The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-09-05
CYNTHY.
A Tragic Story of the Mountain
Region of Virginia.

Nestled among the wild hills between
which the Brandon River winds its way,
lies the little town of Brandon Court
House. The old stage, relic of the
past in most parts of America, is here
TO be found in all its pristine glory.
From either side of the river rise giant
hills, some towering abruptly over the
stream, the bare rock relieved but by
few scraggy pine trees; others graceful
~ rounded and covered from base to
summit with forests of superb oaks and
naples.
Here and there throughout the valley
are humble cottages, the dwellings OF
the more prosperous mountaineers,
while the cabins of the poorer class
chamber along the mountain side. Each
has little garden and plat where
few hills of scraggy corn are forced
from the sterile, unwilling soil A few
cattle, small and lean, but hardy as the
rocks from which they CLEAN their liv
ing, wander about, and before every
door are the never-failing coon-dogs.
The cabins are much alike, square
room with puncheOn floors and with
rags stuck in between the logs to keep
out the chilling wind or driving rain.
Across one side of the room is a vast,
old-fashioned fireplace, the glowing logs
in which are kept in position by large
and-irons. A rope-bed stands in the
corner; a rocking-chair, the bottom
long sioce worn out and replaced with
Irvine; two old stools, and spinning
jenny complete the furniture. In one Of
these cabins an old man croons over the
fire, smoking his corncob pipe. His
hands, which rest upon his knees, trem-
BILE with palsy, his aged wife sits Oppo-
sit smoking while she sknits, dropping
her stitches now and then as her eyes,
wearied with years of watching, close
in slumber. The "boysN are going COON
hunting, and the musket that their
grandfather carried is being cleaned in
one corner of the room, while the dogs
jump uoisily about in anticipation of the
sport. This cabin, which stands upon
the side of the overlooking Brandon
and little distance from the stage road ,
is the house of Jacob Stone, or "Old
Jake as he is Familiarity called.
found it while searching for famous
spring, from which little brook leaped
over the rocks into the river below.
Old Jake's "boys,, Jim and Tom, were
well known in and around the town. Jim,
tall, slender, with a clear, intelligent
face, the best shot, the most expert
boxer and wrestler, and the most grace
full dancer in the country.
Tom, short, stolid, good-na-
natured, and ignorant, was in great de-
mand for miles around on account of his
proficiency with the violin. No dance
was complete without Tom and his
fiddle to furnish the music, or with
out Jim upon the floor.
All is quiet in the town; around the
village stores little groups are gathered,
playing quoits or marbles, while Sim
Green, the principal storekeeper, is play
ing checkers on the counter with old
"Jedge" Bialock. Many years have
these two cont nded for the champion
ship 10 their cherished game. The Judge
is one of the landmarks of the town, his
father bel Q the first to disturb the In
dian in his possession of. this beautiful
valley. Tall. strong and imposing was
the Judge; strong in body, strong and
true in heart, strong in prejudice, strong
in native intellect, great man in the
rough, without education, without those
arts of mind or manner acquired by our
finer civilization, but with a certain ease
and grace not taught in schools, COM
manding respect wherever known. Fol-
sixty years he had lived in a double log
house at the end of the village, which