The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-03-25
HIS HAND WASN'T STEADY.
Nor His Eye Quick, but When His Gun
Wont on tho Boys Eelt SheepIsf.

Nor His Eye Quick. but When His Gun
Went on tho Boys Felt SheopIsh.
An Equinunk. Pa, correspondent
writes: John Finley Tccplc, known all
over northern PENNSYLVANIA as Uncle
Fin, was 70 years old his last birthday.
For more than sixty years he hunted
and trapped from the Delaware to the
Allegheny, and never missed II season
until two years ago. Then he made up
his mind to take Il rest, more because
game was getting scarce than because
he was tired. His two BOYS Lie and
Sim, could take care of all that was lett,
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 lain low bear and deer
by the thousand. One morning recent
~ he got out of bed and said to his son
Lie:
'Lijc, I'm goin' down in Pike county
an knock over deer before hole up fur
good.n
Lie and the rest of the family tried to
change Uncle Fins mind. for they
thought he was too old to go tramping
through the woods on a deer hunt He
was determined, however, and so his
boys, Lie and Sim, fixed themselves up,
and got ready to go with the old hun
ter. They went down on the Mast Hope
ridge, twenty-five miles from homie.
Sim drove for deer, and Uncle Fin and
LiJe stood on the runways
"Father," said Lie, Il guess I'll stay
close by you, for your hand isn't as
steady rs it was fifty years ago, and
your eye isn't as quick So IN keep
close by you, and if Sim sends IL deer
along and you miss it I'll knock it
over"
"Ye will, hcy?" exclaimed the old
man, Indignantly. my ham hain't ez
stlddy ez 'twcre fifty years ago, hain't
it? Nor my eye hain't SO quick? Wall,
now, my fresh young Nimrod, you list
plank ycrsclf over on that runway up
yender half mile OF so, an I'llsstay
right whar | be. If a deer comes pitch
in long here thin gunshot O me I'll
show yu wuther my ham haint' cz stid-
dy or my eye hain't cz quick ex they
usety be. G'long with We, an look out
fur yer own ham an cycr'
"All right" said Lie; "but if you
lose the deer don't blame NO.
Lie went reluctantly to the upper
runway. Uncle Fin remained where he
was. Sim went out on the ridge, and
after IN half hour or SO started 4 rous
ing buck. 1t was good way off, but
within reach, and he blazcd away ut il.
1t kept right on. 1t bounded down the
ridge and passed along within good
range OF Lie. Lii sent bullet after it,
but the buck kept right on.
''Blame the luck" said he. Nov.
just for the old mans contrariness.
were liable to lose that deer. He
won't be able to see it unless it runs
over him, to say nothing of hitting it,"
The buck tore along through the
brush, and was clearing thirty feet ut q
jump rs it passed Uncle Fin, II hundred
yards away; His cycsight hadn't en-.
tircly failed, for he saw the buck. He
drew bead on it, and let "old Betsey''
speak. The buck gave two or three
wild bounds, and fell in the brus6.
Uncle Fin didn't move toward it. When
the boys came up Lie asked the old
man what he had Shot at.
"a buck, reckon" said he "What'd
you fellers blaze at?n
"A big buck" said Lie, "but
didn't reach him Which way did he
go from here?"
(Which way'd he go?" said Uncle
Fin, contcmptollsly. "Ye heerd me shoot,
didn't yc? If you smart roosters don't
know how to handle Il gun yit mebbe
yc know how to dress dead deer If
ye do, jist trot ovcr ycnder by that big
hcmlock an hang up that buck. I'd 90
an do it, but by Ian hain't cz stiddy
ez 'twcrc fifty years ago, yc know, an
my eycsight's failin'."
Lijc and Sim could hear the old man
laugh all the way over to the hemlock
tree, and when they found the buck w.
ing there, dead as a mackcral, and with
one bullct-hOlc in it, and that through
the kidneys, they felt like buttng their
heads against rock. They dressed the
deer and brought it in without word.
'1t's n terrible thing wen man gifts
old an shaky an durn nigh blind,
hain't it, boys?' said Uncle Fin, serious
ly, as the boys stumbled the buck on the
ground at his feet. ats the sappy
young fellcr with stiddy nerves that
knocks over the ven 'zin, hain't it boys?"
Then the way this old man laughed
made the boys feel more sheepish than
ever. They took the big buck to Mast
Hope, loaded it on the cars, and got
home the same day they went away.
Uncle Fin that he made mistake in re-
firing from the chase two years ago.
81 sec I've got to go out an give them
boys O mine little more trainin'," he
says. "Why, if were the side of a
barn wouldn't be 'fccrd to stan up an
let them boys peg away at me all day,
I'll be on the turf ag'in next season, ez
usual, an take 'em in ham an i arm
'em sumphinr'
| --sD-e-S&
There are many curious facts in
American history. Three Vice Presi-