The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-09-27
A SKTTTISH< A66SjER
Characteristic sketch of Everyday L,f,
in the Indiana Slashes,


Characteristic sketch of Everyday I,,,
in the Indiana Slsshes.
was once riding through the slasha,
of Upton County, down in the Hoosie,
State, when 1 lost my way. | rod.
along until / came to clearing or
the edge of which and facing the road
stood a small pole cabin. built in the
most primitive style. 1t had but on;
small window; a dirty quilt hung u
did duty as door; the roof was of un.
dressed clapboards. while a rude stick
chimney, daubed with mud, took u,
nearly one entire end OF the structure.
l stopped my horse at the low rail
fence and. after the fashion of the
country. hailed the occupants of the
cabin. In answer to my halloo, a long.
gaunt-lOoking HoOsier came from be-
hind the house with bride. which be
had evidently been mending. in his
hands. AT the same time, too, noticed
pale. sa low-faced woman lift the Quit
to one side and peer cautiously out at
me.
''Can you tell me the way to the
Night Owl school-house?" l INQUIRED
as the man came closer.
why. what's goin' On over thar?"
was the answer, in tone which plain
y showed his interest in the idea which
my question had evidently suggested to
mis- mind.
Nothing that know Of" replied.
but have a little business in that
neighborhood and somehow l seem to
ave lost my way"
Say. hain't got any store terbacker,
hev your"
1 noticed the hungry. eager look in
ais eyes, as he asked the question, so /
1rew good-sized plug from his pocket
md handed It to him and waited pa
iiently while he slowly filled his capa-
cious mouth, and then. cutting the plug
in two in the midd e. handed me back
one piece ana coolly put the other into
lis pocket.
Gosh, stranger he said. as he spit
at bumble-bee sitting on an iron
weed ten feet away, that's the fust
taste of good store terbacker I've had
fer coon's age Say, light and look
at your saddle Well hev some sup
per dreckly."
NO" l replied, 81 am in a hurry tc
get to my destination. If you can tell
me which road to take TO reach the
Night Owl school-house, Til be much
obliged to you
"Well, you air leetle out O. yo'
reck' MIN, but / kin set you right in a
jify. When fust seed you l though,
mebbe you WIZ that magic lantern
show fe'ler what showed last Wee
over to Lick Skillet, an Sile Ramsey
said he hearn he lowed ter give show
one night this week down in the Postum
Ridge settlement"
mo. am not in the show business, >
answered, 'but | am in considerabl,
If a hurry"
"Well. 1 didn't know" he replied
ignoring my hint that he would give
me the information desired. but you
wuz him. reckon. them he contin-
ued. ''you must be a canvassin' fer a
county atlas or suthin'. signed fer
one o the blamed things once, cost me
%even dollars, an | had ter sell the
only ca'f | had ter pay fer it. Par
" peart-lookin' chap like yourself cum
srlong here and talked me plum intel.
akin it afore hardly knowed who
guz. Why. say. he didn't give me
;hance ter git wOd in edgeways
Mother time "a Teller Snm erlong seliin
wind-mills; an signed a note fer TWEEN
ty-fve dollers ter pay fer a mill after
got my wheat thrashed. That note
turned up in ole Shurx' bank down tie
Upton fer two hundred an fifty dollers
an l had ter mawgage the farm tef
nay it. Oh. tell y.r-"
Say. Bill" screamed the old wo
man, from her place behind the quilt
what does that blame fool want? Yum
nerstan'. now. you hain't goin' ter sig
fer nothin We don't want nothin
an we haint got nothin ter buy
with eff we did"
Don't get skittish afore you re hurt
Mandy said Bill. Slowly. The onl
wants ter know the way over to tn
Night Owl settlement He amt go
nothin ter sell"
''Well, ! kin tell him that blam
quick. sd the woman. stepping frol
the door. just keep right on thi
road TIL you cross Taylors run, boz
err half err mile b low here. an thei
take the fust road that FORKS ter tn
south; keep that road fur two miles al
'ou're where you want to go.
l thanked her and rode off but be
ore | was out of hearing The .Hoosie
called after me: Say, stranger,
you cum this way ergin bring erlong :;
right smart chaince o that store ter
hacker. I've got a fust-rate coon pu.
I'll swap you fer it. = Ed. r. Pritch-
ard, in Ariansaw Traveller.