Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-02-09
Selrttro Storp.
SHACKLE-FOOT SAM.

lie had one leg shorter than the other,
aud he stepped wiki hitch, aud a twist
OF the shorter lcg. lie was a tall, good.
looking. good.natured man. about TWEEN
Iy-seven years o! age; bu; his good ma
tuTe was not ui that sort which suifcrelh
all things. On The coutraIr, while he
would stand almos; any ehaN o. nick
name from his fellows. AZ attempt TO
patronize him. OF as he phraied il, put
on dog over him." brough. oal the bitter
word. soon 10 be followed, il necessary,
by the more bitter blow. the kuite OF the
revolver.
lie gave himself the name by which he
was best known. One night, when hc
was brushing himsellup before lhe look
iuS glass. 10 attend 4 memorable dance
in Montana, some one said to him. as be
stood on his long les before he mirror;
Hello. sam! going to the dance -
You bet your bottom dollGr. May be
You think / can Z dance ="
Certainly. you can dance why not 2'
"wal. sone thinks as 4 leller can't
dance. II bis legs aint she same length
lot when ! git onto 4 dsnoe .loor. with
neat sIeppin' gal, can jest make this
old shackle loot git up and sQil :" said be,
swinging his snort leg bacI. and forth
IS he spoke.
Can you waltz ?"
Wal that does git me li..!e-,o do it
neat but ii the gals goot one. can
swing round mighty lively, fCra shackie-
footed Cuss."
Thus. " often referring 10 his own IN
trinity. he became known a. "Shack.e-
loot Sam
Several cf us were out on prospect
ing "trip in southeastern New .da, aud he
was of the party.
The mountains ia this part Of Nevada,
as is now well know. are ell er dry and
loose on the surface, or dly aud solid
naked rock AT all events. vi at ever else
these mountains may be, they ale usually
dry-dry as powder-during NEST Of the
twelve months OF every year Iet. while
this is commonly the como ition OF the
mountains anil foot hills. there are. dur
ing some summers. terrible dashes ol
rain perfect cloud. bursts Al The waite!
from these SHOWS and rains. in the course
OF centuries. has cut the mot ntaias into
cAnous. aud ploughed the foO.-hills with
long. dry. sand bedded wa ihes. The
ridges between these dry was hes are dot
ted over with few trees OF the short nul
pine and the sprawling juniper, and
covered more thickly with tile aromatic
bitter Indian wormwood. or black sage,
mingled with powders and loose irag
ments OF rock.
The foothills and the mountains are
not pleasant riding gIound far any sort
Of conveyance. nor even practicable fol
any but steady horse. mule or jaekass
therefore. we were all walking toward
camp, round the curved side OF steep
Dose surface OF mountain.
Shaokle-foOt sam was in front oil lh'
line OF fiye PERSONS, walking and talkini
as ii the slippery side-hill was not trouo
ling him in the least; while The rest o
US were struggling along, row sliding
our of line with the movement OF th'
loose. flat, small stones, snd now climb
ing. by cinging to the sage brush, bach
into line. Our leader, aheai by few
steps. called out. rs be turned facing rs
Come on, boys! Im hungry as
wolf, and IT'S a good ways to camp VII
GLOW DO you mean"
"Why, we ain'I all cut bias.
30! YOU mean that ms 5hoit leg Il
M hin this time. Bat you're mistaken i
you have any idea that was cut Out ioi
his styie."
Wasn't you born that way ?
..No, much - said Sam. as be trudge'
along in good humOr mot much
was launched jest the purteyest paIIerE
IN live counties in old Indianner. III! be-
mv old ma'am Is tellin' il ill yit, If she
alive-God bless her,-what a purte,
baby was.