' as new
bSrn baby"
Sam paused and stopped to listen. His
snick ear caught the So Of some e,t one
sweet voice caroling one of the popular
melodies of the day. A smile Lit up Sans
hDnest face as he said, in response to my
| inQuiring look, "That's my Sally"
The next moment the bushes parted on
| tie mountain-side and a young girl, in
| tie full glow of health and beauty. sprang
| into the open space. Surprised at the
| SIGHT of stranger, she ceased her song
dbruptly, blushed as red as the scarlet
hood she wore, and paused, as if in doubt
| whether to advance or to retreat. Wheth-
e it was the romantic surroundings,
he unexpectedness of the vision,
q the intrinsic beauty of the
arl herself, know not, but
fAaR my World-Wanderings had
!tleyey hetpEsl ness3z"9ar8n i8EfM.aaisht
heart. had seen the women of almost
lll chimes, from the sun-painted senoritas
bf the south to the blue-eyed blondes OF
the north, but that form was unique in
grace and beauty. She was plainly, even
eoarsely clad but the simple calico gown
and the cheap shawl about her shoulders
Were worn with an air that a princess
might envy. Her hood, which was the
|only bit of bright co.or that relieved the
sober monotony of her dress. was thrown
back upon her neck, displaying a mass of
Ilustrous black tresses confined by sim
lple ribbon. Her flashing eyes, her mouth
|ripe as Hebe's, her cheeks, where mingled
the tints of the peach and the olive-but
why attempt what words cannot paint
lad the goddess of beauty herself fallen
Ifown from heaven, l could scarcely have
been more thoroughly entranced.
ssThis is my Sally" said Sam again,
Genuine admiration-''Sally. this is Mr..
fTrainor. He's come to stay all night with
ime."
The girl couresied gracefully while the
ftruant blood again flashed her cheek. To
hide her confusion, she stopped down and
Ipetted Bose, who had pushed his nose
into her hand with the familiarity of an
old friend.
"I've brought your supper, father,
ehe said. II must hurry back, for I'm
late tonight. bad to 60 for the cows. -
"You had to fetch the cows, Sally
Where's WHIP
Smother sent him to the store. Mother
wants to know when you're coming
home.
Cant tell, Sally. If Joe gifts back by
Daylight, p'r'aps l may come down with
10 fret. Guess I'll get back sometime -
| "Well-goed-night. father; goodnight,
eir.'' And with another courtesy and an
btlier blush the lovely vision vani he'd
HOwn the mOuntain-path.
''Guess We never see many potter gals
IN my Sally" said sam, with quizzical
hook at ME as 1 stood straining nv ewes to
batch another glimpse of her.
I felt as if rudely awakened from a de-
hghtful dream. Could trust my senses?
Gould it be that this charming girl, or
IRoman, rather, for she was Just budding
INTO womanhood, was the daughter of
lam Tibbetts? The incongruity was
tartling. With all due Difference to the
hany noble qualities OF my honest friend,
could not help drawing an inward COM
harisOn between the parent and the incOm-
)arable daughter which, could he have
Fad my thoughts, would, 1 fear, have
brewer prejudiced him against me. AS it
bas, my cOuntenance must have betrayed
bmething of my feelings, for Sam heaved
sigh, and, picking up the basket which
ALLY had deposited upon stump, he led
he way to the hut without word.
| A few minutes suff1ced to spread our
tugal supper, which, eked out with few
jelicacies | had brought, and seasoned
he at least, with a relish seldom before
Experienced. Sam, though he ate hearth
b, was remarkably taciturn during the
thole meal. L exerted myself to amuse
Inn. and to excite his usual flow of spir-
IS, but with very little effect. 1t seemed
b if Sally's coming had made another
han of him, and began to regret my in
ensiderate promise to spend the night.
After giving old Bose his proper share
e the banquet, and clearing away the
k5ris, we lit our pipes and sat down for
9smOke. The fragrant tobacco appeared
, have a soothing effect on Sans nerves,
I'D we soon dropped into a desultory con-
krsatiOn on the various topics with which
b was familiar, interrupted only by an
~ -
vas evident that my friend was i'll mt ease.
IL had lost his usual vivacity, and talked