The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-28
SUNSET ROCK.

ing, following the sinuous course OF the len
nessee over rocky gullies and through delis
dense with the wild underground, and strewi
with moss covered powders and decaylns
giant trees, past vine covered natural bowers
protected by an impenetrable phalanx ol
blackberry vines, and dank for want OF sun
light TO absorb the moisture, until 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 myeyes!
was standing at the foot Of the far famed
Sunset Rock, whose perpendicular side faced
westward more than thousand feet in
height | looked up; | could only family
descry the large fiat rock that juttod from the
natural wall at it's top, for clouds were slowly
gathering around it, TO my left the broad
river wound in and out like monster snake,
and past it rose the smoke from the hundreds
of factories and furnaces 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 ard looked once more at the
rocky phenomenon The sunlight CLEANED
still upon it, and was gradually mounting
higher and higher II was cheering to see
the bright rays reflected there, whom all else
was being robed in nights dismal mantle.
l was lust about to retrace my footsteps,
when my attention was arrested by the APP
pearance CT IN old man bent with the bur
den of time. He was typical Tennessee
farmer, o. that class which has scarcely
reached the average in intellectual acquire
ments, nor is even moderately successful
financially.
He wore pair Of brown homo made jean
pants straprcd to him by wide, thick, leather
trimmed suspenders. A hat with an extern
sive brim rested on bis head and was slightly
turned w. in front; his cbeckercd cotton
shirt WAS open, exposing Sunburned chest
He might have been 70, judging by appear
ances.
was struck with the exceedingly agree
able expression, strongly suggestive Of crude
philanthropy, in his homely face, over which
the gray hoirs hung in shaggy abundance
His beard was shaven; but the iron gray
whiskers ,Drotruded sufficiently to give the
lower pert o. his face an ashy appearance,
and rendered the yellow stairs Of tobacco
juice more Observable.
BE was about TO pass with simple
"Howdy," and an Lwkword, though natur-
ally polite motion OF his disengaged hand
toward his hat, when / stopped him with n
question.
'Do you i've near hero"
He turned. swung his ak over his shoulder,
and rested il Oh the grass AZ his feet, regard
ing me with surprised look int3rnlingled
with curiosity,
eyes, sir, thars my shanty beyant Their
branch among the trees; ye'ro stranger
here, ART YET he asked.
answered Lis inquiry in the Affirmative
following with my eyes his finger es he
pointed 10 a four roomed log cottage, so
nearly hidden by the foliage that it had
escaped my observation.
''Ves " he continued, as if talking were Il
genuine pleasure TO him, Sin That thar she
bang I've fotch up two rs likely sons as ever
drawed the breath o life; but they amt hero
now; they air Twin in Texas"
He sighed, ard for an instant shadow
seemed to come into the joyial visago as he
leaned against the trunk Of q walnut tree,
and rubbed his chin refectively with his
rough hand.
His face interested me in an ndescribable
manner and his odd sounding accent added
peculiar charm TO his quaint expressions.
''Can you toll me- | asked strongly desir-
Gus of OBTAINING him for few moments,
chow this cliff happened TO be called Sunset
Rockl | have questioned several living in
the city but no one 60 far has been able TO
give me Tho Information"
~ think orter, for am the plsson thet
named it," lie responded, looking at mo
closely as IL lie thought would coatrsd dc.
his statement, and then went on: eyes,
named it Sunset Rock, an l he'd u reason Ter
doin' NV H.
| pressed him eagerly Cor his reason
III Len scaSely think o. ii now without
cryin' like e baby. 1t hain't long tale,
stranger; yCt down thar on the stump an III
tell ye about it,
was delegated with She prospecs Of listen
ing 20 a true story concerning the attractive
spot irofa tie hC nest old lips, told liz the pro
vinciel phreseology of the country people Of
that section; so assured him OF the exceed
ingly great ylcGaure It would afford me.
gave him = cigar Ike the ono was lighting,
and could hardly refrain from u smile rs he
crumbled II up and flied well worn old pipe
with the fragments.
"Over thar. he began, signing heavily as
he puffed cloud of tobacco smoke from his
mouth, ION t'other side Of wonder rise, not
morn 800 yards from my housa, twenty odd
year back, stood house whar a family Nv
three vus a.Avir'
"The ole man came frun away back in
Virginy Some'Is, an f0tch his vito an Ga-'ter
with him. Tho little gals name wGC Stella.
Me an Ran4y--thet's my 'oman--roVer hod
any gaiG, an ye hair't no idee low y . suck
on over her, fer she begun Ver think II ,nignty
hezp o US an stayed about 81 mt ca in GUT
shanty a. she did il thcir'n.
'Tnoy WY pore folkr, 600, lat 'ucYr2c
they'd cad better days; fer they .ali;sd h,s
rich people -'itb lernin', al obey Gboy.d q,
every inch CT 'eIn. The ole na.' vJg coz
tin,ly ..rsaoin' en' s-wri,in', ,s.e7 5e7
mighty pore cpiaion o him, hoo tricg ..
tice . how t,.ey p3sley vcs4c m crab y ac-
wus gcbolrn' tb3 iisa cltn ali L I'll p-ach .
tster yrcund ,.y lie ycnS o & rsu - o.
'em oat; bit when I hes, . b. Toico s'ssc
In prays2 e-gbsEs-',.' , tne ord l9r is good
moss, 4, cur Little lrestir.' .oyse, tas rlbs.
Etan' ov-s- ehE, en- ther : ivl., ~ irlgroa 2,
him a-yourin' o0t striap o hook z-lil
fore ghar throne, Stet made y tAiye. y glu-i
ous 10y t-ics'e down 'ly back. ZfeygCt 5s--
thing agia 'Lla, m would Gke ny h0s TN
crap IN ,i.der nstsT&l like, ~ 90 s'l~I
a-hoin' witAou.'c exin' { .ecs Ter Il