The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-03-31
HIS HAND WASN'T STEADY.
Nor His Eye Quick, but When His Gun
Went OF the Boys Felt Sheepish.

Nor His Eye Quick, but When His Gun
Went OF the Boys Felt sheepish.
An Equinunk, Pa, correspondent
writes: John Finley Teeple. 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 a season
until two years ago. Then he made up
his mind to take a rest, more because
game was getting scarce than because
he was tired. His two boys, Lie and
Sim. could take care of ali that was left,
he said. From that time until q few
davs before the past deer season closed
he hadn't touched his gun-:s gun that
he claims mas 'ain low bear and deer
bv the thousand One morning recent
" he got out Of bed and said to his son
Lie:
Lille, I'm goin' down in Pike county
an knock over deer before I hole up fur
good"
Lie and the rest of the family tried to
change Uncle Fins mind, for they
thong ht he was TOO old to 60 tramping
through the woods on deer hunt. He
was determined, however, and so his
boys. Lie and Sim, fixed themselves up.
and got ready to 60 with the old hun
ter. 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, a guess I'll stay
close by you, for your hand isn't as
steady as it was fifty years ago, and
your eye isn't as quick. So I'll keep
close by you, and if Sim sends deer
along and you miss it III knock it
over"
s.Ye will, hey?" exclaimed the old
man, Indignantly. My han hain't ez
stiddy ez 'twere fifty years ago, hain't
it? Nor my eye hain't so quick? Wall,
now, my fresh young Nimrod, you jist
plank yerself over on that runway up
vender half q mile or so, an III stay
right whar be. If 4 deer comes pitch
in long here thin gunshot O me III
show VI wuther my han haint' ez std.
dy or my eye hain't ez quick ex they
usety be. G'long with ye, an look on!
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 be
was. Sim went out on the ridge, and
after an half hour or so started a rous
ing buck. 1t was good way of, but
within reach, and he blazed away at it.
It kept right on. 1t bounded down the
ridge and passed along within good
range of Lie. Lie sent q bullet after it.
but the buck kept right on.
Blame the luck!' said he. Now,
lust for the old mans contrariness
we're 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 at 9
jump as it passed Uncle Fin, q hundred
yards away. His eyesight hadn't en-
tirelv failed, for he saw the buck. HI
drew bead on it, and let 'old Betsey'
speak. The buck gave two or three
wild bounds, and fell in the brush
Uncle Fin didn't move toward it. Wher
the boys came up Lie asked the ole
man what he had shot at.
"a buck, reckon y said be. What {
you fellcrs blaze at?'
"A big buck, said Lie, but .
didn't reach him. Which way did ht
60 from herc:?'
(Which way'd he go9" said Uncle
Fin, contemporary. ''Ie hecrd me shoot
didn't We? If YOU smart roosterS don't
know how tc handle 4 gun yit mebbe
We know how to dress &; dead deer. l
ye do, jist trot over yender by that big
hemlock an hang up that buck. I'd g
an Go it, but by han haint cz stiddy
ez twcre fifty years ago, yc know, an
my eyesight's failin'.
Lie and Sim could hear the o.a mar
laugh all the way over 10 the hemloci
tree, and when they found the buck ly
ing there, dead rs :. mackeral, and viii
one bu.lct-holc in il. and that through
the kidneys, they felt like buitinG theil
heads against i rock. They dressed the
deer and brought It in without 4 word
"It's terrible thing wen man git
old an shaky an durn nigh blind
hain't it, boys?" said Uncle Fin, serious,
", as the boys stumbled the buck on the
ground at lis feet. Its the sappy
young fcllcr with stiddy nerves that
knocks over the ven Yin, haint it boys'
Then the way this old man laughed
made the boys feel more sheepiSh thar
ever. They took the big buck to Mas
Hope, loaded it On the cars, and go
home the same day they went away
But the result of the hunt has satisfied
Uncle Fin that he mace 4 mistake IN re
firing from the chase two years ago.
81 see I've got to 60 out an give then
boys O. mine 4 little more tra!nln', NJ
says. 'Why, if l were the side OF
barn wouldn't be 'fccrd to stan up an
let them boys peg away at HE all day
I'll be on the turf az in next season, c.
usual, an take 'em in han an 7 arr
'em sumphin!