The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-01-10
STORIES OF THE OzARKS.
short Anecdotes OF Life In s,uthwestern Mis-
souri-The Dialect CT the td.Timers
Happily Portrsyed-The Mount.
aineer's Request


There Is no other place under tho
heavens where the early mornings OF
summer and fall have the charm OF
those down In the Ozarks OF Southern
Missouri With the first peep OF the
sun over the groups OF exaggerated
hills the mist OF the night settles deep
In the valleys. and before the full
blown CLEAN OF the morning comes
the atmosphere is as fine and clear as
that OF MONDAY. Only the tint OF
blush haze Is discernible miles and
miles away. and that is SO slight and
so blue that IL seems TO mingle with
the line OF the horizon.
II was on one OF these fine mornings
about the middle OF last August that
Benson set out across the hills to
catch few fish and do little shoot
ing.
Good bye, Ben" he shouted back
TO tho youngster that stood in the door
OF the little log house. Good bye.
and be or good boy"
Good bye. dad" squeaked youth
full voice; good bye. an don't forgit
the fairies"
The little fellow waved his hand en-
ergetically until the mountaineer
father was lost to view in the brush
beyond the cleared patch. Benson
knew more folk lore and fairy tales
than any OF the other natives He had
read OF the brownies aud their moon
light antics, and when Bonnie became
able TO tilIS he was told OF the little
elfins and the big COLLINS and the
shiny, golden water spritos. Benson
was In all other respects u rough,
homespun mountaineer.
''Jes' wait" were his last words be-
fore breaking through the underground
on that golden Ozark morning. ''jes'
wait an I'll bring yer a fairy. sure
pop"
All day long the little native sat in
the cabin door and pcerod of into the
woods.
"Its no use fer yer ter be settin'
there" said Benson's wife. fer yer
par'l not be back afore night"
but ef he gets err fairy he'l come"
said Bonnie. ''cause Their fairy die OF
hit want brought home right erway."
Bonnie watched until the sun went
that he could no longer SEQ into the
woods he went inside OF the house and
laid down on the dirt floor. Pretty
soon he forgot about the fairies and
was fast asleep When the sun OF an
other beautiful morning broke over
the Ozarks tho little fellows eye:
opened and the first thoughts were o.
the fairies.
"Ain't dad come yet?" he cried; bul
Benson's wife shook her head.
mot vet, Ben" said she, AN may
by-mayby-"
"Mayby he's got more fairies than
he kin err bring home" suggested
Bonnie and mother smiled feebly and
patted the boys head with her rough
| hand.
Then the brush out across the clear
, ed patch parted. and four roughly CLAD
natives pushed through. Between
/, them they bore the limp body Of Bon
son. the mountaineer.
"Ie hut hissef ez he war shootin
at err ilyiu' SOURI," explained one o
, the natives.
.Ono-one CT Their fairies" gaspeC
, the wounded mau, "Dut-but didn'
I git him fer yer. Benz
. The little native put his hand IL
. Benson's rough one.
, "An' yer didn't git no fairies
daddyP" he asked, eagerly.
The mother drew him away. bu
: Benson pulled the boy back.
4 'No. didn't git none. Ben. but Tn
4 goin' back to fairy handful be Their,
ter-day, Ben--fer-fer good"
/. "Kin 60. too. dadP" cried the boy
d leaning over the mountaineer's breast
: But there was no answer. Benson ha'
d gone.
Q Then Bonnie sat down on the dir
floor and cried-because he was lci
}. behind.
a He Was In Search OF Knowledge.
IS Several months before tho Memphi
= railroad had ,penetratad the repio