The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-07-31
A GOOD MARKSMAN.
Grandfather Taylor's Story Of the
Best Shot he Ever Made.


Best Shot he Ever Made.
"Visit Grandfather Taylor, by all
means" vociferated Tom from the car
window. as the train drew out from the
little station, leaving us on the platform.
From this point we fastened on to our
destination, the littlepost village known
as Tye River Mills, Va.
"Visit Grandmother Taylor" was
Toms parting suggestion. and we were
prompt to act upon it. We searched
the place over for proper conveyance.
'.Mose an his fix'll take you thar, stran-
gers" replied sawyer in answer toour
Interrogation, ''but it's a right smart
way off,"
.3Oh, the distance is immaterial. Just
direct US, please, where we can find this
Nose and his-what did you call it?''
"Fix-anybody hereahouts kin tell YOU
what fix ar" came the indefinite reply,
and the man smiled at our apparent ig-
norance.
We found Nose, however, and found
him also. to be a veritable southern ne
gro. endowed with prolixity of speech
and imbued with all the subtitle cunning
and obtruding inquisitiveness of his race.
We were told that any vehicle in Vir-
ginia below a carriage was called six, "
and Moses s.tix" was as original in con-
struction asst was unique in appearance.
1t was simply some boards placed upon
wooden axles, without springs, and boxes
turned upside down served for seats
Underneath dangled several punches of
fodder to feed the mule upon during the
journey. After little parleyipg Nose
agreed to take us for stipulated sum,
and having perfected our preliminary
arrangements. we started off for short
ramble in the immediate neighborhood.
'.Sav, boss" called out Nose, II
'spose little spirits is yincluded in this
year bargain, amt it? 1t done livens
up so.n
We answered IN the affirmative and
he skipped away at lively rate. sing
ing favorite song, TO get his fix and
mule ready for the morrow's journey.
The sun was just beginning to peep
over the lofty Blue Ridge peaks, irradiat-
ing the rich, picturesque valley below
in flood of golden light. as We took our
seats on the s.ix," and the massive lum-
Der piles, the mountains of sawdust and
the hum and buzz of the saws were soon
left in our rear and the civilized world
was for the time being forgotten. The
ride up the mountain road was both
novel and interesting. Occasionally
we crossed a bridge that SPAWNED dan
gerous chasms, and bridge and road
perfectly assimilated with the wild. pic
turesque beauty of the surrounding
scenery. On we jostled and thumped,
the voluble tongue of Nose RECALLING US
with the traditional stories of the mar
velous exploits of the gnomes and hob
COLLINS which were supposed to inhabit
the dark, silent recesses in the noun
tain fastness. The barking of dog
startled US.
"Whow. darw And Nose brought his
painting mule to an abrupt standstill
that nearly caused us to lose our eaui-
ibrium and tumble off into the road.
.Dars de house an dars de man yer
arter a sittin' in front OBJ de do re-
marked Nose by the way of introduce
ton. a say, boss" he continued. dis
Yer spring water stint much good mp
yer" The hint was easy to interpret
and we left him to enjoy his spirits"
The place looked more like a Srotto
than the habitation of human being.
1t was one-stery log cabin, covered
with moss and completely empowered in
a luxurisnt growth of fragrant creeping
vines. and veteran oak trees spread their
protecting branches over it. As we APP
preached nearer an old man, slightly
.stoop-shouldered with beard white as
snow that extended almost b his waist,
arose to meet us and greeted us with q
pleasant smile snd Glad to see you,
strangers" We seated ourselves care
lessly on the grass in the inviting shade
beneath the trees and opened converse
ton st once.
. The old patriarch's name is james
Taylor, though he is known to the ma
tives SIS Grandfather Taylor. He was
born in the neighborhood of I've River
Mills in 1906. He has evidently been a
man of fine physical proportions, has q
clear, penetrating eve, retains his men
tal faculties unimpsired. and though he
can read but very little he is something
of 3 botanist and is exceedingly well vers-
ed in the names of the different trees
He will be 50 yesrs of age on the 10th of
September, and never swore an oath.
never tasted intoxicating liquors, never
-chewed tobacco. but is an inyeterate
smoker. He never rode on a steamboat
or railway train, and has not been three
miles from home since 1861. He was
the father of five children, three bows
and two girls. Both daughters are
dead. Two of his sons were killed in
the Confederate and the other in the
Union service. He has vivid recol-
lection of the days of slavery, and relates
many startling incidents connected with
Ne lives of escaped slaves who fed to
the mountain fastness for refuge.
Here. too, was the hiding place of
many deserted from both armies. and he
has many souvenirs in the shape of
army equipments of the troublous days
of rebellion He cares little for what
Is tcanspiring in the outside world and
manifests decided aversion to politics.
His Bible is his constant companion,
and although he has never been to
church but twice In his life, he can con-
verse intelligently about the Scriptures
and is apparently living life of piety
and peace. he listened with the pro-