The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-09-26

from the east ke,f across the mountains 10
the then great West A son Of his in af>
ter years was heard to relate the follows
ing anecdote. He, the son. had started
to Kentucky alone, q mere stripping.
Almost on the summit Of the Allegheny
mountain stood noted tavern, where he
stopped for the night, amid crowd Of
wayfarers. The landlord was agreeable
and laxative, and had q good word for
every one. Our youth. an entire stran-
ger, sat silent to himself, until the land,
lord observed him. and registers not then
being in use. be kept the record in his
own head, and inquired the maine, resi-
dence and destination Of his young guest;
learning which, he exclaimed. "WbatI
q son of that honest old Taylor that kept
the mill on the roadf Why. l used to
drive nv wagon along that road for
many years, and bought grain uO "L.-a
else. when could get it of him. We
wagoners would drive for miles without
food, to get to his mill, where we were
always sure Of honest dealing. In fact,
he was known all along the road as
honest old Taylor at the mill" The
right-minded reader can well imagine the
feelings Of the young wayfarer at this
encomium upon his meek and modest old
sire.
This old .ire's wife wssas unlike him
except in honest integrity and unbounded
benevalence, as it was possible for two
minds to be. Astounding in good-hu-
mored wit, she was always remarkable
for her great social qualities. Her mother
had lived to the extraordinary age Of
ninety odd years, and the tenacious men,
orie Of these two women is q remarka-
bic illustration Of how the unwritten his |
tory Of country can be transmitted from
generation to generation. Some are yet |
living VINO used, in their childhood. to
hear old Mrs. Taylor relate incidents of
English history even as far back as
Cromwell, which was aNerward fully |
corroborated in their after reading Of the
the written history Of that country-yet /
this was all mere traditional lore.
But her kind-hearted benevoIence was
the leading feature Of her character, and
that it was not always bestowed in vain.
the following story will illustrate: At
their mill daily assembled men and boys
from far and near, awaiting their turns.
It was her constant ain 10 walk down to
the mill daily withrs loaf OF bread and
knife in hand, and cut and distribute TO
each hungry urchin that was minus a
dinner. Among these WAS ragged.
orphan bound boy. who never escaped
her eye, aud was frequently taken to the
house, aud fed TO his hearts content, and
many were the garments belonging to
some OF her own boys that covered his
shivering limbs. Stackhouse was his
same, but the community would not al
low him the whole Of the only thing he
had inherited from his parents, and
4
up under oppression and wrong, and bis
first feeling and instinct was to retalia;e
on society. Shrewd. daring and active,
be WAS soon selected by old, hardened
Villains, and became an expert accom-
plice in horse-stealing, and from bis
knowledge OF the country could skulk
and hide in the spurs of the North
Mountains, and steal almost every horse
that he choose, and transfer him to q
regular band Of horse thieves that was
supposed to extend TO South Carolina
and Georgia. The people of Frederick
and adjoining counties were thus annoy
ed for years. until the governor ordered
the militia authorities to call out suf- |
fcient force to thoroughly scour the
country and take Stack and his accom-
plices dead or alive. Richard and Thos. |
Taylor were among those detailed for
that purpose. They took their range for
Exploration, and separated to meet again |
at designated point Thomas soou saw
smoke and approached it cautiously. lie
saw Stack busily engaged in jerking, or
drying the choice portions Of mutton
he had stolen the night before. But at
this critical moment Thomas trod upon
stick, which broke and gave the alarm.
A race ensued, each with his rifle in
hand, and little was gained or lost BY
either. Il was rather far for certain
aim, and to fire without effect was plsc-
ing him at the mercy OF his advisory. for
guns in those days shot but once without
reloading. Stack, however, was app
preaching precipitous hillside. which.
il once gained, would hide him from
sight Thomas raised his gun while
running, determined to FIRE at the first
open range, but again was 50 unfortunate
as to have his foot entangled 10 q vine.
which threw him to the ground, and, on
arising, his intended victim had sudden
" disappeared, and notwithstanding the
most diligent search was made, no trace
Of him could be found.
Stack, for q time, was driven from the
country. but returned at intervals to his
old haunts, still persuing his criminal
life until caught. tried and condemned.
While in prison Thomas visited him, and
on referring to their race. inquired how
he had so mysteriously disappeared, to
which he replied: II was near the
mouth Of my den when you fell and i'm
mediateIy lodged into IT, The entrance
was so concealed that perhaps no mortal
but myself ever discovered 1t. Several
times while you we're hunting round,
seeking my life, you came within the
range Of my good rife. Once it was
aimed at you, and my finger on the Gig-
ger, but I thought oil YOUR good old