Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-09-24
Was Under Oath.

Colonel McIenlrter ana party, Wnlle
going through LumpsOn county, Ar
kansaw, making out the line of rail-
road that will never he built, were met
one day by an old fellow, who, after
standing for few moments and gazing
III amaZement. exclaimed:
wall. 10y the off OK % Adam?"
whats the matter, my frlend?"
asked the colonel, amused at the conf
cal appearance OF the man.
"W'y, sir, / KEEP er lOokin' an er
loOkin' at that three legged thing, ex-
pectin' to see it go off when you tuck
sigIt through it, but she hain't shot yit.
Di3ged if | didn't think it was suthin'
you had rigged up to kill squirrels with.
Hello, whut you goin' TO do with that
long dog-chain? Wall, | wush L may
die if | ever seed so many cOntrapShuns.
Whut air you doin, anyhow"
We are lOcatinga new railroad
"Whut, you goin' to fetch cars into
these woods. Jest wait here TIL l go
tell muir an the boys"
"You will doubtless have plenty Of
time to tell them, for 1t will be several
years before the train arrives. BY the
way, where can we get some flOur?"
The squatter is the simplest and most
easily surprised man in the world so
long as he is seeking information. He
laughs and grins, twists his fingers III
an embarrassed way, and, upon the
whole, he seems TO be struggling under
an uncomfortable load of modes
ty; but turn to him and begin to make
inquiries, and Immediately there is a
change. He is no longer simple; is no
longer embarrassed, but with a steadi-
ness of eye, and half sarcastic 'twang'
in his voice-like the vibrations of an
old fiddle-he cOntemplateS his queS-
toner, and in an inborn delight OF eva
sion, twists the questions out OF shape;
This principle is innate. 1t doubtless
has its origin in the great precautiOn
necessary in the early days, when every
stranger was thought to be an officer
from distant state, armed with re-
quisitlon. From father to son, the
habit of precaution descended until it
has become a characteristic.
Il say, where can we get some four!"
replied the colonel.
Won't Neal do?"
"Yes, if we can't get flour. Where
can We get sOme?"
"Some meal or four?"
"Either one"
"Wail, | reckon it's as easy TO get
one as t'uther."
''Is there store near here?"
"Thar ulster be, but the feller's
moved. Lowed that the times was
too hard"
Have you any meal or flour for
sale?"
"Did have some but muir and the boys
eat it all up"
Il don't know what we'll do"
"Reckon you'll have to do like the
folks over the creek"
Flows that?''
"DO without.
'sThat's bad. suppose you can let
us have piece of meaL?"
..Tell yer whut's fack, cap'n, like
yer putty well, am wouldn' mine lettin'
yer have the meat 'tSant far one
thing"
whats that?"
81 amt got none"
Look here" said the colonel, Il
don't believe you've got good sense"
THAT'S whut the neighbOrs say.
They fust tuck up that idee cause l'm
allus round talkin' to sich fellers as
you'ns air.'
Come, l don't want any of your
foolishness.
"Wal, then, don't give none"
''By the way, how's politics running
out here?'
Putty well, 'bleeged to yer, how're
they runnin' with yerSelf?"
''Go on, old fellow, we've gotenOugh
of you"
Better go on yerself, fer I've got
enough you. This here DeighbOrhOod
is whar | live, an if yer don't like the
way the wagin clucks, wy yer can
leave"
You don't know who l am" said
the colonel, winking at one of his men.
II am the governor of Arkansaw.
The old fellow, without replying, be-
gan to take off his coat.
''What are you going to dOI" asked
the colonel.
s.WaH, yer see, l tuck a oath sOme
time ago that l would whup the COVER
nor the fust time | seed HIM, an
reckon your time has come"
The colonel did not feel comfortable,
The sinewy squatter was more than
match for him. and to make the matter
more serious, the surveyors began t
laugh and show disposition favorlnG
the threatened encounter.
''Now, guv'ner. shuck yerSelf, al
less settle this business, fur I've got TEL
git home an lock aIrteer my ole gram
daddy. He can't eat nothin' but Spoor
vldduls, an when wife, she feeds him
she muses. herself by whackin him owe
the head with the spoon"
lis there no way of buying you of
Men, are you going to stand here ant
see that fellow maui me2"
The men laughed.
"Tell yer whut'll do, gov'ner. Thi
here's a temperance nelghborhoOd, an
if yer'n promise to slip me quart o
the regular stuff, III forgive your trans
gressions."
"I'll do it."
'Nuff said. Now recollect: If ye
don't, yer'n git the wust larrupin'
man ever seed. Good day, gentlemen
Gran'daddy can't eat nothin' but spoo
vidduls, you know. Recolleck tn
'greement, gOv'ner, or yer can't eat n
I al