The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-29

getting beard upon his lips, while the
other three had nothing marked about
them rs "bulhes;" indeed, the Oldest
was meek, rather lantern jawed and Ca
daverous looking. giving no prospect
whatever OF fighting, hardly in self
defense.
Puzzled then, and anxious, the
Squire hit upon notable and ingenious
test OF manhood, one which seems to
have been original with himself, for,
somehow, he had come to think that
STRONG stomach meant plucky and
strong man; and he could only satisfy
himself IN one way on that score.
"Hog-kiiling time" having come, he
one day set his four sons down to so
many pounds of raw, fat pork apiece,
determined that he who could gorge the
most of it must inherit the honors of the
house. Unfortunately for his expert
ment, however, the lean and cadaver-
ous-looking elder son put away a
pound more of the meat than either
of the other more Chunky" brothers.
Notwithstanding this test of game
ness" he showed no inclination to be-
come a bruiser, and the old Squire
feared the honors of his house were de-
parted, never to return.
Let me hasten to say, however, that
in this he was agreeably disappointed,
for at the time L was at the quarterly
meeting the young one, the veritable
"chip of the old block" in appearance,
was industriously thrashing every body
that crooked a finger at him in his own
as well as the neighboring counties,
proving that the old gentleman's
diagnosis of bullyism had proven indeed
a signal failure. But even in his "con-
verified" state, if he was reminded that
Andy had cleaned out" Bob Jones on
"court day." while he indeed grunted
out something about the "sinfuilness"
OF SO doing, his eyes s parked, and
the crisp iron-gray locks on his round
head seemed to bristle in sympathy.
The quarterly meeting over and the
hospitality of these really kind people
earnestly and warmly acknowledged, a
trip further south and still somewhat
parallel with the Big Sandy river gave
me the chance of further experiences in
observing the simple habits, and noting
the limited resources of the people.
Overtaken by the darkness one evening
as was making my way on horseback,
as customary, down deep and narrow
valley studded with patches of corn
here and there, 1 at last happened upon
a cabin, miserably small and poor, and
inhabited by an old couple, and their
daughter about 16. With nothing for
supper when 1 arrived except milk, of
which article they seemed to have
good supply, it was matter of real in
terest, apart from the special interest
in the chance of supper, to see how
little nonplussed they were, and with
what hearty good will they set about
making me comfortable. With fresh
wood from the clearing" close by,
rousing fire was soon blazing in the
ample log chimney, and with my horse
blanketed and consigned to fence
corner in the yard with good supply
of corn and "fodder"-(dried leaves of
the corn)-I had nothing to do but to
look on at the preparations for some
thing to eat.
There was no flour or meal in the
cabin-as already intimated-but, with
a wide-awake activity which reminded
one of the feats of a gymnast, the young
girl flew around, procured some corn
and all turned in to shellingit; and then
she knelt on the floor beside couple of
millstones about foot in diameter, and
with horizontal motion whirled out
two or three quarts of corn meal with
dizziness pleasant to look upon. Speedily
consigning it to kettle over the fire,
the result was q dish of "mush and
milk fit for anybody; and retired to
my rough couch made of sticks driven
into the logs of the cabin, and
covered with split oak boards and clean
Oat straw and quilts, impressed anew
with the reflection of how simple at
least are the wants of those who have
been accustomed to limiting their de-
sires, and see but little to envy in others.
The only regret expressed was that 1
had not happened to stop with Squire
Bentley, up the valley, whose house l
had passed, for he is rich; and when /
questioned the old man as to "what
made riches there -" why" was the re-
ply, "he is worth at least thousand
dollars"
The enlightened and reflective reader
may, perhaps, wonder what constituted
"hfe"-enjoyment-for these people, so
Largely isolated from the outside world,
shut into these narrow valleys by high
mountains and bad roads! Of course,
their amusements mere imited-it will
hardly do to put preaching among
these-I would intimate once more
although, if an outsider could have seen
them pouring out by twos and threes on
horseback from the valleys, to gather at
some log chapel of Sunday morning
boys and young women with theirfaces
shining with excitement, they would be
compelled to think something unusually
pleasing was on understanding more
stirring than grave discourses on alb
struse doctrinal points, hard to compre-
bend.
At one of these gatherings, where
had Glanced to spend the Sabbath, the
meeting being held in the house was
stopping at-will it be believed-the
little congregation, hearing from my
host that L had O flute in my saddle
bags, must needs have few airs, having
all but one or two never heard or
seen such an instrument beforel