The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-09-05

huhS an IlOu D6lI 30 ldlSe IndJ lHe IWO |
massive posts which supported it trem-
bled as it rung. Very seldom were
there travellers to be entertained, but
twice year, when court days came, the
town and tavern were crowded. Every
one in the county came to town on these
days; trades were made, disputes set
tied, and all the business of the country
side transacted. Then, if stranger
were present, he would hear of Bran
don's great man, who from physician
in this mountain village, had risen to
one of the most important positions in
the Government, thus, in the eyes of
these simple country folk, casting a sort
of reflected glory upon those who knew
him in his days of poverty and obscurity.
The Judge would be at his best, with
wide collar and black tie, as he sat at
the head of his table and told his favorite
story.
AS night would close upon the town
not sound could be heard except the
chlrping of some insect, the plaintive
call of the whip-poor-will, the soft note
of the mourning dove, or desultory
pistol shot from some raftsman on the
river, reverberating through the hills.
This was Brandon, as found it when
business took me there in the fall of 50.
Ten years later | again visited it, and as
! rode in | made slight detour to drink
once more from "Old Jake's" famous
spring. He was alone and, with head
bowed down upon his hands, which
grasped hickory stick, sat in the door
way. At my approach look of min
gled hope and inquiry passed over his
face. "Hev you sen my boysP" Said
he. Upon my replying that | had not
his head again dropped on his hands,
and | pursued my journey wondering at
the change that had come over him. |
rode on to Green's store, where was
accorded a hearty welcome. Good
evenin', sir. Come in, sir; take seat,
sir take seat" said Green. Alight-
ing, | shook hands with him and, &C
cepting the proffered chair, we sat on
the porch in front of his place and talk
ed of old times. l spoke of having seen
old Jake, and expressed my curiosity at
his question concerning his boys A
shade passed over Green's face as he
said: Didn't you never hear tell of itP"
| answered that had not. "You know
the JedgeP To begin at the commence
ing of it, it's a purity long story. But
you see the old Jedge had boy-Si we
called him. Well, 81 got thrown often
a raft onct, and soon arter that he got
'ligion; whether as how it was the
raft or whether twas the 'ligion,
| dunno, but it pears like he wasn't no
count to nobody arter that. so he went
away and we hearn that he he'd gone to
town, and then we hearn that he got
married. and then we hearn that the
ledge he'd grandchile. Wall, the fall
arter you war here, when the fever it
war SO bad, what did ST do but Law down
and die, and his wife she follered him,
so the ledge went down and brung his
little girl up here. She was peart little
thing, and everybody thought heap of
her, but bein' brung up in the city with
book larnin she war'nt fit for place
like this, Ireckon. We amt much given
toparsons and skooltechers here bouts
| But the store the Jedge took in that
chile and the way he'd tote her round!
Of eyenin's she would set in his lap and
actooly larn the ledge to read, an he
would make mistakes in sayin' of his
letters, as she called it, and then he
would purtend he couldn't see and wipe
his specs on his sleeve, and draw her to
him student like and kiss her, and
believe the Jedge would actooly some.
times cry when he couldn't make no
sense of his letters. And she would
read outen the Bible to the Jedge till he
became downright 'ligious, though he
used to swar and cuss powerful. The
old ledge couldn't bear her outen his
sight nohow. When she got to be most
woman she ulster 90 with Jim Stone,
old Jake's boy, right smart, and to see
Jim, as could cut more logs and throw
any man in the country, be so keerful
of her it was tOuchin', and she larned
him 20 read jest like she he'd the Jedge.
What she sed war law with Jim, and no
wonder, fur she he'd such bright, hap
ply way of sayin' things and maxim
everybody feel good around her no one
could hev disliked her if he had set up
nights to try. And we could all see
that her and Jim war gettin' purity
thick, and we seen how things was
goin'. Jim wer the only man here bouts
that war good enough for her, and he
warn't either, only Jim war tibet kind
hearted, and so strong and hanson, no
one could helped likin' of him
, Jim and Tom he'd still down on
Postum Creek that the Convent hedn' t
hearn on and didn't git no revnoo frum,
and along with raftin' and tan-bark the
boys was pretty well fixed One even
in, jest about this time, Jim comes to
me. and he says 'Sim'-thet's what
they call me hereabouts mostly-Tm
) sick of this hull thing. I've got the
, maxim of a man in me, but l amt got
) no chance here, and I'm goin' to sell
: out and 90 to town, 90 to school, and
do sumthin'. Now, thar's my still
: don't see why it amt right fur a man to
make his Twin in his own way or tibet