Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-01-01

OF the Winebrenarians (the name Of Z
religious sect, followers Of Winebren-
ner, who abound in the Blue Ridge Of
Maryland) and Dunkards, and every
man, woman and child, no matter how
poverty-stricken, sought to present q
respectable appearance on these annual
occasions; while the rustic bellies and
beaux, decked forth in gala dress, were
pleasing and an animating sight.
Now, as the time for "Bush Meeting''
came round, Hogan was literally shoe
less, and his wife and daughter per-
suaded him to go to town on Saturday
evening and buy himself new pair OF
shoes.
The kind-hearted fellow at first family
resisted the appeal. "Why, woman"
he said, ut will take nearly all the
spare cash we've got to do it,"
But his wife reminded him that he
would soon get his harvest money.
And Emma, with tears in her eyes,
begged him mot to shame" them, 'sby
going to Bush Meeting with his feet on
the ground"
Then Hogan thought how grand he
would look marching in front, with the
"old woman and Emmy tagging after,
with his best corduroys tucked inside of
high-topped boots, and q billed shirt
on"
The picture was too alluring, AMI he
yielded.
And proud moment it was for the
family, as they met in the gorge that
Saturday evening, the husband and
father trudging up the mountain defile,
with his new boots slung in triumph
over his shoulders.
They're beauties," said his wife,
deferentially touching them. "S1ch
shiny skin, and SIGH fine stitchin', and
nary a peg"
''Spick and span moo, too," added
John, noddine approvingly.
Who could have then and there
peeped into the magic mirror the future
holds, and have seen in tho polished
surface of those boots tragedy and a
Nemesis, and for inscription: even
gence is mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord?''
And Emma, demure puss, what did
she think, that she said nothing? All,
she was too busy praying that her ia
Their had his boots, ''she might go along
and meet Reynold."
A ray of sunshine may enter the four
panes of cabin window, as we'll as it
may filter through the stained glass of
the rich mans palace, and perchance it
shines. brighter where it is made most
welcome!
Not long after this domestic episode,
Hogan slung his scythe across his shout
der one bright morning, and started off
for the days moving.
His wife was up betimes to give
him bowl of coffee with corn pone and
rasher of bacon and eggs, which, with
the keen relish of mountain air, makes
breakfast fit for king.
His feet were duly incased in the
new boots, for the successive June show
ers had given height to the grass, and
it was needful on account of snakes.
And just as the man was swinging out
of sight, with that free and easy move
wife called out to him:
"John, Emma will bring::your dinner
to you; don't tire to come home" ~
''And thus, with the pleasant word
''home" the last to sound in his ears, he
marched forth into the clover-feld on
that fatal day, all unaware to meet a
foe more wary; more deadly than the
bravest soldier faces who goes forward
to the battlefield, where the reaper is
Death.
y 4 4 y 4
1t was the hour of noon-high noon.
The busy, droning bee rested on the
woodbine; the mocking-bird, retired in
leafy covert, held her liquid notes; the
hying-squirrel, poised peacefully on top
most Dough, peeped at the blinking owl
made harmless by the blazing sun; the
rabbit burrowed in the cool shadow of
the old worm fence, as willowy, supple
Emma tripped swiftly on, with her
fathers dinner in the basket on her
arm.
for under the shadow of the spreading
oak, on natures platform of ''Security,"
he loved to lie at length and take his
hour of rest at noon.
She always heard him whistling as
she drew near, for Hogan had cheerful
heart, when perhaps other men might
have been moody.
But now all was still.
Presently she almost stumbled over
something that made her blood 1un
cold.
At her feet was extended on the tram
pied grass monster rattlesnake, some
six feet long, in girth the thickness of a
mans arm, in color yellowish brown,
and marked throughout its hideous
length with transverse bands of deeper
brown, and longitudinal stripes of the
somber hue.
Although the head was crushed, there
was still faint vibratory rattle of the
horny tail, for he could not die before
sunset.
my father!'' she cried, in q great
fright. No answer.
In another moment she bounded on
the rock, and there, under the UNI
brageous shade of the tree he had so
hotly claimed as his, he was stretched
forth, CHASTITY sight, his body yet
warm, but his heart had ceased to beat.
while his black and swollen tongue and
rigid limbs told the dreadful story. The
conpoor+ ho1 1,i44o- I.