The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-12-20

Y the heat and the overpowering SOL

by the heat and the overpowering SOL
itude.
After long detour, I came to a
small lake, and on the other side of it,
[ saw a thread of blue smoke ascend
ing behind knoll of young oaks. As
| drew near, | perceived small, wea-
ther-worn log hut, and beside it a
man putting some sticks upon a
smouldering fire. A sort Of fsh-ket-
tie was raised upon some stones over
the fire. Although l came upon him
unawares, the man did not manifest
the least surprise. Nevertheless, he
seemed shy, suspicious, and ill-condi-
toned, being anything but pleased at
my appearance. His age might have
been forty, more or less; for | found
afterwards that a Crackers face is no
exact index Of age. He was unwhole-
somely pallid, having that curious,
waxy tissue peculiar to his species.
His gaunt frame was merely integu-
mented with yellow flesh, and was
very scantily provided with raiment,
much and clumsily bepatched shirt,
and a most effectually worn pair of
pants, being his sole attire. His fur
zy hair was matted, and his wiry beard
was tangled and neglected. His eyes
had the same vacant, lustreless ex-
preston that had struck me in those
Of the group standing upon the rivers
bank. Even in the words my impor-
tunity extorted from him, there was
an accent Of vague dreariness, and he
looked meditatively away from me,
as an animal does when one attempts
to examine its eyes. But he was not
Indifferent to my remarks; on the con-
trary, he was keenly curious to know
who and what [ was, though he hid
his feelings under the habitual mask
Of stolid distancy and inhospitable
boorishness. He listened to my story
Of bewilderment in the forest as i'm
passively as a COW might have done,
and when [ had finished and asked
him in what direction my destination
lay, he pointed nonchalently toward
the south.
I was thirsty, hungry and tired.
Having found a harbor Of refuge, |
desired to get repose and refreshment
before resuming my journey. [ there
fore endeavored to negotiate with the
man for something to eat and for his
help as a guide. But the requests
were churlishly received; to my de-
mand for food he vouchsafed me a
vague shake of the head; to my en-
treaty for drink Of water he point
ed to the lake. was confounded by
the british selfishness Of the fellow,
and would have left him in disgust;
but [ really needed his assistance to
reach the little settlement hidden in
this endless wilderness. After time,
he agreed to take me to the place l
was seeking, for fifty cents. His mis-
anthropy now yielded little; and he
condescended to inform me that he
was boiling potatoes. During our pre-
vious conversation, or rather my mon
ologue-for the Cracker recluse had
only bestowed upon me the curtest Of
answers to my inquiries-the fire had
died out. Seeing this, he grew almost
active in his efforts to rouse up the
embers; and succeeded, by prolonged
and skillful blowing from his thin
blue lips. to restore the fire; soon the
pine twigs were blazing, and the larg-
er pieces began to ignite.
As this took place, I heard the light
cracking Of leaves near at hand, and
turning round, saw two female forms
approaching. The Cracker paid no
attention to them, and that suggested
they must be members Of his family.
For an instant the woman stared at
me; then, with forward glances and
in Indian file, they went towards the
shanty. I was SO glad of these new ell
ements Of society, that | hastened to-
wards them, and by making for the
door, I intercepted them upon the
threshold. This brought them to
stand-stili. To my courteous good
they made no answer, nor
would they look me in the face.
asked permission to share the family
dinner, for which | would pay. l
hurriedly explained how [ had lost
my way, and that the gentleman
standing by the fire was going to ac-
company me to my destination at his
convenience.
Very well,' said the eldest Of the
women, and straightway entered the
house. Her companion said nothing,
but silently followed. Whether this
pair of words was general agreement
to my request for dinner, and a tenn
porary enjoyment Of intercourse with
her household, [ could not gather.
However, I put the most generous
construction upon the phrase, and
looked into the hut with something Of
a frontierman's freedom. The women
to be mother and daughter;
the first perhaps forty, withered and
yellow, as though vitality had been
by malaria and insufficient
cy of food. Her dress was dingy and
tattered, her hair rudely punched into
an uncomely heap. The daughter |
might be twenty, though the age of
young women is not guessable in the
far South; some girls of fifteen look
fully matured. This young Cracker
ess was as addressed and as untidy as
her mother. A poor, l-washed, whit
ishrgray gown seemed to be almost
Ter sole clothing, except a pair of
wretched galoshes. Her feet were un-
stoekinged, however, for through the
rents Of her shoes appeared many ev-
licences Of the fact. The sun, and the
water with which she dressed her hair,
had rendered it the color of lustrelesS
hay. 1t was scanty, and tied in loose
knot. Her eyes were Of light gray,
dull and gnemotional, yet showing
the quick inquisitiveness of a squirrel,
when she was excited by a spasm of
curiosity. Like her parents, she SEEM
ed debilitated by privation and swami
py exhalations, and stunned by the
savage seclusion of the woods and the