The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-08-10
in THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.

IN THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.
'What do you keep him forP'' queried
Ned Edwards as his companion fastened
the dog kennel with a wooden button,
after having given its occupant his even
ing meal and a goodnight petting.
He's certainly of no use, and must be
good deal of trouble"
Yes, Ae's of no use,'' replied Jim
Harrington, q but the time was when
old Major was my best friend and could
well earn his living, and it's only fair to
care for him in his old age now / viii
not give him away for fear that he may
be abused, and | never could get up
enough courage to shoot the poor fell
lowr'
=" But why do you lock him upP" con-
tinued Ned. No one win steal him"
That's true" laughed his comrade,
but strange as it may seem the old
rascal has lately taken notion to run
away, and 50 to keep him out of danger
/ built that kennel and shut him in -
The boys were at the gate now, and
Ned turned down the road toward
home.
"YOu won't forget the match Satur-
day afternoonr' called Jim after him;
on the lower meadow at two o'clock
sharp. The Swampville Club have got
new pitcher, and we've got to work
hard to beat them"
"All right! I'll be on handr' shout
ed Ned, in reply, land the Beelhen
Hill Stars will beat the Swampville
chaps two to onci You'll see! Good
night "
Thursday, Friday, Saturday. School
at last was over. and in the warm June
sunlight the rival ball players gathered
in the lower meadow for the long talked
of game whieh should decide the re,a-
tive merits of the adjoining towns.
Upon this momentous occasion the
Swampville Rockets were attired in
suits of white, with brilliant red belts,
reminding one of circingles. while the
redoubtable Beechen Hill STARS
wore simple blue. With the PLAYERS
came great crowd of spectators and
camp followers upon either side, both
boys and dogs; and after the usual
skirmishing for innings, the necessary
amount of shouting, and the issuance of
innumerable orders from the respective
" Captains to their "men, - the game
began.
1t was long and hard fought battle.
The question was not i'll this case, as in
some champion tournaments, how small
a score one party could limit the other
to, but the rather how great a number
firing.
IL was during the first inning that q
new spectator appeared upon the field,
in old Major, who had somehow es-
capped from his kennel, and, attracted
by the distant shouting, came slowly
trOtting down the road. His master
observed him and called to him. but the
old dog was wary, fearing to lose the
freedom just gained, and took position
at one side of the field, within sight
of the players, but also within easy
reach of the cranberry swamp which
lay back of the meadow, so that retreat
might be open to him in case he was
pursued. But his young master had
weightier matters upon his mind than
the capture of the runaway, and Major
remained undisturbed at his post as the
play went on.
The final struggle began. Every move
of the one party was anXiOusly watched
by the other, and it soon became evil
dent to the ''ins' that whatever runs
they made must be earned. One, two
men were out, and not single tally
had been scored when Jim Harrington
went to the bat He was one of the
best members of the STARS" and the
entire club took heart as they saw the
resolute look upon his face as he grasped
his shoulder in waiting for the coming
ball.
Jim won't miss!' cried some of his
more enthusiastic friends, eagerly.
Hes sure to make one run, anyway.
There she goesr'
True enough, at that instant Harring-
ton knocked, and the ball was seen fly
ing high through the air. fairly passing
the limits of the meadow, and falling
L. 10 .1.,l
bushes that fringed the cranberry
swamp.
A great shout arose, half a dozen
Rockets" shot away in pursuit and
fixed back and forth among the tan
gled vines searching in hot hast for the
hidden ball, while Harrington, with
wonderful speed. ran from base TO base
until he had reached the full limit, six
runs, when the cry of g lost ball3' in
tarrupted everything, and all the play
ers, both ''ins - and " outs" Joined in
the effort to find it.
But with no success. for, after twenty
minutes of tramping 70 and fro, the
Captain of the a. Stars cried mo gon'
and sorrowfully the two clubs gathered
again about the scorer stand.
1--WE ought to have brought another
ball, ," said one.
Eyes, but it's too late to 60 for il
now" replied another.
"Shall we call it draw?' said a
Rocket"
No, sir For we would have beaten
You if the game had been played out, -
returned STAG
We must put the matter over for a
week, said Charlie MARROW, Of the Wis
ting club, land You fellows come and
play it out with Us.
NO replied Ned Edwards, 1.-the