The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-10-19
A DAUNTLEss MAN.


of Western Arkansas is neighborhood
which WAS once noted for the peculari.
ty of its people. The community, you
might say 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 injure 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 comm unity had no other name
than the 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 u rude log
building and listen to the iliiteratc 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 us
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.
1--WE did not send for yOu," the old
man said, (which is a 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 got all the developness we
want" said the old man. ''Develop-
ness is what makes folks miserable. We
never go 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. Ii you want to come here and fall
in with the rest of the folks, an work
fur Twin all right, but no lazy man
can live here.
The editor explained that the publ
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 il YOU don't profit
byit, we cant hclp it. Now let us tell
you once .pt al: IL 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 and
settled near the homestead, and no one
thought that a change would come.
John Sumpter, the moral lecturer, had
beautiful daughter. who despite her
crude surroundings had to some extent,
acquireda knowledge of books. She was
tall and graceful. She was kind OF
Sheila among the ruder inhabitants of
Barvabost. Once, after long persua-
sion. she induced her father to let her
go down in the world. She would not
remain long. She only wanted to see
what other places looked like. The
people of the ''District" objected. They
told John Sumpter that nothing but evil
could result from such wild exploit,
but the girls shrewdness outweighed
the arguments of the sages, and she
went down among the strange people
below. A few weeks afterwards she
returned. Every one noticed that she
had changed. Her wonted laugh had
died away, and in the evening when
the sun died. melting behind the rugged
peak of the mountain, she would sit un.
der the great oak in front of her father's
house, and muse. Her father was
alarmed. "Lamuth," he said to her
one evening. calling her by name, II
want you to tell me what's the matter
with youp'
Nothing" she replied without re-
moving her gaze from the deep blue
oPuCO WnClO ulobtnOC SCCihCb w ACNOi ~
self out into great turquoise plain.
''Nuthin'," repeated the old man. III
there amt nuthin' the matter, what
makes you mopep Why don't you go
with me to feed the sheep, and sing
like you usterp"
II didn't know Twas moping. don't
go with you to feed the sheep, be cause
don't think can be of any use to you
and don't sing because don't want
10 hear my own voice.
"Come now, gal, that's all foolish
ness. I'm afeard that trip away from
home didn't do you no good. Let's go
into the house. jeff Magic is there a.
waitin' for YOU"
II don't want to see him." she said,
still gazing into the blue beyond.
"Whatr' the old man exclaimed.
Don't wanter see JEFF, when you
know he's nigh dead artcr voup"