The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-10-13

men, each leading a mule, broke cover
from thicket. That outfit was picked up
and packed and strapped in fiye minutes,
aud vas invited to go along with the party
We kept the main trail about half mile
then turned into rayine road 10 the right.
One man was sent on ahead as a scout, and
as we slowly progressed the others asked
where was from and what my errand was,
and before had fully explained the leader
whose name was Dawson, said.
''Say, he's the very feller we got word
about Put It thar, young fellow, and
right glad we are to see you"
1--WE had progressed about mile when
the scout came back with word that the
revenue gang had taken half circle and
we're coming back to the main road by this
very path. just here a small rayine ran TO
our right, deep and dark. Them men were
badly ratified for the moment, and seemed
about to abandon the mules and take flight
down the gully, when / said
Cant you all push down in there and
leave il to me again?''
"Would you do it, stranger?'
| "Of course l will.'
saw them hidden and then sauntered
on for about two hundred feet and sat down
on rock. III five minutes the revenue
men came up. l asked what luck, and
they replied that they had missed them al
together,
"After you went away" l said after
Bit, 81 saw two men and two mules in the
brush on the left of the road"
"You dd?"
Yes. You were gone then, and of
course l did not care to Investigate alone"
"Those are the men we WANT shouted
the four in chorus, and away they went
with great clatter. FIVE minutes later
the moonshine party were out of the ra-
viue and Dawson came up to me, grasped
my hand and said:
''Men, take a good look at him. You'll
all fetch (agree) with me that If ary man in
these yere hills ever considers to Glitter
him (stop to question his right that ere
man has got to die"
After proceeding about mile and half
we reached the spot where the mill was to
be located, and half mile away was Daw-
sons cabin, His family consisted of
wife and three children, the oldest being
bare footed, bare legged girl of sixteen.
After being introduced 1 was left to pass
couple of hours while Dawson returned to
the men. He had explained TO his wife
who | was and what had happened, but the
children were full of curiosity. As sat by
the door smoking the girl, who was called
Deb, sat down beside me and asked
Stranger, did ye lope itp'' Come on
foot.
"Yes."
"a mile or sot down?'
More than that. About dozen flop
ups"
A "sot down" means half days travel.
A flop up' means days tramp. At
bed time the head of the family would say
to the children:
"Come now, you'uns. its flop up time. D
The girl looked at me in great surprise,
and presently asked:
"You didn't come to shoot pop, cause if
you had you'd chucked (ambushed) him. {"
mo; l came to see you."
''Mam!-oh mamp' she cried, ''come
out yere. Jist here him talking"
What does he'un say?" asked the
\ mother as she came out with her pipe and
sat down.
i
Hes honey. dun tole ye when that
wishbone fell down the he'un was coming.
Hip! Hain't hs'un nice, map"
"He's honey, for Shore" said the mother
after glanciDg at me, "BNt he'un must ak
pop Eur yer. Can't go unless pop says so.
Say, stranger, did you come to take Deb
away? Did somebody tell We we wanted
her to get married?'
No. fell in with your husband and
his friends OH the road aud he asked me ia
stop over night
Hip! And You'un don't want to marry
me?' shouted Deb
IL can't, my child
'Mebbe, you'un is forwardly talready,
iinedP queried the mother.
i Yes
Hip. And / sot such store by he un
} walled Deb as she sot down and began t.
cry.
| Now, Deb, you shet up. If he is for
wardly iined how kin he be jined again
'Taint in nature, you know
'He'un had no call (business) to b.
jined' sobbed Deb.
Pore childr sighed the mother. Deb
increased (very smart fur her aige, stranger
She's looking higher than most girls for
husband. She doan' keer two twinkle
: for anybody about here.
I ooh. well, she's smart and good looking
e and she will get nice husband
n 'Hipl Are you truthing? exclaimed tn
girl as she sprung up.
Yes
And I'll git mar'd?'
'Yes.'
And have real houseT
Yes
r And a real dress and bonuet9'
Yes
r And gold ring?'
yes
l 'Oh, nam, hear himl hear him. Hip!
e can't sot still. Jist think of it, man,
Il am thinking, Deb, and know he /
truthing. Lor' bless him fur his goodnes
a m re moro shuckIess folkess,