Mower County transcript., 1889-11-13

just at the moment whom the loosened
girth fell about the horses feet. Par
son Prater paused, the saddle half
drawn from the animals back.
Be rher' trouble ter Bar Coyep"
he asked. .5@. q
The hull kentry air alive with It" !
she told MIN. Hit mir all count o.
that Metherdis' dancin' party ye heeard
about. Hit air been a-brewin' nigh on
ter two months. an now the pot air
bout ter bile over. Parson Lyle aims
ter preach op'n sarmon ter-morrer
iur q Christmas gif, an they-uns down
ther' hev laid out ter strop him ter q
blackjack tree an thrash him ter q
inch Nv his life when he air done
preachin'." .@zI + II S
She paused; the old man had slipped
the saddle back to its place, and
buckled the girth again.
"Wher' be ye goin' ter, CalebP" she
asked Of him. ...-
About my Masters business" he
told her; and the weary old ambassa-
dor for peace mounted his horse. and
turned his face toward the cabin in
Bear Cove. LII -
THAT war q suddint CALL" his wife
declared, as horse and rider disap-
peared down the long lane. and she
felt half-vexed that she had not post
poned the telling of the news of the
disturbance until both man and beast
had taken few MON ents' rest. a..
The sun was almost ready to drop
behind the mountain when old Bald
turned into the road leading to Parson
Lyle's cabin. The owner was gather
ing chips at the woodpile. but left his
basket and went to meet his visitor.
'Lights?" he said, half hoping he
would say no, for be guessed in part
the object of the visit.
"Naw," said the old man. Il low 1t
air not wuth while.'
He glanced down at the young face.
shadowed by cure, and bearing the
marks of toll and WEAKNESS. A good
face withal. bearing witness to the
strong heart it indexed.
''Ye be worried, brother" said the
older man.
''Yaas. Man air born tor trouble ez
the sparks flies up'ard.'" was the
answer.
The old man leaned forward, and
laid his hand upon the young preach
er's shoulder.
"Brother," he said, II hev been
young an air now ole; an I hev lived
by one rule, an it air good un, a
mighty good rule ter live BY" He
prus I'd as a frown darkened the face
of his listener. ''Naw," he went on.
II bent a-meddlin'!'
He half turned in his saddle, and
pointed down the road by which he
had come. Il war born'd ter this
cove" he said, ''jest this side o. tha,
rocky rise ye see yandor. That air q
good road, barrin' NV the two rocky
places it hev got.
''Whenst war a boy. l useter ride
ter mill, an do all the yerrands 70,
we-Nns family. Iner' was allus trouble
crossin' them rocky places in the road
Onct the hoss stumbled an skinned my
leg. Onct he rid me up aginst one O
them big boulders side the road. an
slit the meal sack. An onct the jOlt'n n
Nv the critter shuk the cider jug out O
my arms an bruk it. They-uns wal
jest orful, them rocky places war.
min now how my daddy useter call tel
me ez war start'n' OF in a kind O
quick trot:
"'Go slow over the rough places
Caleb. :" An eff ! done it, ther wal
never no danger, ef l went slow ovel
the rough places.
Hit got ter be a sort o. song ter we
uns: Go slow over the rough places
Caleb L. seemed ter fit everything
an finally we-uns TUX it ez sort O
watchword to steer by.
"Ther' never war hitch or .
hcnder. but my ole nanny uso,er say
60 slow over the rough places, Caleb.
meanin' me or the ole man ez war boli
name Caleb. l kin shet my eyes an
heear her now: go slow over the
rough places. Caleb Hit war the las,
word she ever give me; left it ter me
to live by-a 'watchword' she named it.
! ''An' when heeard or how you-uns
war a-gallopin' over a mighty rough
place in the road. jest buc!kled the
saddle on ter ole Bald. an rid over tel
Bar Cove ter give ye my ole nanny
watchwOrd. .
The old preacher paused; his voice
was serious and impressive as he went
on, !. Go slow over the rough places,
brother, ef ye hev keer fur the skin
Nv yer legs, an the meal-bag. an the
cider jug. .go slow An ef ye hev u
keer fur yer own safety an the good
o. the worl, 70 slow, go mighty slow
over the rough places Take nc