The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-04
A MYSTERIOUS REoLUsE.
he Lives for Seven Years in Each Re-
treat and at the End of That Time
Finds Refuge in Another.


Louisiana streams. 1 set sail and away
glided through ripping, winding waters,
over eddies and up the stream, which grad
ually broadened into a beautiful lake
lay back comfortably. listening to the
warbling birds, whose morning tunes filed
the air melodiously. and watching the gay
little fish that frisked necessarily over the
surface of the water, their shining scales
seeming a confusion of diamonds, pearls,
rubies and tOpazes. The wind Gained
slightly, so leaned in an easy, lazy position,
resting my head on one arm, while l in
ha!ed the fresh, sweet air and gazed at the
Ife-pictures anear and afar
In every scene l lived in the present
alone, with no thought for the past or
future. Ny heart beat joyously, while
my pulses seemed endowed with strength
that would never wear. Time past IN
noticed.
Juse as l rose up to change my boats
course for home, my eyes fell upon a pretty
cioud-llke streak far up in TIE heavens
some distance ahead of me, which seemed
10 rise from the woods. | screened my
yes with my hand, but could see nothing
more, nothing less. l was rather anxious
to discover the cause of this streak,
ut felt that l had not time. However,
l glanced at the SUI, and its hight gave me
courage.
Several hours had elapsed since | had
partaken of anything substantial, and my
feelings were rather empty. 1t was getting
dangerous for a raw crawfish, crab or even
mud cat to look my way-not dangerous
for me- but for the varmints themselves
However, mans curiosity will get the better
OF nun sometimes, even when he is hungry
few tin cans of bayou water well
crammed down helped me considerably
Feeling now fuller, l determined to know
more of this smoky cloud, so | made start
for that point and made good time. Almost
ere knew 1t there appeared in sight a
pretty shell bank, which grew nearer and
nearer. Gradually a hut came in view.
Then l rounded a point and saw plainly
that the curling blue streak came from the
ground near the hut and was nothing but
smoke The shore was now reached in a
twlnkling. | stood up in the stern Of the
boat to get better view of the place.
As did so | noticed an old man bending
now and then over fire, evidently cooking.
DE had white flowing beard, white hair
and mild blue eyes. He looked up, saw me-
and invited me ashore. readily accepted
the invitation. When | reached the hut
the old man clasped my hand most cordi-
ally, eyed me keenlY, then equested me to
share his dinner with him. l accepted the
invitation. The odor from the coffee was
lavishing. The hot corn bread, nicely
Drowned fish, boiled partridge eggs and
smoking coffee disappeared as did nv
grandmother's bread pudding in the DAYS of
long ago. The old man wished to know
what brought me there. or course he was
told and he then informed me what | had
already noticed, that the interesting cloud
was merely the smoke from his little camp
fire.
After the meal was over he showed me
around and over his little hut, which was
built with stray bits of drift-wood so COM
monty found here and there floating near
the bank and washed up on the sand. With
mud chimney scarcely larger than
stove-pipe, palmettos for shingles, moss and
sand chlnked in every crevice, it made a
queer, though rather attractive appearances.
IhiS hut sat upon high bank in a grove
OF scrub oak, myrtle and haw trees. 1t
had only room, with the toughest but
| cleanest of floors. In the rear of the build
ing one shutter did duty for light, and in
front there was one shutter and one door.
The gallery had shed-like roof, but no
fioor except the earth, dotted profusely with
snowy shells. Near the back window was
neatly made bed, and in one corner, near
the floor, were hooks made of "elbows" of
trees, which were used to hang the cooking
utensils on. Over the door, within reach
of a man of small stature, were two large
hooks across which were resting rifle and
q shotgun.
Here and there on the wall hung modest
looking pictures In a corner least notice
able was huge trunk, well worn now,
though once handsome.
found the old man bright and interest
ing, with an education, and refinement of
mind that would do credit to any man, and
surely such as is found but one in life
time in the rustic hut of fisherman. He
was chatty, but always serious, and man
day. His cas- flowing mode of converse
ton. his comparisons and timely and ap-
propriate quota ions from different writer's
gave evidence of wide ind intelligent read
ing. learned from him that mis- home
had been on this spot for six years, and
during that time he had not once laid ewes
on any town or settlement.
Previous to his settling on this spot he
had lived around on different lakes and
bayous, spending his time fishing, hunting
and reading. His game and fish he sold Ut
his hut to men VINO peddled them. He
never peddled. His provisions, clothes and
whatever else was needed was purchased
for him by one of his regular custom rs,
Thus ne never left his home.
His memory was something to be envied,
could learn more and remember more of
any subject as told by him in one day than
by much reading. But all pleasures must
nave an end and my visit had its ending
too But many more followed and were
equally pleasant. Whenever | looked at
the large trunk in the corner | was ALWAYS
possessed with much curiosity to know it's
| contents. Its weight had discovered was
prodlgious. However, | was not to be- sat
fled on this score for many day He was
quick enough to speak of others, their per-
sonal affairs and all that concerned them,
but little of himself.
Nv visits we're usually spent under the
shed" or in the shade Of some tree. But
ON one occasion driving rain, made me
seek shelter in the hut, and wNhn doors
we stayed the whole afternoon. Now for
the first time the little unpretendilg pic
lures hanging here and there on the wall
attracted and absorbed my attention. l was
much surprised to discover that they were
all by the band of my old friend. Nothing
fine, to be sure, but full of life,
A good picture represented Sir Nathaniel
reading Jaque enetta's letter. One was a
sad picture of Evangeliue at the hospital in
the act Of pillowing her dying lovers head
on her bosom.
There were couple Of pretty scenes from
Byron, and one each from Scott, Tennyson,
Poe, Goethe, Schiller, Ingelow and Brown
ing. indeed, no poets were sighted Many
OF the pictures we're purely original, being
scenes that were never in the volumes illus
trated. l turned away from the .sst picture
just in time to sea the old man rise walk
over TO his trunk and open it, after which
he invited me 70 look over his library. And
q rhnfra L..