Wichita eagle., 1888-08-21
JARVIS AND WIFE.


I was within lille Of the boundary
line between Tennessee and North Caro-
lima, and near where the Little Tennessee
river crosses the line, when heard shrill
voices on the rough trail ahead Then as
passed q sh arp curve [ came upon a man
and a woman, and few rods beyond
them was a tn. nble down cabin, with three
children sitting On the doorstep.
1t needed but & glance to show that
man and woman were husband and wife
and that the cabin and children belonged
to them. The woman had on an ancient
straw bonnet and a faded shawl, as if
bound on u Journey, and both people were
somewhat excited. My appearance cut
short their CONVEX sation, and both gave
me ''hoWdy!" as ! drew nearer
it was the l0ncii est, glooniest spot in
all the gloomy spurs of the lonely Cum
berland. Nine miles back was a noun
tain cabin il another such cove-how far
ahead 10 the next ! cs I'D not say Around
the house was half an acre of cleared
ground. All else was rock and hill and
bush. The nearest town WAS twenty
miles away, and as for schools and
churches the people had scarcely heard OF
them. 1t wasn't SO much the poverty
though none could be poorer-but the
utter loneliness, the seclusion, the cut
ting loose from all the great world, that
struck HE. Once q month some stranger
might pass that way. There was an awe
solneEcss about the spot even when the
sun shCue the brightest. When the night
came down and the winds sighed through
trees and bushes and the solemn old
mountain sent masses Of loosened earth
4 J., ', /
it must have been naddeuing.
We three looked at each other for a
minute without speaking, Then the man
said:
I'm jist glad OMIT"
''Som II replied the woman.
Cause now III tell him all about it,
and ycpll see II no don't fetch (agree)
with me"
'.No, he won't. Samuel Jarvisl He'll
list fetch with me, and he'll tell you to
yer face that ye orter be ashamed of yer
self"
is it IA family jar?' inquired
Come up TO the cabin" replied the
man
The cEildrcns faces wore an amused
expression through the dirt. They seemed
IL be about T, 8 and II years old, respect
lively, and soap and combs and towels
wero articles unknown to them. They
Enicbcred among themselves us we ap-
prUached, and the olGest said TO his
father:
''Mam was a-goin' this time, fur suah."
''Shetl' was the brief command of the
father.
Dad and man is always a-fussin',"
added the second Oldest.
Hiram, you sbet!' exclaimed the
mother as she sat down beside him.
The father and / SAT down upon log
ri the door, and while he was clearing his
voice to begin, and reaching out for
stick To whittle while he talked. tho
woman suddenly broke down and so5bed
out:
Just look around-and see how I've had
to live fur the last fifteen years"
'"Thar's them aslives wuss, replied the
husband.
What hev we got?" she demanded,
starting up and looking around. You
could tote our goods on yer back. We've
jist squatted yere, and We don't own
no.hinll"
Its agin the law to own niggers," he
calmly observed.
"Niggers What do we want with
niggers? Niggers would starve with usl
he>unS is niggers 'nulf.
Wen hcv a muel some day
The children cheered.
A mu-el, Some dayl Oh, yes! A /
real, live mu-ell And kerridge! And j
Wen feed him on slvers and splirtersl .
That's bin the talk fur the last dozen |
years. aud whar's the mu-elv'
"Muels is high. Nancy"
Kin l wollop him dad?' anxiouSly in
1uired the Oldest child
'ShetH called father and mother in one
voice.
Its like this. stranger. continued the
wife afte wiping away her tears. We
don't a. along It's all his fault He's
lazy, and be don't keer fur riches. He's
allus gNyine to do sunthin', but it never
eomcs. iere We sQuattcd when we got
sPlioed. and we're we are today. Them
young 'unS has growcd up like heather,
and &c forgotten ali ever knowed. I've
got clean pushed out. "
Man 5 a-b2wling!" snickered the old
psf.
-'Shet" exclaimed the father as he
reached over and euffed the youngsters
head.
Il purfess that we heven't got rich"
slowly replied he husband. but faint
al my fault. Wasn't claw'd by barr
Didn't l f&u fun q tree? Wasn't the
gourg 'uns dow. nth the measles and
thingS?"
Bat you ID me rightr sobbed
lie woman. - these du6s-lhe
best | hev! ! lrked and toiled and
.oiled ana savcS, I'd what hare 7 got fo-
Il. Who DO bu- q raInshackle s0ua-ter's
wife. hevil' cliills al summer and eoin'
b'arfut IL the winter Where be re, AID
shat DO we?"
The children set IL and began crying
with their mother, and the rountaineer
frew has sleeve across his eyes aud wins
pered:
Stranger. talk to her soothin' like. !.
shes powerful coed hearted. but liable to .
spells. She's got spell on just now"
Perhaps things viii soon mend" l /;
said, IS the woman controlled her emo !
lion a little
"Nhar' did We find NE. Samuel JaryisY" :