The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-31
rr1ALs OF A soUATrERs FAMILY.
NJ Quad, the Hutnorist. Wins Fame
end Good VIII as a Peacemaker.
IL. Al. not-nit L., n.


Twas within mile of the boundary line
bqtween Tennessee and North Carolina, and
mar where the Little Tennessee river
o.,,sss the line, when | heard shrill voices
W fine rough trail ahead Then as | passed
asharp curve | came upon a man and
Woman. and few rods beyond them was
aunbie-down cabin, with three children
sitting on the doorstep.
II needed but glance to show that man
and woman were husband and wife, and
that the cabin and children belonged to
,Tenl The woman had ON an ancient straw
ionnet and faded shawl, as if bound on a
Journey, and both people We're somewhat
excited. My appearance cut short their
conversation, and both gave me "howdy"
as drew nearer.
II was the loneliest, gloomiest spot in all
the gloomy spurs of the lonely Cumberland
Nine miles back was mountain 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 bill and bush. The nearest
town was twenty miles. away, and as for
,chools and churches the people had scarcely
heard Of them. 1t wasn't so much the
povertv-though none could bo poorer-but
The utter loneliness, the seclusiOu, the cut
ting loose from all the great world, that
struck me. Once a month some stranger
might pass that way. There was an awe
solneness about the spot even when the sun
sh1ne 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 deep slopes, it must have
been maddealng.
We three looked at each other for min
ute without speaking. Then the man said;
I'm jist glad ont'
.,so'm ~ replied the woman.
"'Cause now I'll tell him all about it,
and youth see if he don't fetch (agree) with
me-
NO, he won't, Samuel Jarvis! He'll
list fetch with me, and he'll tell you to
yer face that We orter be ashamed of yer
self"
as it "a family jar9" inquired.
The childrens faces wore an amused ex-
preston through tie dirt. They seemed
to be about Z, 9 and Il years old, re-
spectively, and soap and combs and towels
were articles unknown to them. They
snickered among themselves as we APP
preached, and the eldest said to his father:
"Mam was a-goin' this time, fur suah.n
"Shetn was the brief command of the
father.
ed the second Oldest.
Hiram, you shet ~ 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 a stick
to whittle while he talked, the woman sud
denly broke down and sobbed out:
Just look around and see how I've had
to live fur the last fifteen yearsm
"Thars them as lives wuss," replied the
husband.
what hev we gotP 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 nuth-
in"
"It's again the law to own niggers, he
calmly observed
"Niggers! What do we want with Mig
gersl Niggers would starve with us! We'uns
is niggers huff.
"We'll hey a muel some day."
The children cheered
"a muel! Some day! Oh, yes! A real
live mu-els And kerridge! And We'll feed
him on slivers and splinters! That's bin the
talk fur the last dozen years, and whar's tho
mu-elE'
Mules is high, Nancy"
kin wollop him, dqdm anxiously in
CURED the oldest child.
"Shet!n called father and mother in one
voice.
Its like this, stranger" continued the
wife, after wipirg away her tears. eve
don't git along It's all his fault. He's
lazy, and he don't koer fur riches. He's
allus gwine to do sunthin, but it never
comes. Yere we squatted wnen we got
spliced, and yere we are to-day. Them
young 'uns has grown up like heather, and
I've forgotten ali | ever knowd. I've got
clean pushed out"
MANS a-bawaling!" snickered the old
est
"Shet!" exclaimed the father, as he
reached over and cuffed the youngsters
head.
81 purfess that we heven't got rich,"
slowly replied the husband, " "but faint all
my fault. Wasn't l claw'd by a bar?
Didn't | fall fun tree! Wasn't the
young 'uns down with the measles and
thingsf"
But you hain't used me right" sobbed
the woman. Look at these duds-the best
| hevl I've WORKED and toled and saved,
and what have got for itg Who be | but
ram-shackle squatter's wife, a hevin chills
all summer and goin' b'arfut in the winter
Where be we and what De We"
The children set in and began crying
with their mother, and the mountaineer
drew his sleeve across his eyes and whip
cred:
Stranger, talk to her soothin' like
She's powerful good hearted, but liable
to spells. She's got spell on just now"
Perhaps things will soon mend" |
said, as the woman controlled her emotion
a little.
"Whar did you find me, Samuel Jarvisr'
she suddenly exclaimed.
AT yer pops"
Yes; at my pops, whar' was brung up
like lady. What did you promiseF'
Heaps, reckons."
$50 you did | was to hev mules and
kerridges and niggers and silks! Whar' be
they?"
We've bin misfortunate, Nancy The
stranger will fetch with me that a man
hain't to blame fur his misfortunates.
Come, wife, take off yer things"
What fur?'
ITO stay, of course. See them young
'uns a-weepin' and see me a-askin' it Of
you"
you said could go if didn't like your
style"
Il was only funnin', Nancy"
Mas a-gittin' the upper of dad?" snick-
cred young Hiram.
"Shetr" called the father, getting in ado u
bic cuff this time.
well, / might stay on account Of the
Children said the wife.
Yes, they are pore things"
And mebhe you'll do a turn better.n
Il will, Nauce-durn my buttons II |
don'tm
But the stranger must fetch with me
That I'm a-doin' it TO please you and the
children
yes" said, "your duty lies here. You
must not desert your family.