Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-01-31
Won the "Widder" Over.

won the 'WlOOeT ONeI.
As nearly as | can remember, the
following is an experience related to
Inc by Peter 5. Sorrells, the we'll
known railroad builder:
We were building a road through
an exceedingly wild section Of coun-
try. We had experienced great deal
of trouble, not in securing the right
of way from the State, but in satisfy
ing the people that we would not
destroy the patches of ground which
they were pleased to term farms. !
had charge of the advance construc-
ton gang, and to Inc fell the unpleas-
ant duty of smoothing into compli-
ance the bristes of opposition.
Earl, one morning, just as l had
finished eating breakfast, one OF the
men came back from the front" a
short distance away, and informed
he that we had struck another
snag." / hastened forward and soon
came upon the picket line, as the
breakers of the right of way were
called.
What's the matter now?' | asked,
addressing a man who stood leaning
on his spade. He said nothing, but
pointed to woman who sat on a log
near by. She was the hardest-look-
ing specimen of femininity had ever
seen. Her coarse hair, tangled into
snarls, looked like crab grass in the
wake of whirlwind. She had long,
keen nose and sharp chin, and was
dressed-or rather covered-with a
sort of dingy tent cloth. But the
most noticeable thing about her was
a double barrel shot gun which she
held across her lap.
Madam said |, what is the mat
teri"
"Nothin' the matter with me, >" she
answered.
But why are you sitting there with
that gun?'
ITO keep you folks from trampin'
on my rights, that's why"
'Is anybody attempting to tramp
on your rights"
Yes; you folks
How
by comm along here with fetch
taxed railroad an sp'ilin' my milk an
butter"
Il don't understand you
But you will after while. See that
spring house down thar" she asked,
pointing to a rail pen. Wall, my
milk an butter air in thar, an the
fust man that runs a railroad over
that thar spring-house gifts two loads
of buckshot. Hear me?'
Il do hear you, and"
Wall, now, harken, or these here
buckshot air yourn.h
WHY, madam, it is nonsense to
stop the building of a railroad on ac-
count of little milk and butter"
You wouldn't think so ef you was
to see Bob and Riah an Mol an Tom
an Sylvester an julie an Sim an Abe
an Puss an Jane an Tobe an Cy an
Paul an Rob an the baby cuttin'
an slashin' of butter an a swillin' of
milk. My conshuns alive! thought
the war was bad enough, when the
fetch taxed soldiers crippled the COW;
but now comes along a railroad an
wants TO run smack, smooth over the
spring house" F."
Madam, what is your spring house
and milk and butter worth?"
"'Taint for sale
But can you not move it out of the
wayY'
No: it's doin' mighty well whar it
is, an ! wanter say right now befo'
| furgit it that ef you fling any dirt in
that milk with yo' good-fur-nothin'
ole railroad I'll load you so full of lead
that four men couldn't lift you with
handspikes.
I'VE must build the road, madam y
Then dodge the spring-house.'
I'VE cannot. 1t is directly in the
way"
wall, then. let the railroad stop
right whar it is. Its gone fur enough,
anyhow"
Madam, although / have no au-
thority to pay out money, yet to keep
down trouble | will give you liberal
price for"
Jest ez we'll save yo' breath. I'm
goin' to set right here till night, an
then some of the children will take
my place. Thar amt many Of US, but
what dar is will stand for ther rights. :
Men" said /, 1--WE can't afford 10
fool along this way. Go ahead" "
stop thar" the woman demanded
She cooked the gun Il don't kere ef
ain a widder woman with none too
much of a family. l amt goin' to
have my rights tramped on. Tech
that spring house, airy one of you, an
I'll make you weigh ton befo' git
through with you"
Madam, I'll give you twenty-five