The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-08-15

our vlliokes was unouk tuc utSt ~
ioin IL; bat / should not. on this a.
count, claim any extraordinary enthu-
siasm on the subject Of archery, for
nearly all the ladies and gentlemen Of
the place were also among the first to
join.
Few of us, think, had correct idea
of the popularity Of archery in our
midst. until the subject Of = club was
Then We all perceived what
q strong interest we felt In the study
and use OF the bow and arrow. The
club was formed Immediately. and our
thirty members began to discuss the
relative merits Of lancewood. yew and
greenheart bows. and to survey yards
and lawns for suitable spots for setting
up targets for home practice
Our weekly meetings. At which We
came together to show. in friendly con-
test, how much our home practice had
taught US, were held upon the village
green. or rather upon what had been
Intended to be the village green. This
pretty piece Of ground, partly in smooth
lawn, and partly shaded BY fine trees,
was the property Of gentleman of the
place, who had presented it, under Ger
tain conditions, to the township. But
Is the township had never fulfilled any
Of the conditions. and had done nothing
toward the improvement of the spot,
further than to make il grazing place
for local cows and goats, the owner had
withdrawn bis gift, shut out the cows
and goats by picket-fence, and having
locked the gate. had hung up the key
in bis barn. When our club was form
ed. the green, As il was still called, was
offered to Us for our meetings, and with
proper gratitude, we elected its owner
to be our president.
This gentleman was eminently quail
fled for the presidency Of an archery
club. In the first place, he did not
shoot: this gave him time and oppor-
tunity tn attend to the shooting Of 9TH
ers. He was tall and pleasant man,
. little elderly This "elderl;ness," Il
i may 50 pct il, seemed In his case to
resemble some mild disorder, like .
gentle rheumatism. which, while Il pre-
vented him from indulging in al the
wild hilarities of youth, gave him. IN
compensation. . position, A. one emit
tied n certain consideration, which
was very agreeable to him. His little
disease was chronic. il Is true, and it
was growing upon him, but 1t wass %
far, pleasant ailment-
soon found myself greatly interested
in archery. especially when l succeeded
in planting an arrow somewhere within
the periphery OF the target; but never
became such an enthusiast in bow-shoot'
ing Is my friend Pepton.
II Pepton could have arranged mat
ters to suit himself, he would have beer
born an archer; but - this did not hap
pen to have been the case, he employee
every means in his power 10 rectfy wha
be considered this serious error In hi
construction. He gave his whole soul
and the greater part Of his spare time
10 archery, and as be was young nal
Of energy. this helped him along won
derfully.
His equipments were perfect; no on
could excel him in this respect. Hi
bow was snake-wood, backed with hick
ory. He carefully rubbed IL down ever
evening with oil and bees-wax, and II too
it, repose in . green baize bag. His 81
rows were Philip Highfeld's best; b
strings the finest Flanders hemp H
hsd shooting-gloves, and he had littl
leathern tips. that couldbe screwed IA
on the ends Of what he called bis strinf
fingers He had CULVER and bel
and when equipped for the weekly NEE
incs, he carried q fancy colored wipin
tassel. and = little ebony grease-p o
hanging from his belt He wore, whe
shooting, polished arm-guard {
bracer, and IL be had heard of any thin
else that an archer should have,
straightway would have procured t.
Pepton was single man, and be i've
with two good old maiden ladies, wi
took ~ much care Of him As Il they b
been his mothers. And he was such
good, kind fellow that be deserved Z
the attention they gave him. They fe
agreat interest in his archery pursuit
and shared his anxious solicitude in u
selection Of . suitable place TO hang }
bow.
"You See" said he, - fine bow III
this, when not in use, should always
in perfectly dry place"
"And when in use, too,s said Mi
Martha; for I am sure that "
oughn't to be standing and shootiI
in any damp spot. There's no mrer VI
Of gettin' chilled"
To which sentiment Miss Mar
agreed, and suggested wearing rubb
shoes, or having board 70 stand o
when the club met after rain....-.-...
One afternoon, As was passing d
old ladies' house, saw, or thought
saw, two men carrying In q coffin.
was struck with alarm.
sWhati- thought, +" can either
those good women Or, can Pc
tOn---pn
Without . moments hesitation,
rushed 10 behind the men, There,
the foot 81 the stairs, directing thel