Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-10-09


tom Jack Frost had been at work and the air |
was cool and bracng, giving Indictment for q |
charge up the steep hillside through the dog |
wood, the laurel and the briers, to q seat for |
breathing spell on the triangular top rail of |
worm fence at the edge of a sunny Held |
Note-The ton rails OF worm fences have |
the sharp edge VI legislation needed
Crossing the sunny fields aud plunging
once more into the depths ot " the forest pri- |
meval," with view TO reaching certain |
point fixed by imagination In an uncertain
direction, the composites tramp soon tound
that things on those hills are not regulated
in manner TO encourage travellers across
country. Valleys with respectable out.
lets dwindle down to mere blind alleys and
the thick growth OF small timber and laurel
SO shuts in the view that II is Impossible,
even from the hill tops, TO get an accurate
notion OF the lay of the land Yet openings
IN the trees farther on, or some peculiar Tor
nation OF the hill, leads you on and on in the
hope OF point from which view may ee
gained or some clue OF your Whereabouts ana
direction. So l tramped steadily onward,
rather enjoying the mystihcation, and only
Tearing the loss OF time and strength II OIL the
track, sure to tell upon me near the end oi
the journey.
All morning had heard the guns of rabbit
hunters near and far. A rabbit had Jumped
up near my feet and twinkled his cotton tail
at me as he bounced away. Now and then
caught a glimpse of a cabin In the hollow lar
below me, but firmly determined 10 paddle
my own canoe" to town would not ask the
way. Then the work became more and more
difficult the tangled laurel closer and lower
almost impenetrable.
With bludgeon cut from a tough young
hickory and held firmly forward, the leng,
| deep jungle was at last passed through, and
stepping into clearer space where the laurel
| clumps stood far apart l stopped short
Two PAGES from me stood a tall young man
| with an immense pistol cooked and leNeled.
| His face must have reflected mine, for 1t
showed intense surprise instead OF the the
Il - lI.NE Of \, ,fal lal Vpa
muzzle of the pistol fell, so did the jaw OF the
| mountaineer; with a gasp he said 'Gosh
| thought you was a rabbitr
fastened to demonstrate the folly OF en-.
tertaining any such ridiculous notion, and
| also to explain why was there, which, As
| did not know where l was, l found very
| hard to do. But the rabbit slayer was quick
witted and short .worded, so it did not take
him long to get the bottom fact that the
| writer was trying to take a short cut across the
l hills for town. He said il would not work,
and respected his opinion, offered to show
me how to find the road and acquired sddi'
| tional respect.
| Then he stepped on u black snake, drew
back few PAGES, and cut its extensive throat
with ball from his pistol This snake, held
at arms length by the TAIL with the hand
level with the shoulder, trsiled its shiny
head along the ground.
"Hello Pete ~ came voice from the valley;
"didye get him."
| "Only a snake" said Pete, as he began the
elaborate process OF reloadiug the weapon.
| 1t was very heavy single-oarreled pistol
with a very long barrel having large hinge
at the muzze. This hinge held ring through
which steel ramrod passed to socket in
| the stock below the barrel. In rsmmlng the
| rod was loosened below, the ring swung over
the muzzle and the charge forced home.
Then with the addition of a musket cap the
gun was ready for action. The voice from
the valley was followed by two boys, and
after short tramp together i left all three
and sought the road.
| ALONG THE ROAD,
| The road followed the winding course OF a
stream between low wooded hills, a small
edition of Western canyon, and crossing
and recrossing the rapid water on rough
wooden bridges, il led past little clearings in
the hollows where the huts aud cabins sug-
| gested Craddock's mountaineers OF Ten
nessee, but 10y contrast with the prosperous
farms on either side of the divide, the
poverty of these little homes is pitituL. The
road through this valley was then only just
| opened and the forest Swallowed II in all its
natural beauty, but since that morning a
steam saw mill has spread devastation all
along the rayine and greatly marred its
| beauty.
There are more like it farther on, and may
they long survive.
Leaving the valley for the open road across
long steep hill, the tramp overlook and
and passed heavy two-horse wagon, driven
| by farmer and having small boy attach
ed. We passed good morning, and when
some distance away the boy said, " Pap,
what's that - Pap" was evidently puz.
zled,-" don't know, guess that's a lawyer. "
Through the clear air l could have heard
him twice the distance. Then passed a one
horse wagon, holding twO.hOrse load OF
boys and dogs, armed for war on the rabbits.
They were specializing about me, and as they
saw me smile at some OF their guesses, one
little chap shouted What are ye mister,
anyway? 20 "Giye it up" 1 asked No,
stree, you're preacher.
"No he aint Look how he slings his stick
he's Doctor" The "sling" of my stick sp,
| peared to settle the question in some mys-
terious manner. Passing school house
| several hours later, when the children were
| out at recess, the entire school hung by their
| chins to the top of the fence while / passed
| in review, and had the pleasure of hearing the
| verdict, "nice sort o. fellow" How pleasant
was the first near view of Lancaster, and how
long the last few miles OF the tramp can be
easily immagined but to learn how pleasant
| are the memories of day like this, how they
| last lifetime and are revived to brighten
many dreary hour, the reader must try it
With rod or gun, sfoot or on horse
back, by bicycle or buggy, let Lancaster
county be explored by Lancaster people, and
they cannot fall to be proud OF it wherever
they may travel
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