Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-02-26
A. "CRACKER'' GIRL

forward TO examine d bunch or tusSOck
grass. Then a grasShopper attracted his
attention. And all the time ne was get
ting farther away from home. At last
he passed on the bank Of a dark creek
and Looked about cuIiously. 1t was a
new world for him. Near by long black
object lay half imbeded in the sand.
After watching it a few minutes he
hoped nearer. Then came quick fash
and swapping Of teeth; the chicken S
short drama was over. And the alliga-
tors tail slid back into the sand and his
halt-closed eyes resumed their air of
sleepy Inconsistencies.
Overhead lna.. noias and iYed oaks min
gled thor branches, while here and there
rose tne stately trunks Of royal palms.
Great masses OF azaiea, agaVe and sensI-
tive plants Crept up from the water S
edge and spread out ever the banks. and
everywhere clambered the fox grape and
bignOnIa and wOOdbine.
Beg ond the creek, and stretching away
for a hundred miles 10 the south and west
: were the everglades In the distance
CLEANED the blue waters of Lake 0kee-
bee.
To the east was a wilderness, to the
north twenty miles Of almost inpenetra-
bic jungle. And in the midst the little
clearing, lonely and wild and ugly. For,
except where the log cabin stood near the
center, the trees had been merely girdled,
and now rose white and ghostIy their
grey, skeieton arms creaking and grCan-
ing with every passing breeze. Among
them were long ridges of sweet potato
vines, and nearer the cabin few clumps
OF gumbo and banana stalks. A tall
solitary oleander in full bloom stood near
the water barrel, its fragrant branches
nearly hiding one end of the cabin. A
little to one side were several neglected
orange trees.
The cabin had but two windows, small
openings, which were closed with boards
when it rained. Near one end of these a
young girl was preparing compile" On
the stove behind her was the inevitable
kettle of hominy. AS she worked she
occasionally broke into sn2tches of ne
gro melody, her fresh young voice float.
ing out INTO the forest and bringing
quick responses from mOcking birds and
warblGTs.
Two men were working their way
through the thick masses Of palmetto
Suddenly they paused to listen
What voice, - one of them exclaimed.
"A baCkw0Od5 nightingale"
1t must be old Dobesson's daughter, q"
said the other. Il was here five years
ago, and she was then the widest and
happlest little thing | ever saw-all the
time IN the woods chasing squirrels and
initiating the mocking birds
Again the voice fOated to them. As it
died away the first speaker drew a long
breath.
''What an acquisition she would be to
my rustic chorus he said.
His companion laughed
There you go again. Never fine voice
but you must be ccvetous. The penalty of
being theater manager, suppose But,
really, DanielsOn, you must not wake the
ambition of this child of nature. She is
like the birds, and New York would stlde
her
A few moments later they emerged from
the palmetto. As they crossed the clear
ing the young girl left the window and
appeared III the doorway. For moment
she merely looked curious, then glow of
recognition crept into her face Before
they had time to speak she had sprung
down the steps with outstretched hands.
Mr.. Aowery, for all the worl', :" she
cried, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.
Hits mighty peasin ter see :, eli r0un'
agin. Paw1l suttingIy be glad to see
yeh
And shall be glad to see him, Liza, -
said Mr.. Lowery, heartily; we've had
some rare hunts together. But how YOU
have grown. You were only little girl
when left. s."
An like fer somebody ter make her
bows an arrers an 90 hunting 'cooters.
Mr.. Lowery smiled
1--WE did have some fine 'cGOter' hunts, "
he said; then nodding towards his COM
panlon, added i've brought my friend,
Mr.. Danlelson, down to try alligator hunt
ing. tell him your father is probable
the best gator guide in south Florida"
The girls face clouded.
Paws IN right pore shape" she said.
slowly. He wur lost in Their ev'glades
an got the snakes pow full bad. / low
he cay mt do no mo- guidin' for er long
time -
The men looked at each other in per.
pick W. Seeing this the girl fastened to
add:
'.CIeb kin guide you uns better n any
body 'cept paw. H. amt but y yoar Of
paw says what ne don t know bout gators
amt with takin' es'ns on"
But Mr.. Lowery looked doubtful.
Il remember Cleb," he SAID, but it
strikes me that he would be rather small
chap In case of an emergency A twelve.
tooter would be apt to take advantage of
him"
Paw SAYS Cieb kin cit away with mos
anythn' He lows he ar quicker nor
hghtnin'"
Every well, Wen try him. of course.
1t Is thirty miles to the nearest settle
ment where a guide codld be found.
Now, suppose we go in and have a talk
with your father"
An hour later Cleb came in, a small,
freckled face boy with quick, sharp eyes,
which seemed to take in everything.
Soon after appeared Mr.. Lowery's man
with the camp equipage
II suppose We can have the old camp
site by the creek?" Mr.. Lowery inouir-
ed.
"Suttinly, suttiniyl" responded Or.
Dobesson, heartily. You uns act les
like yeh warnt' home an help yo'sefs.
There's RATS o garden sass an, melons
spilin'."
Befdg night the camp was ready, and
late IN the evening the two men with
their young guide went down the creek
for preliminary brush" with the ALI
gators. And it did not take long to dis
cover that the girls praise of her
brother was iustIfable. As Mr.. Lowery's
man said, he was a ''peele- Before
many days the two men expressed them
selves as perfectly satisfied with his
services.