Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-05-12

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burst out from behind cloud and shine
with all the fervor of midsumm er. We
soon settled into steady pace. We
presented, no doubt, a novel appear
ance to the rustics as we passed them
| by, for they all stopped work to gaze
upon US. One old lady, in particular
seemed to have her curiosity greatly
aroused. She was at work with hoe
in a beautiful meadow. AS soon as we
came IN sight, she ceased working,
leaned upon her implement and gazed
upon US in evident astonishment as we
passed along. When last seen, she
had only changed her position enough
to keep us in full view. We sincerely
hope we cast no permanent spell upon
her and that she remains not there to
this day.
Soon after starting. the Man OF Law,
for we had one among us,-began
his tale, or rather, his series OF tales
Never, l truly believe, has a young
fellow Of the same age met with so
many strange and stirring adventures.
The extent, the variety, the near hp-
proach to the marvellous yet the un'
doubted truth Of all was a source oil
wonder to US. Did we see some
beautiful scenery, the Man Of Law was
ready with a story suggested by it. DID
we see some wild and rough, that toe
called forth its Appropriate tale. We
saw not spring. nor q wood, but what
recalled to his fertile mind some Incl
dent connected with it. If one OF our
party Glanced to make few consecu-
tive remarks, another was sure to stop
him, on the plea that the Man of Law
was telling an interesting story which
he wanted to hear. Compared with the
freshness and simplicity Of his stories,
the classic ones of Ovid were but stale
and dry. In the regisn ofthe marvel
Gus. be outdid the wonders OF the Ara
bian Nights and proved himself the
equal Of Jules Verne. So much Tor the
Man Of Law.
The clouds dispersed after we had
walked a few hours, the sun shone hot
and bright, and the air became sultry
and oppressive. At this moment, a
rabbit crossed our path. One OF our
party was carrying a piece OF ordinance
Of curious workmanship. l know not
by what name 10 call it. 1t had four
barrels and was light enough to be
carried in the pocket. 1t was relic Of
the past.
When once the hammer was up, 1t
wanted to stay up, and would frequent
ly defy the united efforts Of several
parties to pull it down. 1 have, in
deed, seen its owner, in an extreme
case Of obstinacY. pick up large stone
and beat it down. 1t was very uncer-
tain. The rabbit stopped in the bushes
by the roadside. The Man OF Law
seized the weapon, aimed at the rabbit
and pulled the trigger. Fortunately
the hammer fell, the piece went of,
and so did the rabbit. The Man oi
Law declared he killed 1t. We challeng.
ed him to produce it. Instead OF this,
he poured out his eloquence of an hour
to persuade us he did. In vain. In
the absence of the dead rabbit, we were
incredulous, and the Man OF Law finally
turned to his host Of tales whose truth
was iudisputable. We resigned our
selves to fate and walked on.
We neared a place where the roads
forked. A by path leading over the
hills cut off a small portion. We asked
some small boys who were playing in q
small stream where it was. They
pointed it out to us. One OF our party,
whom l shall call G. inquired Of bright
looking boy, how far it was around the
road. 8 Three miles" replied the boy.
"How far across the fields ?"
1.-TWO miles and half"
"How much does the path cut of ?"
persisted G.. Tie boy gave q peculiar
kind of grunt, Grinhed, and answered
sharply: 81 guess you can calculate
that yourself"
G., subsidized, we roared and corus ol
small boys Joined in. Then G. lectured
us awhile on that intolerable creature,
the smart boy. He told US how he
hated the aforesaid smart boy, how he
intended to lick, thrash, and pound his
boys If they should turn out to be smar
ones. Aud wound up by saying he
could tell smart boy as soon as he
opened his mouth. G.. is irritable and
we soon desisted from teasing him.
AS we neared the Bridge, q thunder
storm came up. One Of our party was
giving out; but we encouraged him to
press on, He sat down doggedly and
refused to 60 further. We persisted
and he got up and we went on. Soon
after the storm passed around us.
About half a mile to the left oil the
Bridge. we encamped In a grove on q
hillside by the side of small stream
Here we pitched into our snack OF colo
ham and bread, canned salmon ant
soda.crackers, and made a hearty meal
IG. had been carrying the pistol as
shall call 1t for want of better name.
At the beginning of the report, he lai'
it on the ground and sat upon 1t. But
upon reflection upon its uncertainties
and fearing lest it should burst suddenly
: and blow him TO atoms, he took 1t VI
and laid it behind tree at some dis
tance from the party.
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