Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-01-29
Old Times.


sigi :. In the early days, when we
nal no sigma! service stations,
supported 10y the government, every
man, woman and child was thought to
notice all the unusual occurrences that
would come under their notice, and
| would learn to predict what the weather
| would be on the morrow. If the sun
| Set red or if it set behind cloud, or II
there were mock suus, or if, in the
morning when the sun rose, 1t rose
clear, and went behind a cloud, or if
there were sundogs on each side of the
sun, we would make predictions for the
day; and I 10 not know but they were
about as correct a. those predicted by
those employed by the government
now.
And, then, animals and birds. ard
some kinds of plants, would indicate
or forecast the weather. Every old
hunter, every old frontiersman, could
tell you W hat he thought of the weather
prospect, and in almost every case his
forecasts would be correct. For in
stance, if, in the morning, the birds
were restless and very noisy--especial-
ly blue-jays and red-birds-you might
just as well take your overcoat or UNI
brella along if you were going some-
where; and if, on looking up to the
sky, you saw an eagle way up so high
be looked no larger than your hand,
and just standing still, or just poised III
the air, you had better begin to get up
good wood pile, if in the winter, or,
if 1t was in haying time, you had better
get that hay into the barn or stack.
To illustrate: One pleasant summer
morning,sswhe clover was j Ist at the
right stage to cut for hay, father said
to me, 81 think you and l had better
commence cutting that clover in the
bottom to-day ii is so pleasant and fair,
it is such splendid time to make hay"
After cutting until most noon, be said {,
1.-The weather is 80 nice, think we
had better cut on the rest of the day" "
After while we stopped to whet our
SSy tDS5s ioohCh uP ~ wv SAASf
away up, almost out of sight, [ saw a
| bold eagle. I could just see him; be
looked no larger than my hand-more
| like leaf up in the air. l said to faith
er, II think we had better stop cutting
and get our rakes and team, and get
what we have cut into the barn this
afternoon if you don't want it spoiled d
with rain" He said, II am sure it
don't look much like rain. No. it
don't, but that eagle is up there taking
observations, and kpoas that before
twelve hours have passed we will have
an old-fashioned thunderstorm. "
Father said, "Well If you think so, we
will quit and go to getting what we
have already cut into the barn."
After dinner we hitched up the team
aud went to hauling that clover to the
born. Just as we were putting on the
last load, black bank of clouds began
to come up over Shepherd mountain,
and the way it did thunder and light
ming was awful. We hurried to the
barn, and did just get in the barn as
the rain came pouring down. Had
not seen that eagles signal, We should
have cut all the afternoon and have
had the bay spoiled.
Twas taught by the old hunters, too,
as they said "keep your eye open" l
remem Der one fall, just before Christ
mas, had got all my crops gathered
into the arm and crib, and good wood
pile up and cut for the fire, I said to
my wife, II have everything up IN
good shape, and here is the hired man
| to look after the stock. / believe | will
take Old Betsy and take few days in
| the mountains. l should like 10 kill a
! few d, er and turkey. | will hunt to-
day through the mountains, and to-
night will get to old pard's, and we
will take good, old-fashioned fire.
hunt, for the woods are full of deer"
After eating good breakfast, put
good lunch in my game-oag and
shouldered my gun and started for the
mountains. I could see any amount
o! deer tracks and other signs, but could
not see deer anywher'. | hunted I'D
all the good places for der, and then
| in all the tai places. l didn't see
deer in all that days hunt, and yet /
could see any amount of signs. said,
"It must be getting ready for a big
Storm
When I reached my old pard's, be
said, "If you didn't see any deer in all
that trampover the mountains we are
certainly going to have a big bust up"
Just before night we ate late din
ner, or early supper-1 don't know
which to call it-and put up good
lunch to eat at our camp after our
nights hunt.
When we got to the place we were
to camp, old pard said, "While l am
making the camp and getting the pine,
Won cross the creek and take round
until dark, and see what you can see"
I started out into what was called
The Sappling Wood, noted good deer
ground. / could see more buca scrapes,
more deer tracks; it looked as thoug b
it was regular camping place; bat
saw no deer.
When [ reached camp again l re-
ported what | had seen. lie SAID, W
are either going to have big storm, or
we will get some of them before morn