Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-20
the Old gentleman she stopped ana ac-
knowledged his salutation with nod.

"Now," said Mr.. Slade as his horse
came up from tho brook after satisfying
his thirst, can I not get q cool drink
from the spring?"
"Oh, yes! I've got gourd there, >
replied the girl as she led the way to
the spring
Taking large gourd which hung Oh
broken hou:,h of poplar tree over
shadowing the spring, she dipped 1t
brimming full Of the ice cold water to
the thirsty traveller.
''Ah, that's a drink fit for king,
said the gentleman after he had almost
drained the contents of the eourd
That's what pap says said the
maid ''Tiuro hain't no colder water i'll
tho Blue Ri,ige," she continued, filling
the gourd again and putting it to her
lips
"Who is pap?' asked Mr.. Slade.
"Pap! Why he is my father"
81 know that, but intended to ask
his name"
John Hale Howsomever, people as
knows him calls him Cap'n Hale. cause,
you see, ho was in the big war;
"What's your name, my child?"
"Ida.''
"Where's your mother, Ida?"
"Mother's gone to heaven more 'an
two year ago; leastways she said she
was goin there, and believe it. See,"
she said softly, pointing to mound on
the hillside near the cottage.
"And have you no brothers?"
Mary one, only two-little sisters,
Lucy and Sallie.
"Where is your father? Why is he
not plowing instead of your
''See here, mister. pap amt able to
pillow nor do nothin else He can't walk
nor set up. He's got what they calls
paralysis. l told you as how pap was in
the war. Well. over yonder at Chicka-
mauga, where there was big fight, the
Yankees shot pap two times, and they
almost killed him. hate Yankees, don't
you?"
Mr.. Slade was silent She continued
her story: "After awhile pap mended
and got SO he could walk around some
with a crutch and work little bit. Ma
has told me as how afore the war she
and pap had a-plenty to live on, but
when he come home from Chickamauga
it was all gone. Pap is mighty good
man, and he done the best he could, and
after awhile when we children was big
enough we helped him, and ma, she al
ways helped him. One day just before
ma was tuck down sick pap was comm
down the mountain, and he fell and hurt
hisself in the hips where the Yankees
shot him. Poor pap, he managed to
kinder crawl home, and we all put him
to bed, and he is in bed yet and can't
turn hisself without help. Poor papt'
and the blue eyes grew moist, and there
was a choking in her throat.
After short pause she continued her
story: INA tended him the best she
could, and she sold ono of the steers
the mate to Old Spot, out there-and
she tuck the money, and she went and
hired doctor who lives way over yon-
der across the mountain on the other
side of the Hiawassee river to come and
see pap. We all prayed while ma was
gone that pap might live and git well,
and the good Lord. he heard us chill
dren, and pap did live, and he was
sight better when ma and the doctor
come. The doctor, he looked at pap, and
he 'xamined him close, and he held
down his head and studied and studied.
Finally he looked up and said as how
pap might live a lcng time. but be
would never get up and be around any
more He said he would do all he
could, but he nor nary other doctor
was able to cure pap poor papl
But that doctor wouldn't tech mas
money-not cent Of it. He's an
other one rs is goin to heaven when
he's dead and buried. Then ma, she
tried to keep up, but she got weaker and
weaker. and one day when the snow
was on the ground, nigh on to two year
ago, she come down to the spring, but
she was so weak she couldn git back
up the hill We children heard her
call, and we come a-runnin, and we
found.hor sjttin over there ON that rock
as white as the snow around. We chill
dren got her back to tic house The
same doctor, be come, and he give ma
physic. But-but ma Lever got up any
more, and when tie snow was all gone,
and the poplar leaves was all out, and
the mountain ivy was abloom, she said
she was a-soin to heaven, and she's
there now"
She was silent Her simple story had
been told
There was something in Mr. Slade's
throat which prevented him from speak
ing, but seeing the girl about to leave
he asked, "Who makes living for you
all?''
''Me and Old Spot" was the quick
reply.
''Can your father do nothing?"
''Oh, yes, pap does a heap. He's
mighty nimble with his hands, if he
can't turn ever without help We chill
dren gathers straw and broom corn for
him, and he makes hats and little bas-
kets and hroolhs, and the doctor, he takes
and sells 'em for pap, and that money
buys us clothes and shoes and sometimes
piece Of bacon. Then the old Gov
we call her Beauty-she gives US milk,
and me and Old Spot makes the bread
Oh, we is all doin tol'ble we'll Then
pap helps us with our books. and can
read print and plain writin, and Lucy
and Sallie they knows their letters and
can spell little bits of words. But when
I know enough-and pap says God will
provide way for me to know all want
to know-Ill learn 'em all about the
mountains, and the stars, and the big
world that is over yonder across the
mountains. But must go and turn pap
and help tho chill lren with the dinner. -
And she bounded up the hill like
deer.
''Teli your fa. her l will come in a
few moments to see him." he called
out to her.
She turned as she entered the cabin
door and nodded her head
Half al hour afterward Mr.. Slade
was seated in the humble homo of the
mountain girl Her story was too true.
There, stretched Oh lowly bed, lay the
poor paraIytic, dead from his arms
down, with his snow white hair
whitened not SO much by the frosts of
time as by tho agony of suffering--
brushed smoothly back from his brow.
L