The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-03-16
HOW BUSHY SAVED MAC

HOW BUSHY SAVEDMAC
The Miners We're Bound to Lynch the
SOutherner.
New York Recorder.
OF course none Of you children were
born when President Lincoln was
shot, way back in 1865, but Bushy was
a little girl at that time. In fact, so
little was she, that if told her age
you would not believe what I am 60
ing to relate about her now. Just
think of her as very little girl with
fluffy hair that stood on end all the
time. Her papa kept it cut pretty
short, because there was no one to
comb it for her but herself, and often
he had to leave her asleep in the
morning, and he would not see her
until he came home at night and
found her in bed again.
Mr.. Sukolt knew there was danger
IN allowing Bushy to handle her little
revolver like plaything, but then,
too, he knew there was greater danger
in her not knowing how to use it.
"Nevcr point the weapon at any
thing you would not care to kill, was
his daily instruction, and it grew to
be IA second nature to handle it care
fully and skillfully. She would play
all day at shooting marks. cutting of
leaves of trees. hitting nail heads and
picking flies off the log walls, and al.
though Mr.. Sukolt sometimes came
home expecting to hear she was hurt
he would say that such an anxiety
was nothing to compare with what he
would feel If he did not know that she
had made the use of the revolver a.
natural to her as it was for boy tt
whistle.
1t was a bright. beautiful morning
in May when Mr. Sukolt called Bushy
to him and said: at is my turn tC
take the tools to be sharpencd. There
are so many Of them that | shall be
obliged to wait several hours, and will
not be back until late. ] would take
you with me, but | must carry the
tools on Ned, and then, who would be
housekceper if you went along? Tom
is away, and would have no supper
if you went, would IL"
Gan right" said Busly, perfectly
delighted when her father made it
look as If she were a necessity. llel
little heart swelled with great pride
to think she could hold up her send
of the line as Tom expressed it.
"lf anything should happen that
you are called upon to protect your
self. will you be afraid, dear 2"
Dushy, not quite understanding hei
fathers anxiety, filed the hut with
her merry peal of laughter, then
climbing on his knee, she wound her
arm about his neck, and, taking her
revolver from the table where it lay,
said: "Sec that knot in the log
padre?' Her father nodded. With
out word more she raised the re-
volver and fired, hitting it in the cen.
ire.
81 wsh,' said Mr.. Sukolt to Slanks
an hour later, "that you would 60
back to the shanty and bring Bushy
over. l have foolish foreboding OF
evil to-day. Let her play about the
mine and if l don't get back before
dark you take her home and stay with
her until | come"
| Mr.. Sukolt rode off with the tools,
and Shanks soon had Bushy at the
mine. One of Bushys great pleasures
was to ride up and down the mine ir
the bucket, but it was not often sht
was allowed to do it. This day one Of
the miners named Mac took her witt
him every time he made the trip
Mac was a surly Southerner, who die
not believe in the slayes being made
free, and on more occasions than ont
Mr.. Sukolt had cautioned him to keel
his opinions to himself.
"You know that you are the only
Southern man in camp" he said, ''ant
not a favorite at that. ] will not b,
responsible for the actions Of tn,
miners II you air your rash ideas, es
pecially when / am not here and tn,
men have had anything to drink"
The only soft spot in Macs hear
was for Bushy, and this day the two
were inscperable.
81 like you,' said Bushy, as Ma,
carefully lifted her out of the bucket
} for the twentieth time. "Why doe!
padre say he's afraid something vii
happen to you when he's away?"
"Oh, because I'm hot-hcaded ant
quick-tempered," replied Mac, as HI
took her hand, and they went In tn,
tool house for load Of stun to bl
lowered In the mine.
II was nearly 8 o'clock when great
hcllowIng and cheering brought oul
all the miners from the mine below