Wichita eagle., 1888-03-09
SUNSET ROCK.

in the direction of the cloud shrouded peak
"Point Lookout l continued my meander-
ing, following the sinuoUs course Of the Ten
nessee over rocky gullies and through dells,
dense with the wild underground, and strewn
with moss covered powders and decaying
giant trees, past vine covered natural bowers,
protected by an impenetrable phalanx of
blackberry vines, and dank for want Of sun
light TO absorb the moisture, until l had al
most gotten the colossal, cone shaped mass Of
earth and minerals between me and the
active, smoky little city.
What sublime sight greeted my eyes! I
was standing at the foot of the far famed
Sunset Rock, whose perpendicular side faced
westward more than a thousand feet in
height. l looked up; l could only family
descry the large fat rock that juCted from the
natural wall at its top, for clouds were slowly
gathering around it. To my left the broad
river wound in and out like a monster snake,
and past il rose the smoke from the hundreds
of factories and furna ces Of the city.
had only limited time to spend, for the
sinking sun caused deep shadows TO spread
over my resting place.
Directly the round shining ball sank from
view, turned and looked once more at the
rocky phenomenon The sunlight cleaned
still upon it, and was gradually mounting
higher and higher. 1t was cheering to see
the bright rays reflected there when all else
was being robed in nights dismal mantle
| was just about 10 retrace my footsteps,
when my attention was arrested by the ap-
peara2ce of an old man bent with the bur
den Of time. He was a typical Tennessee
farmer, Of that class which has scarcely
reached the average in intellectual acquire
ments, nor is even moderately successful
financially.
He wore a pair Of brown home made jean
pants strapped 10 him by wide, thick, leather
trimmed saspenders A hat with an extern
sive brim rested on his head and was slightly
turned up in front; his Checkared cotton
shirt was open, exposing a sunburned chest.
He might have been 20, Judging by appear
eaceS
was struck with the exceedingly agree
able expression, strongly suggestive Of crude
philanthropy, in his homely face, over which
the gray hairs hung n shaggy abundance.
His beard was shaven; but the iron gray
whiskers protruGed sufficiently to give the
lower part Of his face an ashy appearance,
and rendered the yellow stains of tobacco
juice more observable.
He was about TO pass with a simple
"Howdy," and an awkward, though natur-
ally polite motion of his disengaged hand
toward his hat, when l stopped MIN with a
question
do Won live near here!"
He turned. swung his Tax over his shoulder.
and rested it on the grass at his feet, regard
ing HE with q surprised look intermingled
with curiosity.
Yes, sir, thars my shanty beyant Their
branch among the trees; ye're a stranger
here amt yei~ he asked.
answered his inquiry in the affirmative.
following with my eyes his finger, as he
pointed 10 a four roomed log cottage SO
nearly hidden by the foliage that it had
escaped my observation.
Yes he continued, as II talking were
genuine pleasure TO him, IN that thar She
bang I've fotch up two as likely sons as ever
drawed the breath o life; but they amt here
now; they air Twin in Texas"
He sighed, and for an instant a shadow
seemed to come into the jovial visage Us he
leaned a-aInst the trunk OF a walnut tree
and rubbed his chin refiectively with his
rough hand.
His face interested me in an indascribable
manner. and his odd sounding accent added
q peculiar charm to his quaint expressions.
Can you tell me, | asked, strongly desir-
Gus Of OBTAINING him for few moments,
show this cliff happened 70 be called Sunset
Rock: | have questioned several living IN
the city, but no one so far has been able TO
give me the information"
Il think l orter. fer am the pusson tibet
named it, he responded, looking at ma
closely as if he thought l would contradict
his statement, and then went on: Yes, l
named 1t Sunset Rock, an he'd reason fer
doin Nv it"
pressed him eagerly for his reason.
Il ken scasely think o it now without
cryin' like n baby. 1t haln't long tails,
stranger; set down thar on the stump an III
tell We about 1t.
was delighted with the prospect of listen
Ing 20 true story concerning the attractive
spot from the honest Old lips, told in the pro-
vincial phraseology Of the country people Ok
that section; so | assured him Of the exceed
ingly great pleasure it would afford me.
gave him a cigar ike the one | was lighting,
and could hardly refrain from a smile as he
crumbled il up and filed well worn old pipe
with the fragments.
Over thar" ne began, signing heavily as
be puffed a cloud OF tobacco smoke from his
mouth, Ion t'other side of yonder rise, not
morn 500 yards from my house, twenty odd
wear back. stood a house whar a family Nv
three wus alvin.
The ole man came frum away back in
Virginy some'rs, an totch his wife an darter
with him. The little gals name was Stella.
Ne an Nandy-thet's my 'oman-never ned
any gals. an We hain't no ldee how We tuck
on over her. fer she begun ter think a mighty
heap O. us. an stayed about eS much IN our
shanty as she did IN their'n.
They wus pore folks. too, but | knowed
they'd seed better days, fer they talked Ike
rich people with larnin', an they showed it,
every inch OF EN-. The ole man WIS con-
tiuuly a a-readin' an a-writin'; | ulster hev
mighry pore opinion o him, when | tuck no
tice o how Their pUsiey weeds an crab grass
wus a-chossn' the life out'n his little patch o
later ground fer the want o a nlan ter cut
'em out; but when l heerd his voice raised
in prayer, a-thankIn' o the Lord fer his good
ness, IN our little rneetln' house. thet lister
stan over thar on Their crick an listened 20
him a-pouriu' out q string o book larnin'
fore Their throne, tibet made a shiver o cIori-
Gus JOY trickIe down my back, forgot every
thing ayin him, an would take my hoe an
drap in kinder material like, an do turn
a-hoin wlthoUt'u AKIN q cent fer IL.
They got holt OF money once IN while
fruru some'rS, fer they was never wlthout'n
substantial vicruaIs; some lowed that his
writin' fotch II in, W they he'd rich kin in
Virginy They was as honest as Their dsy is
long: when they'd send Stella fer ter SIX the
loan o bucket o meal, ur cup o coffee or
SIGH ike, they'd send it back piled up an
s-runnIn' over.
Most every day Soella'd come over, some
times fer 8 chunk o. fire. sometimes one