The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-22

evening, as stood in that little cabin on
lonely mounrainslde, che blazing pine
knots on the stone hearth. throwing their
mellow light upon the tall. lean, sallow,
typical mountaIner Southerney, his dImIn-
utive wife and baby. The true spirit of
the author seemed to possess me. and when
had finished the last verse:
Farewell Southern sunny home,
Home always loved SO true,
Oft will teardrops dim mine eyes,
When my memory flies to you
Joshua raised up and shook my hand
welcome here; Becky, did yer everP to
which Becky responded: "Sakes no." The
meaning OF both query and answer / IN
terpreted as com plimentary. Joshus's and
Beckyis friendship felt was sincere. and
after showing me up the ladder which did
duty as stairway. to the loft overhead.
whose walls were decorated with i'm mense
quantities of leaf tobacco. Joshua returned
10 the lower room and / not only heard
many complimentary remarks about N.Y.
self, but also heard remarks about another
person which interested me still more,
though not coupled with any pleasant
illusions. The | caught were "Llge."
"Old Hiena," "Lige Hiena."
/ heard Becky remark: "Gid Hiena and
Pete, they be nosen round, and AK we ever
tings,n TO which Joshua said something
about the "pesky stuff" and being 'willln'
to clear the diggins."
Inc next morning. AFTER breakfast. made
ready to leave. Joshua seemed to want to
talk about something. and followed me out
into the yard. He finally. after working
the toe of his boot in the ground. looked
up and said:
mister. don't be Rwying mp thar: speak
ye fair. seeing We don't know these Dig
gins. Don't go over thar. but 60 down
this run away. then over to Big Plum run
and-say.yer better come back here-thems
the safest"
told him all right. and left him and
Becky looking after me as l followed
path down the hill in the direc-
ton indicated. After had passed out Of
JOshua's cabin L was determined to know
what there was up the North run that re-
qnired so much caution. i turned back
around hill and started north up mar
row ravine. and had perhaps gone nearly q
mile when met q great big. burly fellow
of about my own age, with gun on his
shoulder. who answered my Good morn
ing, SIR" with O gruff who be yer, and
whar We gwyneW told HIM / was looking
after hoop-pOlesi and tan-bark. and lived
in Grafton.
Anybody with youe he asked.
No; am alone" replied. and passed
He stood cycling me until was out of
sight-at least L thought was out of sight.
i began climbing the hills that overlooked
the North run. When / had gained the
summit / was suddenly confronted with
what first thought was the same man
had met q short time before but which
proved TO be his father, who also carried o
gun on his shoulder.
How dy do mister" / began, ''glad to
see some one, for have become somew hat
confused in these hills, and fear have
lost my way"
He looked me over carefully. and then re-
plied: ''Whar We gwyne?"
told him what mission had started ont
on. but now desired to find my way back to
Joshua's.
Eyer know Josh?o no asked.
only since last evening"" replied.
Better go back the way We come, young
ster. and hurry up; 'taint safe in these
mountings arter dusk" pointing back over
the hill in the direction had lust come.
go back over that hill across the run. and
down Always. then turn to the left" and as
his manner was rather abrupt, | thanked
him. turned about and went away from
there.
When l reached Joshua's it was late in
the afternoon. and / saw before got near
the house that there were others there also
besides Joshua, Becky and the baby. Men
were standing about. some half dozen, all
carrying guns. and as come mp among them
they ceased talking. and only stood and
stared at me In q manner that made rue feel
just the least bit uncomfortable. noticed in
the group also the big burly young man
had met that morning In the ravine.
Joshua was there also. but he had but little
to say. and as passed in to the house Becky
said 10 me, as she Jerked her thumb over
her shoulder toward the group outside, Its
Pete Hiena and more of his likes"
Somehow began TO feel little nervous,
and il was quite relief to see them. one by
one. shoulder their gun aud depart. The
last visitor To leave was the chap met
that morning. Finally heard him say to
Joshua as he was starting of: Better
tend to him fore old Lige comes"
Presently Joshua came into the cabin
looking very serious. Seating himself. he
broke the silence by saying:
Il hate To tell yer. but them ALT fellows
are come down the run from Old Lige's.
They be after wanting TO know every thing.
likes you. mister. so does Becky, and yer
welcome to all We got. We're mighty DO
up here. Wish we were back in old Ten
nessee Becky. she lowed may he baby
might larn TO read out of that air book.
and sing likeyon
Hero Joshua picked up the tattered rem
nant OF the old elocution that bad done
such good service the night before. and
gently turned it's soiled leaves in silence,
while Becky's eyes filled with tears. Becky
said 10 me. Does yer sposo baby conld larn
TO read that what you read last night
when he gets biyP'
And sing that air songp added Joshua.
told them that free schools were then
being established throughout the South.
and gave thepa description of the free
school system, and began earnestly 70