The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-09-05
THE LIVING BARRIER.

1t was pretty sight to see old
Uncle Jim, as he was called by every
one who Travelled the northern trail,
sitting in front of his house in the
aftenRoon in his great cane-bottomed
chatAkwith Aunt Polly alongide of him
in hers, the two holding each others
hand in the most unaffected and
simple way.
Uncle Jim kept the station at Indian
Well, and his house-as the rail was
great thoroughfare-was generally full
in the evenings with freighters, pack
ers, bull punchers," and those travel
ing for business or pleasure.
Outside the house his dominion was
complete, but inside Aunt Polly was
absolute, for as he said: "Polly n me
greed to split up tn bossin', an 1
never interferes; neither does she. 1t
conduces to peace, don't it, ole
woman?"
1t needed but glance to see that
nothing of this kind was necessary TO
keep peace between these two, for if
ever there was a couple who lived for
each other it was that one.
Every afternoon Uncle jim would
take his seat outside and light his
pipe, soon to be joined by Aunt Polly,
and there the two would sit, hand in
hand, looking out at the beautiful
scenery of Bald Peak canon. If any
one was there Uncle jim would tel
stories, while Aunt Polly listened,
lighting a match for him if his pipe
went ont, and when called upon giving
her testimony to his statements in her
soft voice and gentle way. used to
think the sight beautiful one, and
was never tired of watching them.
A story which Uncle Jim was never
tired of telling was that Of his court
ship. When he was young he had
lived on the border, and had there
wooed and won his pretty bride, for
Aunt Polly must have been very beau
tiful when she was young, judging
from her face when saw her. Often
as he told it, Aunt Polly never failed
to slightly bush and demonstrate at
one point, and as invariably Uncle Jim
would chuckle and then gravely ask
her pardon. But the story itself will
be more interesting than my talking
about how it was told.
"Long back in tn forties l were ez
strapping a young feller ez you c'uld
find on tn border, tho do say it my
self, ez Orter wait fur others to say
sich thing. In them days the border
line were tn western edge of Ioway,
an my OF father, Elder Richard John
son, had moved out little beyond tn
most of the settlers. In fac ther' wer
On'y one family further than ourn, and
that were the Beekmans. My POlly's
father wer' a curious kinder chap, an
he b'lieved eff he wer' nearer than
thirty mile to any one he wer' bein
desperit crowded. N them days
used t. farm leetle an hunt consid
er'ble, fur tn hull country wer' full o
game. We didn't make no count a
all of wild turkey nor prairie chicks
an deer wer' the smallest things W,
thought wuth givin' any one. N th
course O. my hunts l came cross tn
Beekman's cabin, an had talk will
tn OF man.
AN course he 'vited me in, an tina
met my Polly fur tn fust time. She
kinder old, boys, now, but you orte
ha' seen her then. She wer' tn pret
tiest gal n that ar section of country
an t. my eyes tn prettiest 1 ever se'
r. me she ez pretty ez ever, amt you
OF woman ?''
And Uncle Jim gave Aunt Polly
hand most perceptible squeeze.
"Arter that ar fust visit l used
so thar purity g'ler. l allus lowe
fur to take sohs scgame with me OF
present Y Pol other, an Y kind'