Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-03-04
A SMUGGLER FOB ONCE.

one bitterly cold morning in December,
i, John Cannon, stood leaning upon the
gate of my little garden, gloomily thinking
over the badness of trade. was what they
all in our parts '.jouster !" that's kept
horse and cart, and went about the coun-
ny Jousting or selling fish.
For several weeks there had been moth
ng doing ; indeed, so bad a season had not
oeen known for years, and my wife Mary,
he old horse, and myself were getting I'M
pleasantly near starvation. could have
Dorne this If / had to bear it alone; but
Nary had been a valued servant in the par
sons family, and not used to roughing it,
and IT cut me to the heart to see how thin
and pale she was getting for want of the
necessaries of life, which did not know
now 70 get. Poor girl weak as she was, she
vas the brayest of the two. Mary a time,
when was almost in despair, her loving
rms would be thrown around my neck,
and she would bid me cheer up and bear
NY troubles like a man; and / have an
swered that il L could bear them as patient
y as woman it would be better still.
While standing at the gate, pulling N.Y.
self what to try that hadn't tried already,
saw Tom Davies, a cousin of mine, conn
lng along the lane, looking as sleek and
comfortable as a well-groomed horse. 1t
nad always been a mystery 10 me how Tom
lived, for, let trade be ever so bad, he never
seemed to suffer, but was well-clothed, and
-ooked jolly and happy.
He was always civil; but as he stopped
now to give me the time of day, he noticed
now queer looked. Though I IN not given
20 talking of my troubles, his sympathy
loosened my tongue, and l told him how
here wasn't morsel in the cupboard
md didn't know how to put any there
be took few whiffs of the short pipe he
vas smoking, cycling me hard the while
% hnN told / II
ne thought he could put me in the way OF
earning trifie. j was ready to promise
anything when / heard that, and when ]
assured him that / would be as secret a.
The grave, he babe me bring my old horse
% Riders Cave on the following night
punctually at twelve. He would be there
% meet me but was to ask no questions
There might be trifle of risk in what ]
should have to do, but nothing wrong
az least Tom saw no harm in it though
others might.
ITS smuggling / said TO myself, and
thought of Mary, who would sooner die
man know me TO do anything that was
not just right. ] was about to saw no ID
Toms offer, but Mary's wan face rose ur
before me, and as. j remembered how biting
want was dragging her down TO her grave
grew desperate.
I'm your man, Tom, risk or no risk.
u be there to my time, never fear me"
lie grasped the hand ! held out. left a
shilling in it, and with a nod walked on,
leaVing me with a weight on my con.
science that had never rested upon IL before.
All that day and the next / could not meet
-iary's eye without feeling as If were
hlalng crime from her,
When evening came told her that l
was wanted for little job of moving at the
next villoge, and should not be home til
ate. She Reyer doubted the tale, but
smiled and kissed me when / went away,
leading old Bob by the bride, and fancy
ing that i had never seen a darker night,
norheard the wind moan so dismally before.
Riders Cave is situated in one of the
most lonely parts Of the Cornish coast, and
there is not house within a couple OF
aQiles Of the spot. After riding for about
nalf an hour came out of the lane on to
the beach, and another mile or 30 along
the foot Of the cliffs brought me to the
cave. As rode into 1t heard voice say
cautiously, "All right, John, the boat will
ne here directly" and / was not sorry 10
lind Tom Davies mounted an cob along
side of me.
Handing me flask with some brandy In
Il, Ire bade me take nip; AT the same time
.elling me with no little glee that the
isoasties' were mapping, and we should &c
hem Jolly.
Af.tr waiting for some few minutes We
rearf the regular click Of cars IN the row