The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-07-02

fellow III wooden shirt, re.
Piled Eyer can't get nothin' here, an you bet
ter Clar out"
I'D be much obliged for anything" said I,
"a bit Of bread Or"
Now, thar amt no use yer staining thar
and arguing" the tavern keeper answered,
"clar out and let me be-"
l was IN earnest, and internally hungry. He
was closing the shutter | threw all the feel
ing | could master into my voice:
Hold on said |; II want to get in. want
to speak to you. I'll give you a dollar if
you'll come down and let me in"
The shutter banged, and l stood there ig
norant of the effect of what l had said. l
moved away to get full view Of the tavern.
Soon there was numbering noise indoors that
told me had disturbed the old mountaineer,
If nothing more. In an instant the lower half
of the old.fashioned double door swung in
ward, and the tavern keepers voice grutfiy
babe me to "Come in" l didn't half like
that. bent double, and saw nothing but alb
solute darkness ahead.
"Open the whole door," said when stood
up inside the room.
mo, l won't" said he, as he moved heavily
away into the thick of the darkness While
he walked away from me | hastily told him
of my hunger and my loss Of way. He snapped
out few words to the effect that | couldn't
get anything to eat and I'd better "git long"
got accustomed to the darkness. saw the
faint outlines of table, stool, and of a coun-
ter, the top of which was about even with my
chin.
Got anything to drink" asked.
"Mebbe," said my host.
Sell me drink ?"
dunno why | should" SAID the man; ~
haint sold no one nothin' for nigh on to six
md hnf hot ,inh 10 u,p
years. Fore that used to sell mOre'n you
ever see."
said nothing saw 1t did no good to say
anything.
Thar said the old fellow, lifting big
wicker covered, dustcOated demljohn upon
the bar, and removing the cork from Its neck
waited fol- glass.
go. glass ?" asked presently.
"Hain't that good enough for yer?"
Eyes; but I'd spill half of 1t if | tried to
drink out of it." 1t weighed about twenty
five pounds, and its mouth was q foot higher
than nine.
Take the dipper," said the tavern keeper
"Where is it?" asked.
"'Round, l guess" he answered at used
to be, somewheres."
ally hit the dipper with my foot. held 1t
said so.
"By -" said my host; Thought you
wanted drink What air you, anyhow
King of Peerew, and got to have Chayney
teacup? Reckon you'd better drink out'n tibet
thar dipper, else git long. Fust drink'll wash
it out good enough"
l rubbed the dipper with my fingers and
banged it on the heel of my shoe. Finally
mopped 1t with clean handkerchief Then
poured three fingers OF the liquid from the
demjohn into it.
tasted the stuff Then took mouthful ;
then finished what was IN the dipper.
Here, if was as modest as should be, this
story ought to end. can't begin to describe
that whisky 1t had the aroma of flowers, the
nutty taste of rare sherry, the softness of cor.
sinlan gold.
Can taste that AGAIN." l asked.
II reckon So" SAID my host.
won't you drink =" l asked
"Mebbe," SAID he, lifting the demIjohn and
drinking from its mouth.
had no warning of its strength; 1t didn't
taste like whisky. 1t tell INTO the tin Upper
with sound of music; it melted on the pal
ate like strained honey; it sutfused ones
physical system with the first feelings that in
hailed ether provokes.
"Oughter be sorler middling good" said the
old tavern keeper "It's been IN that demi
john twenty years or more How do you like
ltr
He poured another drink into the dippcr.
He drank again, himself
Never had tasted the real stuff before
came back that way within day or two
and l managed to worry away from that old
recluse enough Of his whisky to fill cham
payne bottle. 1t was hard work to get 1t, and
the old man demanded two shillngs" for It,