The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-12-06
PIG.

to us the following story:
Quite number of years ago, while a
very young man, being fond of adven-
ture, sought and obtained an appoint
ment as deputy United States timber
agent, a position less dangerous than
that of deputy marshal, but which,
after all, served my purpose in that
line. A few DAYS after my appoint
ment l received instructions to go up
White river, near the headwaters of
that beautiful stream, and stop the
wholesale" telling of cedar timber on
Government lands. | was warned
against making any show of authority,
as the people who made their living by
robbing the Government were reckless
if not desperate. After a long and tire
some journey | reached the neighbor-
hood of my destination, but | soon re-
cognized the fact that not half of my
difficulties had been surmounted, for
although the land from which the tim
ber was being cut was easily found, yet
the men who were doing the work could
not be so easily identified. 1t seemed
that every stranger was regarded with
suspicion, and that his approach was
heralded in that rapid and mysterious
manner so characteristic of mountain
people. For several days | wandered
around hopelessly, but at last | came
upon quite an intelligent man, Captain
Tempney, who seemed willing to give
me information. | accepted an invita-
ton to visit his home a rude log house
built in little vale and covered with
wild vines.
''Jes' come an see me an make your
self at home You needn't look aroun'
for style, for you won't find it. Here
PIG, bring us some fresh water" The
last remark was addressed to a girl
about eleven years old. She had the
brightest eyes | ever saw, and her
pretty face, peeping from under her
richness of glowing hair, reminded me
of q moss rose. She took up the water
pail, and humming wild tune, disap-
peared.
My wife's been dead for long
time" said the captain, ''an' me an
Pig live alone"
'sWhy do you call that beautiful child
Pig" | asked. 1T strikes me that
Wlld-Flower would be better name" "
Her right name is Josephine. When
she was little thing | got in the habit
of calm her Pig an have kept it up.
Here. have some fresh water. Only
have 10 90 to the corner of the house
for stream pours out of the bluff
Pig, have we got anything to eatP"
''Some cold 'possum an potatoes,
she replied.
"Fond o 'possum?"
Very" replied and few moments
later we were sitting around the table
engaged in discussing repast which, l
think, for a hungry man, could not
have been excelled. After the meal
the captain went out to look after the
few head of stock which he owned,
leaving PIG to entertain me.
''Do you like to live here" l asked,
not knowing what else to say.
Il never have lived anywhere else,
she replied.
did you ever 90 to school?'
mot much, but | learned how to
read. Would you like to hear me
read?''
replied that | would, and she took
down worn copy of the New Testa-
ment and began to read. Even her
mistakes were beautiful. | have heard
bLIaNliClS anu DIOlCSclOhit CIOSu-
tioniSts read the Bible, but never before
had the simple story of Christ seemed
so charming. She finished reading,
and, seating herself in a rocking chair
made of small hickory saplings, she
began to knit and hum her wild tune.
| asked her to sing, and she did sing
beautifully, and as l sat looking at her
in fixed admiration, l unused that my
escape from love affair was only
caused by the fact that she was child
''What is your name?" she asked.
"William Rockford"
I'm have to call you Boots, for /
can't remember your name, but | can
always see your boots, pointing to the
high-top cavalry boots | wore. May
l call you Mr.. Boots?"
Yes
''Well, l will" she continued, ''Mr.
Boots are you goin' to live here all the
time?n
No, | shall go away after while. !"
AN never come back any more?"
Perhaps l shall come back to see
YOU
when I'm a grown young lady?"
Yes"
1hat wiz pe long llne, Dut won
forget you, for | ike you better than
any body that ever came here
Although she was a little child, vet
know that blushed. for looking up
quickly, she said: Il make you turn
red, don't 1? Here's papa"
Now in regard to your business
said the captain. You'll have to be
mighty perticuler. The men that are
doin' that devilment are mighty bad
citizens, an when they find that you
want to take their livin' away from
them, they'll fight you.
Il have not come to make arrests.
A great many of the men are doing
this work through ignorance of the