The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-11-05
THE SOLITARY SET1LER

T Uteeu UlIleS DclOW NatC0eZ COcrc is a
deep bend in the Mississippi, where steam.
ers used to stop for a supply of wood.
The point has a name, but l have long
since forgotten it. l was a passenger on
board the steamer Prairie Belle, when we
ran alongside of the river bank, at the
point above indicated, for the purpose of
taking in fuel. Freight there vas none
awaiting us, and as we had none to land,
our stay was very brief. Far as the eye
could reach over the clearing, there was
no habitation to be seen, unless the poor
hut that stood about hundred feet from
the bank could be dignified by that appel
1ation.
Seated upon the bank, with his legs
swinging in INDECENT ease, sat the most
singular looking individual ever beheld
He was chewing tobacco vigorously, and
paying not the least attention to the
steamer or any one connected with her
His face was long aud his cheeks hollow,
and his hair of grayish hue, tangled and
thick, hung upon his shoulders in disor-
dered masses. His eyes were small, of a
pale blue, but very bright, and he seemed
to have but three upper and the same num-
ber of lower teeth, which were directly in
front of his mouth His dress was ex-
tIemely ridiculous. On his head he wore
napless black hat, that was as full of in
dentations as the river bank on which he
was perched, while a blue cotton shin t
with an immense collar, and pair of jean
pants and heavy cowhidc boots completed
his attire.
Dave Perkins, the mate Whose acquaint-
ance I cultivated, for found him a very
amusing fellow,) came to my side and re-
marked
'TheIe's very queer genius sitting on
the bank. Some people say he is crazed,
but l don't think SO. His odd ways have,
no doubt, given credence to the rumor, but
the peor fellow had a big misfortune once.
and it has rendered him Indifferent to
everything and everybody
''lIe certainly is a singular looking char
acter." l replied. ''If his story is inter-
esting l should like to hear it.''
"Wait until we get under way" replied
Perkins, ''and I'll tell it TO you" So say
ing he turned toward the man i'm question,
and asked
"Well, Andy, how goes it to- day with
you?'
tremendous squirt Of tobacco Juice and
nod of the head was the only reply the
mate received, and the queer man gazed up
the river. As soon as we were once more
steaming over The muddy waters, | sat
down beside the capstan and reminded the
mate of his promise. The following were
his words as nearly as 1 can remember
them:
About half mile above the spot where
We wooded, there once stood snug house.
and nicely cultivated patch that belonged
to Andy Robbins. He was pretty indus
trious fellow, as the times went. His wife
was good woman, but, like all girls who
live isolated lives, she had very little idea
of the world and, beyond seeing a passing
steamboat and her passengers, she had no
idea of what the world was like.
Andy was great hunter, and you
couldn't find better rifle shot than he was
anywhere along the Mississippi. 1t was
astonishing the number of squirrils that
man would shoot in q day /; if told you,
you wouldn't bdlieve me. He always had
his rifle with him, even when he went out
for stroll with his wife.
Andy had one child, an infant about a
year old, when his troubles came on him.
l don't think there was anything ne dotted
on like that little thing he used to carry in
his arms to look at the boat wooding.
It was an afternoon in October, when
the leaves were just tinted with yellow and
red, that Andy, with his child in his arms
and his wife by his side, started out to take
a walk. The afternoon was calm as sleep.
I recollect it well. Not cloud was visible,