The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-05-27

CO with her at the Fork
kured Of his bashfulness e'''"
These lines. crudely written, and with
words misspelled, are the SEQUEL to 8
little drama from real life which fell
under my imne late observation. and
with this preface will relate 1t here.
Several months ago there was a curious
pair OF moonshineri ,ntined in the At.
lanta Jail, serving out q sentence. Tn
my daily visits to the jail used to spend
a great deal of time watching them.
They were not ordinary moonshiners, In
actions at least. The other mooushiners
referred to them rs "Hezekiah Snipple.
tree and his pap" and that's who found
them to be later on.
This odd couple did not miuglc with
the crowd OF prisoners who were con.
tnuaily gossiping away the hours. They
always sat apart, talking together, and
apparently enjoying each others COM
partnership greatly. The older of the
two men was heavy fellow of about
fifty years--a typical mountaineer. with
flowing red beard and hair of a darker
shade. The other was some thirty wears
his junior, but he had the same features.
and the same build. The only differ
ence between them was that one was
younger and his face was free from tho
heavy beard which covered the face OF
the other.
Day by day watched this stranpsl,
assorted pair with interest. One day th,
older one, who had noticed mo WATCHING
them bcckoned me to come over to where
the two wer" sitting alone. went ovSr
Don't you write for ther papers'" 1he
aske1.-% xiii, y ttgisl''s4F5 5s7l'-. =
"Well, said he, the twinkle bccom
ing more pronounced, and coInmunica
ting itself to his features, "I want Vol
ter write up lIcz."
"What about Hczl" asked.
lie jerked his thumb over his shoulde,
in the direction OF his Juvenile compau
ion.
''Do yer see that Joy2" he asked.
saw the boy. "Well," he continued,
"tbat's the bashlulest cuss in crea.
shun!' He brought his open palm down
on his big fat leg to give emphasis t.
the assertion.
Hez shuffied about uneasiiy, his face
was as red rs II beet, and he seemed tt
be huntinga place to repose his big
| awkward hands. lie uttered no protes
to his fathers statement.
"Hez," his father went on, speakin,
to the sadly discounted youth, "Tn
a-goin' to tell"
Tho boys embarrassment increased.
"No, don't pap" he pleaded feebly.
III am" the senior Sniggletree con
tinued with frmncss. "Im a.gwine tel
spout the hull bizness ter this fellow
and hcl! put you in thor papers,, ant
he chuckled gleefully at the prospect o
getting Hez into the papers. Hez onl.
groaned.
"Go ahead" urgcl, "and lets hay.
i it,"
sniggletrec senior, by the way of an
swcr dived into his capac,ous pocket aud
drew forth big plug of tobacco, and
after biting off several ounces, he told
me his story, or rather the story ot
Hez.
To tell it in his language would re-
qulre too much space, and then cannot
do justice to his peculiar style Of express
ing things. give it in my own.
Hamp Sniggletree was q moonshine
| by profession, and from his earliest boy
hood hc had trained his only son, Hes
| to lead moonshiner's life Hez was az
apt pupil, and rs the senior Mr.. Sniggle
tree expressed it with pride "wss as spr,
| as n cricket round his still" The onl,
| trouble with Icz was his bashfulness
lie had reputation for bashfulness al
over the section where he lived. He wa
called "Bashful IIcz" among his intimat
| friends. AS dcz grew into manhood thi
failing became more pronounced, but
did not interfere with his work.
In the distillery business Mr.. Sniggle
tree had partner, who shared in tn
expenses, the labors and the profits c
the establishment. This partner We
Ruif Baskins, and he, with his two sta
wart sons, aided lamp Sniggletrec in tn
management Of the distillery.
| Their little distillery was located in
picturesque ravine, which would ha,
delighted an artist. In this beautif,
and secluded spot no revenue officer ev
set foot, and for years the Sniggletree
and Baskins made mountain dew, will
out ever being discovered. They store
away the results OF their labors an
smiled in cool defiance of the intern
revenue laws.
Now. they might have gone on for
quarter Of century in this way al
their Golfers might have sweIled wit
richness, but for one ching that came
pass. And but for that thing this sto
would never have been written
Peg2ie Baskins was the prettiest gi
in all the vicinity Of Hawkins For