The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-04-01
THE "CRACkER" GIRL.
A Story of the Alligator Coun-
try.

\ stray chicken wandered aimlessly
about a small clearing. Now he
stopped to peek n bright pebbles,
then hoped forward to examine
bunch Of tIlssocll grass Then grass
hopper attracted his attention. And
all the time he was getting farther
away from home. AT last he paused .
on the bank of a dark creek and looked /
about curiOusly. 1t was a new world (
TO him. Near by a long black object /
lay half imbeddcd in the sand. After T
watching l. a few moments he hopped I
nearer. Then came a quick fash and
swapping of teeth; the chickens short
drama was over And the alligator's
tail slid back into the sand, and his
half-closcd eyes resumed their air OF
sleepy Inconsistencies
Overhead magnolias and live oaks
mingled their branches, while here and
there rose the stately trunks OF royal
palms Great masses of azalca. agave
and sensitive plants crcpt up from the
waters edge and spread out over the
banks And everywhere cl2mbered
the fox grape and bignonia and wood
bine.
Beyond the creek and stretching
away for hundred miles to the south
and west were the everglades In the
distance CLEANED the blue waters of
Lake Ozecchobee. To the east was a
wilderness, 10 the north twenty miles
of almost impen>>rablc Jingle. And
IN the midst the little clearing, lonely
and wild and ugly. For, except v scre
the log cabin stood. near the center, the
trees had been merely giraIei and now
rose white and ghostly, their gray,
skeleton arms crcaking and groauing
with every passing brsezc- Among
them were long ridges OF svcct-pOtato
vines and nearer the cabin few
clumps of gumbo and banana stalks
\ tall. solitary oleander IN fun bloom
stood near the water barrel its fraE-
rant branches nearly hiding one end Of
the cabin. y little TO one side were
several neglected orange trees
The cabin had but two windows
small openings which we're closed with
boards when il rained Near one of
these = young girl was preparing
compile" On the stove behind her
vas the inevitable kettle Of hominy.
A. she worked she occasionally broke
into snatches Of negro melody. her
fresh young voice floating out into
the forest and bringing quick responses
from moclling birds and warhlcrs-
Two men were working their way
through the 1llCk masses OF Palmetto
Suddenly they paused 10 listen
What a voice. one Of them ex-
claimed. "A bac<woods nightingale
1T must be old Dobesson's dauEh-
ter" said the other. Il was here five
years ago, and she was then the Wild
est and happicst little thing l ever
saw-au the time in the woods, chasing
squirrels and initiating the mocking
birds
Again the voice flosted to them. As
ii died away the first speaker drew
: long breath.
What an acquisition she would be
to my rustic chorus" he said
/ His companion laughed
There you go again! Never a fine
/ voice but you must be covetous- The
/ penalty Of being a 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 Stidc her"
few moments later they emerged
/ from the palmetto. As they crossed
. the clearing the young girl left the
! window and appeared in the doorway
! For a moment she merely looked Gu
rious, then glow OF recognition crcpt
into her face. Before they mad time to
|
| outstretched hands.
MIR. Lowery. fer all ther worl'r' she
, cried, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.
Hits mighty plcasan' ter see yeh
roun' agin. PawIl suttingly be glad
ter see yeh."
And j shall be glad to see him,
/ Liza said Mr.. Lowery, heartily.
We've had some rare hunts together.
But how you have grown You we're
only u little girl when / left"
AM like fer some body ter make her
bows an arrers an go huntin'
'cooters-''
MIR. Lovvery smiled.
I'VE did have some fine coOter'
hunts" he said; then, noddiug toward
his companion, added: I've brought
my friend, Mr.. DauieIson, down 10 try
alligator hunting. l tell him your
father is probably the best gator guide
in south flOrila-"
The girls face clouded.
Paws III right pore shape" she said,
slowly. lie war los in the ev'glades
an got the shakes pow'ful bad l low
he cay'nt do no mo guidin' fer er long
time"
The two men looked at each other in
perplexity Seeing this, the girl hast
cncd To add:
.'Clcb kin guide you Uns better n
any body 'cept paw. He amt but twelve
years OF, but paw says what he don't
know bout gators amt wuth takin'
lessons on
But Mr. Lowery looked doubtful
Il remember Clcb'' he said, but it
strikes me that he would be rather
small chap in case of an emergency. \
/ twclve-footer would be apt TO take ad-
vantage Of him"
Paw says Cleb kin git away with
mos anythin'. He lows he ar quicker
nor lightnin'."
Very well, well try him, of course.
1t Is thirty miles to the nearest settle
ment where a guide could be found.
Now. suppose w go in and have talk
with your father"
An hour later Cleb came IN, n small,
freckled-faced boy with quick, sharp
eyes, which seemed TO take in every
thing. Soon after appeared MIR. Low
ery's man with the camp equipage.
Il suppose we can have the Old camp
site 10y the creek?" Mr.. Lowery in
quired
..Suttinly, suttinlyi" responded Mr..
Dobesson, heartily. ''You uus act jes'
like yeh war't home an hep yo'selfs-
There's RATS o gyarden sass an mel
Ons spilin'."
Before night the camp was ready,
and late in the evening the two meI
with their young guide went down the
creek for preliminary brush" witt
the aIligators. And ii did not take
long to discover that the girls praise
OF her brother was justifiable. As Mr.
Lowery's man said, he was ''peeler.
: Before MANY davs the two men eX
pressed themselves as perfectly salts
fed with his services
! A the uays went ty the relations he