San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-01
JARVIS AND WIFE.

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 sharp curve | came upon man
and woman, and few rods beyond
them was tumble down cabin, with three
children sitting on the doorstep.
1t needed but a 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 faded shawl, as if
bound on journey, and both people were
somewhat excited My appearance cut
short their conversation, and both gave
me "howdy?" as | drew nearer
1t was the loneliest, gloomiest spot in
all the gloomy spurs of the lonely Cum
berland. Nine miles back was a noun
tain cabin in another such cove-how far
ahead to the next could 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 me. Once month some stranger
might pass that way. There was an awe.
someness about the spot even when the
sun shone 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
and rock crashing down the steep slopes
it must have been maddening.
We three looked at each other for
minute without speaking, Then the man
said:
I'm jist glad on't~
Som l." replied the woman.
"'Cause now I'll tell him all about it,
and you'll see if he don't fetch (agree)
with me-"
mo, he won't, Samuel Jarvis! He'll
jist fetch with me, and he'll tell you to
yer face that We orter be ashamed of yer
self"
lis it "a family jar?" inquired.
Come up to the cabin" replied the
man.
The children's faces wore an amused
expression through the dirt. They seemed
to be about Z, 9 and ~ years old, respect
lively, and soap and combs and towels
were articles unknown to them They
snickered among Themselves as we ap
preached, and the oi,.e-t said to his
father:
Nam was a-goin this time, fur suah
"Shetp was the brief command of the
father
Dad and man is always a-fussin',"
added the second oldest.
Hiram, you shetw exclaimed the
mother as she sat down beside him.
The father and sat down upon a log
at the door, and while he was clearing his
voice to begin, and reaching out for
stick to white while he talked, the
woman suddenly broke down and sobbed
out:
"Just look around and see how I've had
to live fur the last fifteen years"
"Thars them as lives 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
nothink"
"It's agin the law to own niggers," he
calmly observed.
'Niggers! What do we want with
niggers? Niggers would starve with US
We'uns is niggers huff.
"We1l hev a muel some day
The children cheered
"a mu-ell Some day! Oh, yesl
real, live mu-ell And a kerridge! And
We'll feed him on slivers and splinters
That's bin the talk fur the last dozen
years, and whars the mu-elp
"Muels is high, Nancy"
kin | wollop him, dad2" anxiously in
quired the oldest child.
"Shet" called father and mother in one
voice.
cts like this, stranger" continued the
wife after wiping away her tears. I'VE
don't git along. It's all his fault. He's
law. and he don T. keer fur riches Hes