The Opelousas courier., 1892-09-24

32IRN tract ss. - 49,.
CO M Peggie, and air a-liyir
go Awith her at the Fork
| think he is gettir
kured of his b~ashfulness. e0
These lines. crudely written. and will
words misspelled, are the sequel to
little drama from real life which fell
under my immediate observation. and
with this preface I will relate it here.
Several months ago there was a curious
pair OF m~oonshiners confined in the At
lanta Jail, serving out a sentence. In
my daily visits to the jail I 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 as "Hezekiah Sniqgle-
tree and his pap" and that's who found
them to be later on.
This odd couple did not miugle with
the crowd Of prisoners who were con.
%tinually 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 a heavy fellow of about
nifty years. typical mountaineer. with
flowing red beard and hair of a darker
shade. The other wa 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 the
heavy beard which covered the face Of
the other.
Day by day watched this s-tranpely
assorted pair with interest. One day the
older one, who had noticed me WATCHING
them beckoned me to come over TO where
the two were sitting alone. / went over.
"Don't you write for Their papers2' be
asked, with a merry twinkle in bis eve.
"A little" | replied.
well" said he, the twinkle becom.
ing more pronounced, and cornmunica.
ting itself TO his features, II want yee
ter write up Hez."
"What about Hez2" I asked.
lie Jerked his thumb over his shoulder
n the direction of his juvenile compan.
ON.
do yer see that boy9" he asked.
saw the boy. "Well,n he continued.
''that's the b~ashfullest cuss in crea.
He brought his open palm down
N his big fat leg to give emphasis to
he assertion.
Hez shufied about uneasify. his face
Eas as red as a beet, and he seemed to
'e hunslnga place to repose his big.
IWkWard hands. He uttered no protest
Q his fathers statement.
aHez, his father went on. sneakinu
0 the sadly discounted youth. e.I'm
-goin' TO tell"
The boys embarrassment increased.
mo, don't pap he pleaded feebly.
II am" the senior Sniggletres con.
Inued with ~irInness. aIm a-gwine ter
the hull bizness ter this fellow,
nd he'll put you In ther papers," and
Q chuckled gleefully at the prospect OF
Hez into the papers. Hez only
roaned.
go ahead, u urged, ssaud lets have
-
sniggIetree senior, by the way Of au.
yer dlyed into his capacious pocket aud
rev forth q big plug Of tobacco, ami
ter biting off several ounces, he told
9 MS story, or rather the story Of
ez.
TO tell it in his language would re-
IRE too much space, and then I cannos
, justice to his peculiar style of express.
9 things. I give il in my own. |.
Hamp sniggletree was q moonshiner
profession, and from his earliest bow
'od ne bad trained his only SON. Hen.
lead . moonshiner's life. Hez was an
T pupil, and as the senior Mr.. Snipole-
expressed it with pride twas as snrv
= cricket round his still" The only
'uble with Hez was his ~bashfulness.
nad 4 rePtita ion for b~ashfulness all
ef where he lived. He was
led "Bashful Hez' among his intimate
ends. As Hez grew into manhood this
ling became more pronounced, but il
] not interfere with his work.
the distiIlery business MI. Snicrle.
2 had q partner, who shared III the
penses, the labors and the profits Of
! establishment. This partner was
q Baskins, and he, with his two stall
" sons, aided Hamp snigglstree ii the
.Iaggement of the dlsfiIlery.
Their little distlllery was located Ia !
't'iFesque r%avine, which would have /
an artist. In this beautiful i
I secluded spot no revenue officer ever /
fooe, and for years the Sniggletrees !
! Baskins made mountain dew. with. /
ever being discovered. They stored !
~ the results OF their labors and /
led il cool defiance of the internal
nute laws. /
saws they might have gone on for d /
Irter ct = century ID this way and
II es'sers might have sWeIled with
meas, bat fog II thing that came Il i