The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-08-01

horses who had been bewildered among
the cattle tracks, and who had wandered
for two or three days among woods and
cane-brakes until he was almost famished.
Old Shultz brought him to his house, fed
him on bears meat, venison and hominy,
and at the end of the week put him in
prime condition. The peddler could not
sufficiently express his thankfulpess, and
when about to depart. enquired what he
had to pay. Old Shultz stepped back
with surprise. STRANGER" said he. you
have been welcome under my roof.
have given you nothing but wild meat
and hominy. because l had no better,
but have been glad of your company.
You are welcome to stay as long as you
please, but by POUNDS when any one of
fers to pay Simon ShSltz for food he
ofIends him, SO saying he walked out in
huff.
The peddler admired the hospitality Of
his host, but could not reconcile il to his
conscience TO go away without making
some recompense There was Simon's
two daughters, two STRIPPING red-haired
girls. He opened his packs and displayed
riches before them of which they had no
conceptions, for in those days there were
no country stores in those parts of the
wilderness. They were for time com-
plctely puzzled and knew not what to
choose but what caught their eyes were
two looking-glasses, about the size Of a
dollar, set in gilt tin. They had never
seen the like before, having used no other
mirror than pail of water. The peddler
presented these two jewels without hesi>
tation. nay, he calamity hung them
around their necks with red ribbons, ais
most as fine as the glasses themselves.
This done he took his departure, leaving
them as much sstonished As two princess
es, in a fairy tale that have received
magic gift from an enchanter.
It was with those looking-glasses. hung
|
ribbons, that old Shultz's daughters made
their appearance at three o'clock in the
afternoon, at the frolic at Bob Moseleys 8,
on the Pigeon Roost Fork of Muddy.
BY the powers. il was an EVENT. Such
thing had never before been seen in
Kentucky. Bob Tarleton, a strapping
fellow with head like chestnut bur,
and look like hog in an apple orchard
stepped up, caught hold Of one of the
looking glasses Of one of the girls, and
gazing at it for moment, cried out 4:
Joe Taylor, come here! I'll be darned
il Polly Shultz amt got locket that you
can see your face in as clear as in u
spring Of water"
In a twinkling all the young hunters
gathered around the Shultz daughters.
I, who knew what looking-glssses were,
did not bulge. Some Of the girls who
sat near me were excessively mortified
at finding themselves deserted. heard
Peggy Pugh say to Sally Pigman, good
ness knows it's well Shultz's daughters
has got them things around their necks,
for its the first time the young men ever
crowded around them.
saw Immediately the danger Of the
case. We were small community, and
could not afford to be split up by feuds.
So l stepped up to the girls and whispered
to them: polly" said l, "these lockets
are very fine. and become you amazingly.
but you don't consider that the country is
not far enough advanced in these parts
for such things. You and ! understand
such matters. but these people don't
Fine things like these may do very well
in the old settlement, but they won't an
swer at the Pigeon Roost on the Fork of
the Muddy. You had better lay them
aside for the present or we shall have
no peace"
Polly and her sister saw their error !
they took off the lockets and laid them
aside, and harmony was restored, or
otherwise, l verify believe there would
have been an end to our community.
Indeed, notwithstanding the great sacri,
fee they made on this occasion, do not
think old Simon Shultz's daughters were
very much liked afterwards among the
young women. This is the first time the
looking-glasses were ever seen in the
Green river part of Kentu cky.
With this celebrated party, we will
have to close Ralph's narrative, as it
would be too great DEPRESSION TO follow
him on his visit TO the more civilized
portion Of the State. when, in desperation
he stole kiss from beautiful young
girl whom he had never seen or spoken
to, and resolved on studying law. married
the girl /; soon succeeded at the bar, and
redeemed his pledge to his sister, never
to return until he came back member
Of Congress from Kentucky.
Gov. WIN. P. Duyall, the Ralph Ring
wood Of the foregoing narrative, was the
owner Of lands lying in Ohio county. and
used to frequently visit Hartford. His
visits were perfect ovation, crowds
would gather around him, for his CONVEX
sation abounded in wit, humor and anec-
dotes, and some Of the older citizens still
recollect hearing him relate most of the
/ incidents which we have given, and the
whole of the individuals named were well
known among the early settlers, there
. only being an error in the given name,
Of two or three individuals.
: His frierd and patron, John Miller
= was the came man who was mentioned in
= Stephen Stateler's narrative, as having
his arm shivered by bullet from an
: Indian. Since writing that narrative, the
II L