Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-28
HIS HAND WASN'T STEADY,
Nor His Eye Quick, bur When HIS Gun
Went on the Boys Felt Sheepish.

from tho Nelo York Sun.
EcCINUNK, PA, Jan. l6.-John Finley
Teeple, known all over Northern Pennsylvania
as Uncle Fin. y as 20 years old his last birth
day. For more than sixty years he hunted
and trapped from the Delaware to the Ale
gheuy. and never missed a season until two
years ago. Then he made up his mind 10 take
n rest. more because game " as gettlug scarce
than because he was tired. His two bows,
Lie aud sim, could take care OF all that was
left, he said. From that time until few days
before the past deer season closed he hadn't
touched his gun--a gun that he claims has
lam low bear and deer by the thousand. Hne
morning recently he got out OF bed and SAID
to his son Lie:
LIE, Pm goin' down in Pike county an
knock over one deer before hole up fur
good"
Lie and the rest OF the family tried to
change ncle Fins mind. for they thought he
was too old 10 go tramplng through the woods
on deer hunt. He was Diet rmlned, how
ever, and so hts boys, Lie and sim. dNed
themselves up, and got ready to go WIN the
old hunter. They went down on the Mast
Hope Ridge, twenty-five miles from home.
sim drove for deer, and Uncle Fin and Lie
stood on the runways.
Father" said Lie, u guess I'll stay close
10y you, for your hand isn't as steady as It was
hitv years ago, and your eye isn't rs quick.
50 I'll keep close by YOU, and II sim sends
seer along and YOU miss 1t llfSnock II over
"1e VIII. hey?" exclaimed the old man, IN
dignantly. My han haIu't ez stiddy ez
.twere NIFTY years ago, haln't 1t, Nor my eye
hain'U so qucks Wall, now, my fresh Young
AlmrOd. You list plank yerself over on that
runway up Wonder half a mile or so. an IN
stay right whar be. II deer comes pltchln'
long here thin gunshot o me, III snow We
wuther my han haIn't e2 Study or my eve
haln't ez quick ez they usety be. G'lOng with
ye, an look out fur Yer own han an eyer
"All right" said Lie; but If you lose the
deer don't blame me-"
Lie went reluctantly to the upper runway.
Uncle Fin remained where he was. Sim went
out on the ridge, and after half an hour or 80
started a rousng big buck. 10 was good
ways on, but within reach. and he blaZed away
at 1t. IL Kept right on. 10 bounded down the
ridge and passed along within good range Of
Lie. LIE sent bullet after Il, but the buck
kept right on.
the old man contrarlness We're liable TO lose
that deer. He won't be able to see il unless
IL runs over him, to say nothing OF hitting It,
The buck tore along through the brush, and
was clearing thirty feet at a lump as IL passed
Uncle Fin, hundred yards away. His eye
sight hadn I entirely failed HIM, for he saw
Inc buck. He drew beao on II, and let old
Bet-ey' speak. The buck gave two or three
wild bounds, and fell in the brush. Uncle Fin
Cldn move toward it. When the boys came
up Lie asked the old man what he haa shot at
~ buck. reckon said he. ''Nhatd you
felers blaze at"
"A big buck" SAID Lie. '.but didn't reach
him; Which way did he go from here?'
WITCH way'd he got' sand Uncle FIN, con
tFiHp luOuslN. Z IL -tIil tut SLOOLa ulQn I NGF
II YOU smart roosters don't know how TO han
die gun yit, mebbe We know how to dress a
dead deer. II ye do, jist trot over veuder by
that big hemlock an hang up that buck. ia
go an do 1t, but my han haln't eZ stiddy ez
'twerc fifty year ago, ye know, an my eye
sight fallin'
Lie and Sim could hear the old man laugh
all the way over to the hemlock tree. and
when they found the bu X living there, dead
as a mackercl, and with only one bullet hole
IN it, and that through the kidneys. thev felt
like butting their heads against rock They
dressed the deer ami brought 1t in without
word.
It's terrible thing wen man gifts old an
shakv an durn nigh blind, hain't 1t bOys:n
said Uncle Fin, seriously, as tn. bows tumbled
the buck on the ground az his feet. ITS the
snappv young teller with study nerves that
knocks over the ven'zin, haint 1t, boysf'
Then tine way this old man laughed made
the boys feel more sheeplsh than ever. They
took the big buck TO Mast Hope, loaded it on
the cars. aud got home the same day they
went away. But the result OF the hunt salts
TED Uncle Fin that he made a mistake IN re-
uring from the chase two years ago.
II see I've got to so out an give them boys
o. NINE a leetle more tralnln',' ne says, Nv 3,
II I were the side Of a barn I W uldn't be
feeTed to stau' mp an let them bows peg away
at me all cav. IN he on the turf ag'n mex
season. ez usual, an take EN- IN han an J arm
EN- sumpln.'