The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-07-14
CaT'lino'S Lover.
By WILLIAM q. LEE.

little stream rushes abruptly and
with boisterous conceit from II cav
ern in the face OF rocky, overhanging
cliffs, bearing the befitting title OF
Roaring River. On the banks OF this
noisy boaster, out OF reach OF its
threatening power, though still com
manding an excellent view OF its
mysterious source, | sat late in the
afternoon Of sultry July day. Sati-
ated with the ceaseless whimsicalities
Of the stream and lulled by the silent
surroundings and my comfortable
seat / had relapsed into II meditative
mood, from which / was suddenly
aroused by the greeting, How
Eye dol" in an easy, drawling tone.
/ turned toward the speaker, man
some thirty-two or thirty-three years
old, tall and broad-shouldered, hol-
low chested. OF loose build, with long,
straight, yellow hair and ragged beard
OF reddish hue. He was clad in coarse
homespun cotton shirt and snuff
colored Jean trousers. His feet were
shod with coarse cowhide boots, the
bottoms OF his trousers legs caught
up and held by the ear-like straps OF
his heavy footgear.
Powerful warm" he added, as he
leaned long, muzzle-loading rifle
against my tree, and mopping the
perspiration from his face with red
bandanna handkerchief worn loosely
about his neck, he proceeded to let
himself down the bank to the water =
edge, where, stretching full length
upon huge fiat rock just above the
surface of the stream, and laying
aside his broad brimmed hat he pro-
jected his lips until they met and
dipped the water simultaneously
with the end OF his nose and INDUCED
in potations long and deep.
II reckon you're the new school
teacher" he said after he had re-
gained the top OF the bank. ! re-
piled in effect that / enjoyed that
distinction.
wall now, I'm right glad to see
you Mr.. --Wilkeson, ain Z itY' he
inquired. Wilkinson, | responded; ;
"W-i-l-k-i-n-s-o-n, Wilkinson. DO
you live near here?
Vas, down on the first clearing
this side of DIR. Tyler's plantation,
jest ut the foot of Hogs Back, My
name is Joslyn. Ike Joslyn every
body calls me-.
II am very glad to have met you,
Mr.. Joslyn," said. II wish to make
the acquaintance Of all the people in
the district as fast as / find oppor-
tunity. Have you any childrenY l
have none of your name on my roll
yet, though am told that as soon as
the season OF cultivating the crops
is past, there will be quite an addi-
tion to the number Of pupils now in
attendance.
Wall, yes" he returned, "I've
got four They amt none OF um old
enough to go to school, though, but
Hetty, and she has to take care OF
the rest. Jest rs soon rs / can git
any one to take care OF the house and
children, I'm going to send Hetty to
school. Hetty takes to larnin'. She
knows all her letters now" he said
with evident pride. How many
scholars have you gotP'
About thirty"
II s'pose Nate Watson's children
go?" looking at me inquiringly.
Yes, II answered, Il have eight
from there"
THE schools mighty good
thing" he continued presently. Il
wasn't raised in this yere backwoods
country, | came from Pike county,
Illinoiz, an3 | believe in gettin' an
ejykashun. l never had much chance
when | wuz boy. I'd like to go to
school now" he added with increas-
ing earnestness.
Ike's earnestness impressed me,
nay inspired me, after the discour-
agements of my short experience rs II
public school teacher in the woods
of Arkansas. Did not the Hon. Oba-
diah Wellman, State senator, preacher,
planter and shoemaker, learn TO read
and write after he had married and
become the father of family? And
Andrew Johnson, at one time chief
executive of this great nation, was he
not taught by his wife, writing and
arithmetic?
| was late that night and supper
was waiting for me. Betsy Ann $
jaws were working. The widow and
her twenty-five-year sold daughter,
Betsy Ann, seldom INDUCED in the
extravagant habit of dipping snuff,
but chewed plug tobacco of their own
production and manufacture as a
substitute. Whatever the cause. all
sign OF Betsy AIMS disturbed equili.
brium disappeared when, seated AT
the supper table, rehearsed my in
terview with Ike Joslyn.
Jest like him." said the widow.
''He's terrible vacillating sort o
man. Those Pike county fellars are
never no account.
He's got a nice piece Of bottom
land. but he's too lazy to fence IL In
and clear 1t up, and he keeps on crap