Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-12-15


around u blazing fire, remembering to have
been told that John H., Jr., and his brother
Abel were fine musicians, at our request
the violins were brought from an adjoining
room and Tor an hour or 80 we had some
delightful music, such as waltzes, polkas,
"Haste TO the wedding" the "Arkansaw
Traveller" and many other stirring pieces.
In the midst of the performance, Dick and
his uncle William put in their appearance
Tor coon hunt II was a little too early 10
start on such an expedition, so they con.
cluded to wait awhile and enjoy the music.
After the violi MS were laid aside, and all
hands were ready and eager for the hunt, 70
the great surprise of Dick, his master, and
the disappointment OF those who were 10 be
of the party, the coon dog which had been
brought along and, which against the ad'
monitor Of our host left outside, had left
f. home. This unexpected turn in the pro-
gram broke up the hunt for the night
IL was but a few minutes after breakfast
on the following morning when one of the
hands came running into the house with
message that we should come out TO the
apple orchard. On our arrival, John L.,
Jr., handed US for examination the largest
hawk we had ever SCENT was one OF the
old king birds of the mountains. He had
just sh OF him with Springfield army rifle
ut distance OF FULLY four hundred yards.
John Is considered one Of the best marksmen
in this section Of the State. A lew years
since he took the 800 prize, silver cup, at
a shooting tournament ut Oakland, making
"a out of possible 25 at 800 yards.
Returning to the house, our host remark
ed that he had overlooked showing us some
of the relics of his hunting days-when the
forests were full of wild animals. Conduct
iBg us TO the large store house and opening
the door, he pointed to some half dozen steel
traps The one intended for bears was pom.
derous and had attached long chain re-
sembling the fifth chain to wagon. When
the trap is set, and il requires considerable
strength u turn the handspring, this chain
il attached to n near tree. 81 have caught
many AN old hear with il, but have no use
for il now" he said The smaller ones were
used 10 catch panthers, wolves, wild cats
and cooDs. All Of these traps were orderly
arranged en- hooks fastened TO the side Of
the house, and with little greasing were
ready for use--though probably not one had
been used Tor 50 me years. 1t was just this
method In all Of his operations, everything
in its place, and place for everything. In.
deed. we found out from close observation
that the key note of this mans great success
In lite was his uniform system in every
branch OF life in which he has been brought
10 contact. Small or large, it made no diff
ference, II was even displayed and carried
out in his hunting ex peditions and fully de
monstrated ia all Ui his domestic concerns
Mr.. Browning seldom gives any directions
now concerning the improvements or opera
lions on his farm, but the slightest wish or
suggestion that he or his wife may express
Is strictly carried out by their sons.
II III - 81 xn
traps, Mr.. b. said, 81 have to gather some
celery Tor dinner, come with me and see the
luxuriant bed have" II was simply large
enough to supply the wants OF small sized
hotel tor six months. The soil is admirably
adapted TO the gtowth of this vegetable, be-
ing black, rich and very light. On the side
OF the celery bed was a large garden of cab
bages, as luxuriant as the celery
When We returned TO the house il was
near dinner time. Tue boys had come iu
from the orchard where they had been en-.
gagged in picking apples, and were resting
ON the front veranda. | turned to the old
gentleman alter he had been seated and said:
have now seen about all that there Is Oi
interest on the farm, have enjoyed the &C
counts of your desperate exploits in the
woods witnessed Johns craftsmanship this
morning--now | want TO see what You can
do with rltleg With this he called Ia one
of the boys 10 bring his riff.
The first article that was handed him was
a small old leather satchel, which looked as
though IL had come out Of Noahs Ark He
had worn L Tor sixty years, and where II
had been worn out from coming in contact
with his arm II had been patched with some
kind OF skin. Placing it over his shoulder,
the first thing he pulled out was turkey
kna IA ha
Of the turkey. The next was steel knuckle,
q small fini Indian arrow head and small
piece Vi spunk something like sponge only oil
a much firmer and finer texture. Tnis spunk
Is gathered from the dead knots on rock or
sugar maple. "Now,' he said, ~ will show
you how usually kindled my fire in the
woods With this he struck the arrow
head against the STEEL knuckle, and the al
most indiscernible spark Immediately ig
nited the piece VI spunk. The powder horn
was as much ol a curiosity as the old satchel.
These were only some of the several inter.
esting contents Of the satchel. ...
Taking his rifle, after we had designated
q small white spot In tree which stood at
q distance OF AZ yards, he brought IL slowly
but firmly against his shoulder and after a
few seconds OF aim be let drive-the ball
struck within traction OF the center We
then marked of % yards, placed small
piece Of white paper on narrow board and
Get u against the ience--this shot was on
line and just above the center. "But for my
eye sight" he remarked, 81 could have drove
the center at both Shots"
The Afternoon was beautiful beyond ex-
pressiOn-a rich, round Indian Summers
sun was pouring its golden and mellow light
over forest, stream, field and mountain. The
Al A,I. haA A,,nn mi har ha N
Of crimson and gold to CLEAN in the clear
sun light of the years holiday. D, how rich
IN beauty and how rich in thought is the
bright season oi the ripened leaf. Behold
the varied tinlS vi the woods-the ruddy
brown ol the oak. the scarlet Of the maple
beside the deep green OF the pine, the deeper
crimson oil the suDac contrasting with the
emerald sward, the yellow of the elm and
blIch, and the light brown of the walnut, all
mingled in rich masses, such as the painter
10 vain may attempt to INITIATE. Such beauty
ever tempts US to go forth TO gaze, and To re
ceive the gentle influences that steal through
eye and ear into the heart. In the sun, burst
OF such q poetic hour We accepted the kind
invitation Of Ralph to make visit TO the
summit of Roman Nose Mountain-the
highest point in Western Maryland.
The walk was difficult one and the road
throughthe forests as noble and dense as those
we have described 10 one of our former com
munications. Wherever ancient trunks had
fallen, there they lay, some 10 old decay
had become green, messy mounds, the long
graves OF PROSTATE giants, so carefully draped
with their velvet covering that all sense OF
ruin was gone. And some, that Tell from
upiightness but few seasons ago, showed
still their purple bark deepening In hue and
dotted with tufts of moss. or where crack b al
opened and revealed their inner structure
rotting slowly away, there was such warm
coloring AS nature loves TO shed, that even 10
decay may not be unlovely, and the pow
derby wood, fractured into faky cubes,
showed browns deep rs some splendid old
painting. Not always had the ancient stem
fallen 10 lie prone aud hidden by younger
growths. whose life was drawn IRON the
corse OF their ancestors. Sometimes as the
wild arbor.vitae worn away at its base,
swayed, bent, and wen; crashing downward,
II had been arrested among the close ranks
OF npstart trunks and hung there still, with
long grey moss floating from il, like the torn
An hae aal ..ha k...a