The Iola register., 1880-11-19

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would haye thought that boost of the
eow-catcher was jist clear good luck?
And you moped about with short
draw in your chist. and seemed bound
to be q grouty old man ir the chimney
corner that could niver lift stroke for
your childer, ah' you didn't see the good
luck. you know. Tim-but when the
President sent the bran new cow with
card tied to one horn.. an Connor
read it when he came home from
school: For Tim Mdgan, scho sGred the
train. Good luck to him" "-Lwasn't it
all right then? Now you are as good
as new, and our mooley is quiet as a
lamb, and if I was Queen Victoria her
sell she couldn't give any sweeter milk
for me. She's the born beauty" 81
Well, Connor was his mothers own
boy for making the most and the best
of everything, and he saw several items
of good luck this day.
First: The river had risen so near the
school-house that the desks and benches
were moved up between the tracks and
the school dismissed; therefore there
was perfect freedom to enjoy the ex-
citement of the occasion. It was as
good as move or q fire.
Second: There was SO much danger
that the track might be undermined
that all trains " ere stopped by order of
the railroad company; therefore his ia
ther was at liberty.
Third, and best of all: Larry OLA
herty, who lived up Bald Face Creek.
had lent him his skiff for the day. The
boys had an ecstatic time the evening
before, hauling in driftwood. Though
the coal barges had bright red lights at
their bows, and the steamboats, were
ablaze with green and red signals. and
blew their gruff whistles continually,
yet it was hardly safe to 60 far from
the shore at night because the Ripple
was so near. When the river was rising
the drift was driven close to land, while
falling it floated near the middle of the
river. Connor could see the food was
still rising, and there were possibilities
of splendid catch, for it was daylight,
and they could 60 where they pleased
with Larry's boat.
Father and son pushed out into the
river. Connor felt as if he owned the
world. Short sticks and slaves were
put in the bottom of the boat. Both
fishermen had long pole with a sharp
iron hook at the end with which, when
they came close to log, they harpoon-
ed it. Bringing it near, they drove a
nail into one end, and tying a rope
round the nail, they fastened their prize
to the stern of the boat. They took
turns rowing and spearing dr1ftwood;
and when the log-ieet swimming after
them became large, they went to shore
and secured it.
When the dripping logs were long
and heavy, it was the custom to fasten
them with the rope close to a stake in
the bank, and leave them floating. At
low water they were left high and dry
on the sand.
No other drift-wood gatherers med
died with such logs. They were con-
sidered as much private property as if
already burning on the hearth.
I'm going up the hill to feed the
COW, Connor," said his father, after a
great deal of wood of every size and
shape had been landed. mind what
you are about, and take care of Larry's
GIN of boat. 1t was mighty neigh
borly to lind it for the whole day. See
now, how much drift you can pick up
by yourself"
Connor felt the responsibility, and
worked diligently. He had twice |
taken load to shore, and was quite far
again in the stream, when he saw a
strange sight. 1t was not Moses in the |
bulrushes, to be sure-but a child in a |
wicker wagon. floating down the cur
rent amid q lot of sticks and branches. |
The hoarse whistle of steamboat near |
meant danger; and TO the eye of Connor |
the baby-craft seemed but q little above |
the water, and to be slowly sinking.
Connor's shout rang back from the
Kentucky hills as if it came from the
throat of an engine.
No one answered.
There were great logs between his
skif and the child-logs and child were
all moving together. Should he aban-
don Larry's precious boat?
Connor could not consider this. He
plunged into the water and swan round
The logs. He never knew how he did
the never knew how he cut his hand
he never felt the pounding of the
Ogs-he only knew that he caught the
wagon, kept those black eyes above the
water. and pulled the precious freight
20 shore. Then, while the water was
streaming from him in every direction,
,e sprang up the few steps to his
nother's cabin, and without word
placed the child, still in the wagon, in
tide the door!
Running back as swiftly as his feet
would carry him, Connor had the good
uck to find the deserted boat close to
Ihore, jammed in a mass of drfft-wood,
ust in the turn of the Ripple.
Dragging it up and along the shore,
le fastened it to o fisherman's stake
ust by Twinrip. Then Connor felt he
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