The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-23
CHUNK !"
by LUM DUKE,


Being so plump and round and pretty when
she was n child was why Mary Elizabeth was
discarded for the more appropriate and descrip-
tive "Chunk." Few people knew her real
name She didntknow it until she married
Tom Hubbard, when she heard the preacher
call IL.
But that didn't matter Any name suited
her when Tom called her by it.. Tom thought
ahere was not another woman in all the world
like Chunk, and no was not far wrong, for she
was queer one. Anyway, she loved Tom
nd wouldn't give the flip OF your finger for
any one else. She had never seon many peo-
pie in her whole Life, having always lived hid
away in the pine mountains on the Chatta-
hoochee river, but she had seen Tom and loved
and married him, and was happy in her seclu-
sion.
1t was quecr lifo they led. A small field
OF corn supplied their bread and few patches
about the house afforded vegetables for table
use. They had traps in the river, too, and
caught lots Of fish which they carried to
the store ont on the State road several
miles distant and traded for articles OF need
and luxury. wild geese and ducks also were
10 be had at times and disposed OF In the same
manner. for you must know these fowls follow
ing the instinct OF their nature flee tho chilling
frosts Of the northern winter 10 bask in the
southern sun, A light row boat served both
10 visit the traps and 10 ferry pedestrians
she river, from which service dime was some
times realized.
Thus, "by hook andlby crook" as the term
goes. they made 4 scant living, but happy
enc.
Chunk, for the most part, attended 70 the
traps, conveyed passengers across the river and
handled the gun with an tho cleycrneEs OF an
expert As for her being afraid, Tom told the
men at the store that she wasnot afraid Of "old
Nick himself and her actions fully verified
his statement.
When Tom was tending the little farm or
was gone to the store Chunk took the gun ia
the boat and went TO the traps, often return
Sng with the bottom Of the boat covered with
fish. Failing in this, she took a eircuilous
route from tho landing TO the house, going
through the heavily tlmbered forest, tripping
noiselessly along, all tho while ON tho lookout
for squirrels.
"Whut luck terlay, Chunk ?" asked Tom
one night IN early spring, when he had
turned from the store.
'only tolet'ble. Got or right smart chance
er fish, two geese an, some squirl's."
I'm halter go back ter Their sto' ergin in
fber nornn', reckon
"Not er bliseter. | put ther fish in ther
box in ther river, .an' they'll keep.
Xei kea salt down tier geese an tier squir'ls,
On they won't splle. spec them's Their las
geese wen git this season, fer ther weatherg
furnin' warm an they're most all gone. Yer
hin wait till day after Tomorrow ter 20 ter
thor sto', Of yef'd rniher."
"Yas, that's so. Who wus that er bustinr
nv his lungs down ter ther landin this evenin
Sos Ms got homer
"kr sto bought fellor whit wanted to
GROSS" Then after a while: tom, he says
theys er place bout twenty miles down ther
river whar Their houses is thick es them trees
on Bluff hill, an thoya mo- people lives in 'em
than they Is fish in thor river An he says
that's whar they made cloth am ever thing wo
use. An he says they have great big things
Ter haul on, longern FUN here TO cher river.
tfaNa - 49,. a -
wagn? Couldn't git ernough bosses in CT ten
acre tiel' ter pull t."
Gle says they don't nothin' pull IT, 1t les
runs itself. An says Of we WIS thar we could
wear fine sto' bought close an not do nothin'
but whnt we wanted to-"
Tom was inerodulous, but Chunk was
firm IN her conviction that there was some
thlng Of IT, After some further discussion the
subject was dropped and Chunk remained ST.
lent and thoughtful. Her mind wandered
away from the weird scenes Of her past lilc
and she dreamed OF cities, factories and reii-
roads, and tho gay fashionable lifo of oiyiiga.
zion. She saw herself clad in fine dresses aud
Toms look OF admiration. And she saw Tom
.-her own dear Tom~wearing with becoming
dignity tho gaudiest apparel money could buy.
All this had been told her aud she believed
It.
The hours dragged YEARLY by. and~when by
appointment one morning Two days later the
'sto' bought" man returned 20 cross he found
Chunk NJ the landing waiting for him.
.
Ehi Chunk mus be after some mo- geese.
said Tom, when he had prepared dinner
''Reekon some or tier traps is cutters fix an
Chunk ain gointer leave 'em till
she gifts EN- right. She's er mighty
she sets her head an her head is mighty nigh
always sot. Sometimes when we go ter Their
traps torgetber an finds 'em 20 up, and
works AZ EN- till bout dinner time, l says
Chunk dad blame it MI, I'm hongry, less
Hg4,sa al f-...
yer wants ter, bat I'm gwineter nix the fetched
thing 70 ] stop When She say thar, hits
Katy bar ther do thon, fer she's gwineter
DO it,
appearance OF his wife, Tom spread quilt on
she floor between the two doors Of his cabin
where he could catch the cool river hroe1es
and gave himself 10 sleep,
When he awoSe his companion had not re-
turned, aud closing the cabin door behind him
he walked down 10 the boat landing. The
boat was gone and Chunk was nowhere to be
Eeen
lie went up the river and down the river,
vatnly straining his eyes across tho broad ex-
panse of water to catch glimpse OF his COM
panion, but the only moving objects visible
were the waves
Evening came. lie Quioloned his pace hur.
rying here and yondcr with uneasy iootsteps
now and then sending loud whoop across
tho roaring waters,
hut no response
Night set IN and he became frantic Rnsh-
Ing wildly through the swamps or daSh!ng
bindly from crog 90 erag along the stoop
mountain side. he sent pleading cries on tho
plight air only TO ho echoed by noiehboring
hill or lost la The recesses OF the mountain
AL night he spent thus, ami In the morning
when the merry waves rippling in the bright
sun seemed laughing AZ his grief, he fell down
On his face exhausted and hoGrtbruken
Many lon9 DAYS have passed. and the poor
husband had wandered the river and moun-
tains over but nothing had been seen or heard
OF the dear wife Of his bosom. Then lac re.
turned home.
home2 The place that had heen home, for
" was homo no mora, The place had no
charms for him now since tile object that
made home happy WAS lied. He took no more
pleasure IN hunting, fishing, or tending the
tarln. The traps wero never visited and tho
boat had disappeared with Chunk on that
memorable day the gun lay rusting Ia the
rack and ms Scant farming implements had
never boon brought from The field
lie spent the days siil wandering IN and
down The river and waiting at the landing FOR
sue boat e bring hack It's precious cargo, re.
tafning % the house 70 get his meals and pass
She nights ia restless dreams