Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-08-01
Samuel Jarvis and Wife.

| was within a mile of the boundary
line between Tennessee and North
Carolina, 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 a
tumble-down cabin, with three child
rem 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
belong 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 con-
versatien, and both gave me chow
dy Z" as | drew nearer.
1t was the loneliest, gloomiest spot
in all the gloomy spurs of the lonely
Cumberland. Nine miles back was a
mountain cabin in another such cove
how far ahead to the next | could
not say. Around the house was hall
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 cutting
loose from all the great world, that
struck me. Once month some
stranger might pass that way. There
was an awesomeness about the spot
even when the sun shone the brightest
When the night came down and the
winds sighed through trees and bush
es, 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 q
minute without speaking. Then the
man said
"I'm list glad out"
"So'm 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 ~
Hell jist fetch with me, and he'll
tell you to yer face that ye orter be
ashamed of yerself!
"Is it "a family jar?" inquired
"Come up to the cabin" replied the
man.
The children's faces wore an anus
ed expression through the dirt. They
seemed to be about Z, 8, II years old
respectively, and soap and combs and
towels were articles unknown to them
They snickered among themselves as
we approached, and the oldest said to
his father.
MAN was a-goin' this time, fur
suah."
"Shet !" was the brief command OF
the father.
Dad and nam is always a.fussin' u
added the second oldest.
Hiram, you shet p 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 reach
ing out for stick to whittle 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 :"
"Thar's 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 jst squatted yere, and we don't
own nuthipk."
"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"
"We'll hev a muel some day"
The children cheered
"A muel Some day o! yes
A real live mu-ell. And a kerridge !
And we'll feed him on slivers and
splinters That's bin the talk fur last
dozen years, and whar's the mu-el !"
"Muels is high, Nancy"
"Kin | wolIop him, dad ?" anxious
ly inquired the oldest child.
"Shet J" called father and mother
in one voice.
Its like this, stranger" continued
the wife after wiping her tears. I'VE
don't git along. It's all his fault.
He's lazy, and he don't keer far rich
es. HIS allus gwine to do sunthin',
but it never comes. Yere we squatted
when we got spliced, and yere we are
to-day. Them young 'uns has growed
up like heather, and I've forgotten
all ] ever knowed. I've got clean
bushed out.
MANS a-bawlng snickered the
oldest