St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-12-17

lo" i'hHh pune pores plleu up abouI
four feet above the mantel. in the same
form as the body of the cabin, and nei-
ther were even "daubed," that is, the
cracks filled up with clay. There was
door upon the side partly toward the
road. for the building stood cornerwise
to it, and window on the other side ::
not glass window. but hole where
you might have one. No shutters for
door or window had ever been hung.
but when needed to he closed were
held in place by fence rail
The floor of the cabin was made of
puncheons-pine logs split into slabs
and ronghly hewn. Between it and the
road was rail fence, and outside, Il
dozen hogs, recently fed with a
little corn and searching for more. In
side the fence, the dogs and towheaded
children, Appeared about alike in num-
Der and noise. The children. male and
female, We're dressed alike, each in IL
dirty cotton shirt. The mother sat III
the doorway. nursing the last addition
to the family, while the monarch of all
sat on the fence fixing an old flint lock
rifle. Back of the house was fenced
field OF ten or perhaps twenty acres,
which showed that it had borne Il mea-
gre crop of corn; probably not over
three bushels per acre. But | think
have never seen il field that would Weld
Il better crop of lightwood.
Taking in the whole situation ut il
glance, felt il strong desire to have IL
little conversation with this landed pro-
prictor, aud therefore drew up and
asked him for drink of water.
Got none, old SOW been in the
spring"
Any milk 2" Not that | wanted it.
but just thought would ask, foresce-
ing the answer.
No. cant keep cows here; there
amt any range for cattle i'll these
parts.
ANY deer? ! see you are prepar-
ing for hunt"
"Deer no; some coon. going to try
for one Tonight. as bacon is getting
mighty scarce"
"IIow long have you lived here
friend ,"
Bout three years come next corn
planting time"
II see you don't get large crop of
corn"
NO, 200 dry, land aint worth IA
durn.'
"llow about health ,"
"Wcll. we've had chills right smart
lou see we're to" nigh that creek
"IcS. it does look bilious. No fish
III it supp">r p
"Wrll. none but horned cats. and they
amt no account.
Nov. my friend. | will trouble You
FL, +.
answer that | shall he much obliged to
YOU. a> my principal business in trav-
cling through this part of the country
Is to gather information about heinducc-
ment> here for new settlers. Now YOU are
located upou land so poor that You cant
raise Il crop, and so uear this stagnant
water that your family are sickly you
have no range foI Your cattle OF hogs
no fish nor game, no milk for your fam
H. and you cannot even give IL trav-
cller Il drink of water. | won't ask
You why you located here in the first
place. hut ! should like to know what
induCcmcnt you have. if there is a sin
gle one on earth for remaiuim" in this
spot.
| SIM by the working of the mans
face that my words had aroused him.
and that he had IN answer ready. The
Young t"whcads on the other side of
the fence lifted up their cadavcrou>
faces to see what answer he would give
and his ''old woman" took the corncoh
pipe from her mouth. and looked up
for the first time. The man stepped
down from his perch on the fence.
which staltrd the pigs and the dogs
Strengthening up his six feet OF body.
he turned slowly round and stretched
"ut his arm toward the field of dead
pines t" attract my attention that way.
and then spoke as though his dignity
was offended:
~ QUILL allow, stranger. if other
things ain't quite 50 fine as you city
folks like. that We have Hghtrood toIcr-
biy hondp."
thought 80 too. and Us he was salts
fled thought | ought to he. thanked
him and drove on.
lhl> Is not an ovcrWrought picture.
There aIc thousands Of just such habta-
tIonS and inhabitants throughout the
South. content to live in the same WAY
If ''lightwood is tolcrahly handy" They
are universally known as Il .crackerS"
-plmcy woods people.
| WAS lately told an instructive anec-
dote about this class. 10y Il confederate
ravall> officer. whose husv life in A.
lanta had not led him much among the
pIney woods people until. during the
war. he waS one of Il cavalry force that
rod,. fr,m \-irriri., f., Ni.,;..i,,,,i
lin. inst ..,.t - ,L. I,,,.,I,'I,;,i,ii
where this class are more frequently
met with than in the cotton belt lower
down. Day after dav. he said he
sc.,rr,Iv cvcu s.,,, am, ntLo, L.,I,;t.,t;,,,,,