The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-02-12

to death. The most dangerouses
thing [ ever hearn tell Of around here
was when some neighbors O mine tha
lived about sixteen mile off set out tt
hunt up their cattle-a woman, t was
an her son. They each tux thar guns
an set out"
Did the woman know how to shoot
a gun, too?" | rashly queried.
"Shoot? ?-Like smoke! That what
I'm tellin' ye-She was standin' of
thro' the woods, some distance from
her son, when she noticed there was q
motion in the leaves not far from him
an lookin' sharp she saw what it was
a painter jus wigglin' it's tail an
crouchin', to spring on her boy. She
was the coolest, spryest hand you ever
see. She levelled her gun-ker-bang
An the painter jumped an rolled an
bit the dust. She killed him dead as a
door-nail, that woman did; shot him
right thro'!"
''Pa, you might tell about the time
the wolves got after you," said the
gentle voice Of Miss Sarah from the
bed. Miss Alexander seems to like
to hear about adventures.
THAT didn't happen here, that was
on my trip to North Car'liny," said
the old man, wiping his mouth again
with his leathery palm. Il spec Miss
Alexander's gifts tired O my long sto-
ries, any how"
Being most cordially assured to the
contrary, mine ancient gossip laid
aside his bashfulness and began.
1--WE came here from North Car liny,
in the fust place-from near Raleigh;
an after we'd been here a year or two,
| was 'bleeged to go back to see bout
some property my uncle had lef' me,
an some O the other nieces and nep-
hews was tryin' to june me out Of
My cousin was with me that year-a
likely boy, about eighteen-an' | left
him in keer O the place an the folks,
an got on a horse I'd bought year
back, with some saddle bags an pro-
visions, an set off in bee-line for
home. | got along all right, the first
o the journey, an got to a house for
the first nights sleep; but the next
day | got kind O turned out O my
course, on account of skeer O Iniuns,
an when night came | was off in the
woods alone. ] got off my horse an
rubbed him down, an as well as |
could calc'late was sixteen mile from
any place O shelter, an about two an
a half off n the reg'lar road. My
horse was good un, an he would
astood it, thought, but he was some
tired, an SO was |, so | made up my
mind to camp out that night, an was
just unloosin my saddle bags, when |
noticed how uneasy my ole horse was.
He twitched his ears back an forth,
an snuffed, an fell tremblin' an I
bent my ear down an listened, an
hardened, an by an by | caught it-a
far away sound O wolves in chase. |
knew thar want no time to lose then,
so up on the horses back, an jerked
up the rein, an off we went like the
breeze | never took breath to listen
'twell I'd put five miles an more be-
tween me an that spot. Then I
brought the ole horse down, an lis
tened. In minute [ caught the cry,
an we was off again, on pretty fair
road just then, an goin' for all we had
to lose Mile on mile we went, an
ever an on we hearn. them beasts
gittin' nearer an nearer, an ever an
on I knew my horse was goin' what
he couldn't keep on at. At last they
come in sight, an my poor horse was
most crazy with fear an trouble, an
cen about spent. He kept on, an |
got out my pistols, and turned in the
saddle. They were getting close. 1t
was moonlight, an | saw the moon
shine on the whites O their eyes, an
saw their ugly black shadows chasin'
after 'em. Thar was one big feller in
front [ KEEP my eye on, an as he
gained on us, | took aim an fired, an
he stumbled clean over hiself an fell
dead. | gave 'em the tother, an they
halted for little; an just then | saw
ahead the place | was maxim for-an
old deserted cabin that stood by the
side Of the road. [ cheered up my
horse, an, he hearn me like human,
an on he drove, an on them fellers
come after US, an one jumped ON my
horses flank; I dealed him one lick
with my whip that knocked him off
Just in time, an | rode at the door O
that cabin an busted it in, an dashed
inside, horse an all. As I jumped
off'n the horse an flung myself back
to try an bolt the door, | hearn a great
ugh! Ughr' an up from the floor O
the cabin rose ag inst me big lnjun
that had been asleep thar! Lucky for
me, he was a friendly one, an as sharp
S brier, too. He understood III a
minute, an helped me bar the door,
not minute too soon neither; an we
made the old place tight, an tended
to the horse, an staid there safe all
night. [ slept, too, like a baby, in
spite of all their bowling noises; an
next day the Injun an me set off to-
gether, an | got on all straight after
that. an home agin, safe, too, you
see."
The old lady, who had been listen
ing calmly all through, without one
sparkle in her eye, or one movement
in her chair, now took her pipe from
, her mouth, and said abruptly, as she
always did:
'Silas, gi' Miss Alexanders then
locusts | had picked up for her last
time the wind blew so hard. Whar'c c
you put 'em?"
| The old man got up and hobbled
out at the door.
Mas remembered you said yor
: hadn't had none since you were LITTLE
? girl, and she wants you to have some
5 now, Miss Sarah gently explained.
5 why, Mrs. Gray, how kind in you!'
| said Il had forgotten that | tol(
: you, but | remember now, you sale
there was locust tree down the road
= and told VOL of those lncuSts / tastel