Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-02-17
HOW A KENTUCKY BOY ERECTED A
STRONG 'STONE FENCE"

A man attlreG In suit OF AentuCky
a curiosity III the latitude
sat IN the Office of the Sherman House
last night, with q broad brimmed
planters hat on the back part of his
head. He had one of those honest,
good-natured, come and SCENE faces.
He seemed to be lonesome, as he made
repeated efforts, to hit the center OF
big spittoou about eight feet distant.
reporter sat down by him and made
out that he was stranger, and in few
minutes q bridge had been put up be-
tween the two. The man from Ken-
lucky told his story:
81 was one Of the smartest boys
about Frankfort, l reckon, that ever
was raised. There WAS good deal
of doubt expressed about my ever
people said / would get Killed pre-
maturely. while some said that il
would be my luck and my parents
misfortune for me to be hung. re-
member that Christmas was always u
great day at our house. We always
had two or three preachers Oh hand and
a singing school teacher, Who used TO
travel around with Il tunin' fork and
stand III with the school teacher.
remember one Christmas as we'll as if
1t was last night. My father had some
cider that W as white--never knew how
it got the color-and he had still back
on the farm. When the Christmas
am telling you about came around, or
the day before, mJ father sat up with
me quite late the night before and told
me how was to act. He said the white
cider was for the preachers and the
singin' school teacher, and that | was
not to ask for any until all was
through. l had friend, who lived
down the creek, who was comm over
to spend the day with me and 90 to q
candy-pullin' that night. If there was
ever anything went wrong in that sec.
ton, or heu's nest robbed, that
friend Of mine and me was blamed tor
it. He was not halt as mean as they
made him out. I went 10 bed that
night. but not TO sleep. If my father
hadn't said anything about the cider
never would have wanted any OF it,.
But to be told that couldn't have any
seemed to make me dry as the garrett
in that house. The next day vas up
early. and my FREUD came over soon.
told him about the cider, aud that he
stood no more chance gittin' it than
me. He suggested the distillery as the
place for US, and fell in with the idea.
On the way down 1 suggested a
scheme. lsays to him, says l: It's
up with us-lt's plain we are to be
troze out by these piratesaud that tunin
fork man. and there's nothing lett for
Us to do but to get even.' We got tin
bucket full Of the new whisky from the
still, and sneaked it back to the house
We went down into the cellar and pull.
ed the bung out OF the keg of cider
Then we took out some cider, and filled
up the key with the new whisky
made stone.fence. that you may have
heard OF. Then we went upstairs and
sat down in front OF the fireplace al
mute as kittens. The company came
In, the three preachers and the singing
school fieud. He hit his tunin' fork
stuck it in his ear, and do-ra-meid will
shake of his head. He sung, and the
three preachers kept him going until
he got hoarse. BY and by they all sa
down to dinner except my chum and
me. When they had cleared up every
platter my father said solemnly, III
Christmas only came once a year, he
had prepared treat tor his company
He spoke OF the cider and he did il
with such pride that it made my hear,
jump into my throat, and then into my
| eyes. If the doors of the church al
been thrown open then, would have
gone 10 the front. know | never Was
as near the kingdom before or since
Then my father told me and my chuu
TO go down and fetch up The cider
When We got down there | suggested
to my chum that the time had come TOT
US to leave the country aud become
wanderers on the face OF the earth.
lie said was coward, and weak en-.
ed. We took up tie stone ience aud
pat it Oh the table. 1t was poured out
Ia glasses-they was as big as cocoanut
shelis-and my father filled 'em to the
brim. There WAS nothing mean about
the old man, FL cay that tor him. Ii a
man ever asked him to walk a mile
with him he went five, provided. .thepIace
was far of. The singin' school MAJ,
got the first glass. didn't feel anyway
mean about him. The others got theirs
and my iather got his. He got up aud
said: ALLOW me to wish you merry
Christmas in the cup that cheers but
never inebrlates.' He turned to my
mother, pious old SOUL. and my heart
did sink when saw him hand her q
glass. pulled at her apron-striug,