The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-02-20


Y "But ha'n't moonshining cheating
| the government ?
' Cheating That depends how yer
| look at it But there's no use talking
about this any more, ma am. You won
understand, There be the cakes ready
| must eat and git
"Wha:, off agin ter dayo' wistfully.
eyes, was the reply, given with a
Sruttness that tended to check further
inquiries.
Somehow, that was a long, dreary
day to poor Ma am Harvey. She tidied
up her little cabin, spun knot or two
OF yarn, and then, taking the little red
Bible she had bought with money from
digging ginseng root, she sat down in
the doorway, hoping to spell out few
words Of comfort
For miles and miles around her was
the black girdle of the balsams, and
rising from their midst was the Jagged
summit of the mountain. Nearer to
her, though, were things more beautiful
and tender-a bilowy sea of chestnut
trees, through which the wind swept,
awakening solemn strains that mingled
with the sound of distant waterfalls and
the clear and exultant notes of Wild
wood birds.
The dense mass of living greenery
about her was enlivened by bits Of
color-here and there banks of snowy
rhododendrons, pink festoons of the
Carolina rose and CLEANS of the scarlet
service berry. Everything was bathed
in the liquid gold of the afternoon sun.
The subtle influence of sweet sights
and sounds that filled the air gradually
pcrvaded the simple soul of the old
woman. And added to this she had
spelled out verse from the Holy Book
upon her knee:
"EW God SO Lored the a0JM that
tie gaze Ills ouIr bcsohew Son, that
ahoSocscr bcHrsrM IN Him Should
not perish, but haze C5r2zaStiNg- Hfr.'
She liked that.
"Not many big words, she said to
herself, as she sat there, mot many big
words, but lots of comfort. Whosoever
That kin mean Ben just as we'll as any
body
Suddenly faint sound from down
the mountain smote upon her ear,
breaking up the peaceful spell that
bound her. 1t was clatter of horses
hoofs upon the limestone path. She
arose quickly, and raising her hand to
shield her eyes from the glare of the
summer sun, gazed intently downward.
Presently there emerged from the dense
foliage three mounted men, slowly
vending their way upward. The ruddy
glow left Ma'am Harney's cheeks, a
little shiver stole over her aged form,
and she caught for support at the rude
door-casement.
Revenue officers = she said with a
little click in her throat, and then with
forced composure she awaited the APP
proach of the men.
'Is Ben Harvey at home?' called
the foremost one as they entered the
yard.
NO, SIR
"know where he is?' And the man
gave her a piercing scrutiny.
no. hesitatingly. A month before
she might have answered with the cum
ming born of a mothers anxiety, Il
think he's gone down the valley to sell
balsam- gum y But she could not tell
such falsehood now. She was ION
probation !!
"Say, Mason, spoke out one of the
men at this juncture, s'pose we rest
here a bit and have the old woman fix
us up bite. I'm sight hungry
| "All right. Perhaps it would be the
better way anyhow, for, in low tones,
eff Harvey comes home to his supper
we can get him them
| Accordingly the horses were tied, the
men lounged on the green grass in
front of the cabin, while Ma'am Har-
ney, IN obedience to their orders, hur-
ried within to prepare the required
meal. The leader of the party had
told her that she should be paidfo her
trouble, but she had replied with cold
dignity that she "wa'n't in the habit of
charging for bite though, if the truth
be told, in her heart she did begrudge
them the food, for, did they not medi-
tate evil against her son? She gath
cred from their conversation that they
intended to wait awhile there, and
then, if Ben was not forthcoming, they
would push their way farther up the
mountain, to where they suspected the
illicit still was located. Oh, if Ben
were only warned She felt that his
conduct was reprehensible, that he de-
served the punishment of the law, but
she knew also his nature-he would
never allow himself to be taken without
a stubborn resistance. There might be
bloodshed, even, and she shuddered at
the thought of the crime of murder
beng added to his other wrong doings.
She went out into the back yard to
gather her apron full of pine chips to
put under the Kettle bubb'ing in the
huge fireplace, and, overcome by her
anguish of spirit, she Knelt down with
her head bowed low upon the chopping
block, prayed earnestly. 1t was a rude
altar indeed, but the prayer that was
waited up from it was full OF faith.