Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-12-06
A DAUNTLESS MAN.

A DAUNTLESS MAN.
Away up among the Blue mountains
of Western Arkansas is neighborhood
which was once noted for the peculiari-
ty of its people. The community, you
might saw is or rather was, almost self
sustaining for it received but little ben
eft from the world Coffee was un-
known there until it was introduced by
some doctor who went there to practice
medicine. The concoctiOn was prompt
ly examined by old man Gressom, who
pronounced it worthless and calculated
to iniure the community. There was
no appeal from the decision, and the
doctor was informed that unless he
discarded the use of the stuff he would
be driven from the neighborhood. He
would not agree to give up the use of
his only stimulant and one morning,
shortly after the PRONUNCIATION Of the
dsecisive edict, the doctor might have
been seen-in fact he was seen, carry
ing pair of dingy saddle bags down
| the mountain.
This community had no other name
than tho district" and if any one had
attempted TO change the appellation, he
| would no doubt have felt the heavy
hand of revenge. The District people
had no regular religious creed. Every
Sunday they would meet in rude log
buiid ny and listen to the illiterate dis
course of John Sumpter. an old fellow
who took upon himself the duty of in
structing the people upon the principles
of religious morals.
Once newspaper man Of discredited
enterprise attempted to publish week.
ly Journal in the little village known as
the capital of the District" but before
the first number of the paper came out,
committee headed by old man Gress-
ON, called on the journalist and told
him that they did not want news
paper.
I'VE did not send for you," the old
man said, (Which is mighty good ev-
idence that We didn't want you. We
don't want no man comm around pry-
in inter our affairs, an if it's all the
same to you we'd ruther you'd go back
whar you come from, or leastwise leave
the "District."
The editor argued that newspaper
would materially assist in the develop
ment of the country's resources.
| We've cot all the developness we
want said the old man. Develop
ness is what makes folks miserable. We
never 60 down from here an try to run
the world, and we'll be blamed if the
world shall come up here and try to run
us. If YOU want to come here and fall
in with the rest of the folks, an work
fur a livin' all right, but no lazy man
can live here"
The editor explained that the publi-
cation of newspaper required the ex.
ercise of great industry, but the old
man, losing patience, said:
We've dun give you fair warnin'
We have been kind enough to tell you
what's the law, an if you don't profit
byit, we can't help it. Now let us tell
YOU once for all: If you print any OF
your papers here, we'll fling YOU often
the top of the mountain.
The next day hand press might
have been seen, in fact it was seen, go.
ing down the mountain.
| In this way the people of the ''Dis,.
trict' lived. Sons grew up, married anc
settled near the homestead, and no one
thought that change would come
John Sumpter, the moral lecturer, hae
beautiful daughter, who despite hel
crude surroundings had to some extent
acquireda a knowledge ofbooks. She wa!
tall and graceful. She was q kind Q
Sheila among the ruder inhabitants of :
Barvabost. Once, after long persua
sion, she induced her father to let he
60 down in the world. She would no
remain long She only wanted to se'
! what other places looked like. Th'
people of the district objected. The.
told John Sumpter that nothing but evi
could result from such n wild exploit
but the girls shrewdness outweighe'
the arguments of the sages, and sh
went down among the strange peopl
below. A few weeks afterwards sh
returned. Every one noticed that sh
had changed. Her wonted laugh ha'
died away, and in the evening whe
the sun died, melting behind the rugge
peak of the mountain, she would sit uu
der the great oak in front of her father
house, and muse. Her father wa
alarmed. ..Lamuth," he said to he
one evening, calling her by name, g
want you to tell me what's the matte
u with you?"
:. Nothing" she replied without re
d moving her gaze from the deep blu
!, space where distance seemed to level il
self out into great turquoise plain.
! ..Nuthin'," repeated the old man. g
there amt nuthin' the matter, wha
makes you mopeP Why don't you 6
- with me to feed the sheep, and sin
y like you usterP"
II didn't know Twas moping. don
60 with you to feed the sheep, be caus
re don't think can be of any use to yo
. and don't sing because I don't wal
to hear my own voice"
Come now, gal, that's all foolisl
! ness. I'm afeard that trip away frol
! home didn't do you no good. Let's G
into the house. JEFF Magic is there
10 waitin' for you."
or II don't want to see him." she salt
still gazing into the blue beyond.
"Whath' the old man exclaimed
"Don't wanter see JEFF, when yo
{, know he's nigh dead arter youP"
"Let him die, them"
4. "Come an quit yer foolishness, " an
10 10 without consulting her willingness
We accompany him, he led her into tt