The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-11-10
A SE1TLER'S STORY.

my old host, it was q wild and rugged
tract of country, lying in the midst of what
was then an uncultivated and almost path.
less mountain region. The only road
through it was that from Fincastle, in Vir-
Rinia, to Knoxville, in Tennessee-a route
at that time, but little frequented, espe-
ciaily in winter and the sole habitation ip
sight Of my own 'tsquatter'' settlement
was log house, standing near the road,
bearing . rude inscription on its front, in
forming the passer-by that there was to be
found Entertainment for man and BEAST
The keeper of the ''tavern'' as it was
called, was an old man past seventy, whose
whole household consisted of his wife, a
year or two younger than himself, q negro
boy named Jack, and huge black cat,
called Derrick. Jack worked the bit of
garden and cornfield, and tended the horses
Of what few guests necessity compelled to
stop here over night. Both the old man
and h is house had rather a bad repute,
in consequence Of the latter having been in
former days the haunt of certain gang of
horse thieves who had infested that part of
the country, and with whom old Burnett
had been moro than suspected to have
private dealings. However this may have
been, people preferred, when it was posi-
BILE, to press onward 10 another house of
entertainment some twelve miles distant,
rather than take lodgings for the night
with Burnett and his ''old woman''-even
though age had rendered them helpless
and infirm for any thing but the legiti-
mate business to which they now confined
themselves.
1t became my cusyom to 60 over to the
tavern about once or twice a month for
the chance Of meeting with some passing
guest from whom / could hear news of the
outer world, or perhaps, make purchases
of clothing and provisions. Indeed, it was
upon this source that the Burnett's de-
pended for most of their supplies, especi-
ally in winter, They were not lazy, but
singularly improvident, raising no stock,
and keeping but q COW aud few chickens
which yielded them milk and eggs; whilst
for meal, bacon, potatoes, and the like
staples they trusted either to their neigh
bors or the passing provision wagons. They
were very close in their dealings, always
giving as little and taking as much as
they could, and, indeed, it was their inor-
dinate greed of money which most dis
liked in the old couple. l was willing, in
view of their age and helplessness, to assist
them as far as could but disliked to
see them grinning and mumbling over tie
money paid, as though the very sight or
feel Of it were delight.
One cold, bleak day in January set out
for Knoxville, wishing to procure some
seeds and other things, in view Of the ap
preaching spring planting. My way lay
past the tavern, and seeing two strangers
in the yard tending their horses, whilst old
Burnett was chopping off the head of
tough old hen who must have been the an
cestress of dozen generations, pulled up
my own horse and stopped for brief chat.
The travellers, found, were going my way,
and only waited for the promised chicken,
and bacon and dried peas to resume their
journey and for the sake of company,
agreed to wait and ride with them, And
partly to be sociable and partly because I
liked, as have said, to do the old people
any little help in my power, I requested to
have dinner served for me along with the
others.
It was poor repast enough, as even old
Burnett had the grace to acknowledge,
though he refused To a6ate cent Of the
exhorbitant charge. 1t was not his fault,
he said, that the dinner was not better.
His provisions were nearly out, and be and
his old woman were depriving themselves
for our sakes of what they would likely
need, unless those wagons came along to
morrow or the next day. And there was
his boy Jack, had only two days ago ran
off with Yankee peddler, and the COW had
not been home since, there being nobody
to fetc:, her from the meadows; and his
old woman down with the rheumatics as
helpless rs q newborn baby. In short he
was in a peck OF trouble, with everything
dependent ON his hands and we could not
have the conscience, seeing how things
stood, to expect him to charge less than he
had done, for even the poor meal he had
been able to give us. In fact, he doubted
if he was not doing i'll to part with any OF
his little remaining store of food for no
body knew but what bad weather might
set in and prevent the wagons from coming
ON. In that case there would be nothing
left but for him aud his old woman to
eat the cat.
AS lie spoke he laid his hand upon the
immense cat, which, with tail erect and
back arched, was stalking around the table.
rubbing against and clawing the legs OF the
guests. This creature was great favorite
with the old man, though disliked by his
wife, aud he was now evidently surprised
to observe that the cat, instead OF recipro-
eating his caresses, suddenly started from
his touch with . side-long spring, backed
into q corner aud there stood with its hair
all on end, and its great yellow eyes fixed
,,r,,r ,t. master With look that was almost