Telegram-herald., 1889-04-29

The Pathetic story Told by a
Florida Cracker"

81
Florida the Frost King had far TOO many
enemies 10 admit Of his rel gning The road
from Tampa 70 The inland town Of Barlow
stretched out in the warm winter sunshine,
not. sinaous and sandy gentleman rid
ing leisureiy along the road smiled TO him
self as he came upon sudden turn where
tree had fallen across the road, and, il
being no ones business 10 remove the
trunk sharp detour had been made. Al
his point the monofonous pines gave place
20 a stretch of beautiful nigh hammock
country. and he Spien 4 narrow winding
path leading from the road into very
thick part Of the hammock. Into this lcafy
path he turned. Idly wondering where il
ed Many sharp turns IL made, and, final
Y. as IL swept around a large bunch OF pa
mettO, he found himself - the very gate of
some ones homestead, and face 20 face with
q strange figure.
A heavy beard proclaimed tho figure to
be hat of 2 man, but the iron gray hair
WAS "roached' from the forehead in by
zone schoolgirl IA Shion, and confined hy
a genuine round comb, from which 10 fell
10 the shoulders in loose ri0glets. SmaI
gold hoops were in his ears. and = huge
Dancanna was pinned about his throat lin
m immense old-fa~ hioncd brooch. The man
wore loose. short trowsers. that reminded
one forcibly of the divided skirt 80 az
IDENTIFY urged upon fcm.nnry by dress re
formers. and shining brass spurs were at
tached 10 his boots
The native leispreiy surveyed he horse
man. and twinkle revealed itself i'm his
shrewd. brown eve rs re noted the stran-
gers vident confusion. He had been fan
ming himself witn his palmetto ha', bur now
be put II on aslant as hc sais cordially:
"Hovdy, Yank2 I'm CAD to see ye.
Won't ye light and come in for q sreiit'
Il would like a dlin..' tie stranger re-
Piled; 'and yonder old live oak looks in
viting My name Is Riwson, " he added. as
ne led his horse TO the gate.
And I'm Ane Hammond; or. IL We win.
Uncle Abei. Hycr. Sed' 20 a lad VINO ap-
proachcd-''you tend TO the gcnticmaa's
critter.' Then turning 10 lead tho way 70
me largo live oak which had attracted the
Strangers attention, he continued ia the
drawing tone peculiar ioall the CRACKERS"
as the native whites of tho Florida oack
woods arc called. saving
''Ye found il purity n ddling hot. recig
on; these yer piney woods amt mucn for
shade. and this white Fiurdv sand T. igh
about as hots tie sun. onci it fits het up
real good"
Two tail. straightforward, hide-bo.tom
chairs stood under the tree. while hanging
close 10 the trunk on 'ow i4rno was a Gu
riou. eartbcnware vessel with gourd
swinging beside it,
Have q chair and q drinS from the mon
key" said Uncle Abel. proceeding TO pour
out g0urdfui II beautiful, clear water from
small spout near the top q the vessel
His guest evidently appreciated the good
qualities OF the monkey, for he filed tho
Inning gourd again. inQuiring IS lie did 50
II Uncie A0e was Fiordian.
"A Flrrcediani Yeh, I'm a Fenuwire
cracker, born aud raised IN Fiuridy. Some
II thcso yer consarrei eeJits. they klcss
agin being called -cxctS. b-f II you i
show me why 'Flureetian IS such p mighty
sight gcnteolcr'n cracker, J. show yol
night ti0om.n jasmine tbat fors.fs 20 60 =
sleep i1 ne daytime
This poetic wager from such decidedly
prosaIc source brought slightly serprlscd
smile - the stranger .a,. Whica JDclo
Abel Immediately noted
.-Ycr smiling. see. Tc think re Gurus
ths. such an ole coon ne nc 'ui know any
thing bout flowers. But law bless 70
ran fsl Jest wher ycl fnd tnf biggest.
JI-es- = e-s ol tr7 sweetest WccrT whi'e
uos. where the jasmine a0d aa~b.7orls
grcr -h.ckest. ieet when the sres' Em and
maple c1mmences 20 RED. and rncrc tae
villa grapes gft rro tho 4'lcs st
How'd como % know Q. fhisi We.
IIteN SO Have Foa Eot . i.tlc g.ri 20 Tore
place. srif0 fair iest iSe sunshine. and eyes
a.c .he sSri Yo tar-- shake. stranger +
fr. al - sca ve H.t-tlen- iiftle
zir-a'n oliat Trrra beg rare pardon