The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-06-12
SARGE pLUNKETT.
Writes of His Recent Trip Among Noun.
tain People.
atlanta Constitution.

atlanta Constitution.
Such trip as I have just closed up
through northeast Georgia is calcu-
lated to make any one feel good, and
to see things entirely on the bright
side.
The northeast Georgia people know
me and Brown, and there is none Of
that suspicion shown toward us one
reads Of as being a part Of the charac-
ter of these mountaineers. Parties
who are reported as being "moonshin-
ers" had no concealment from US. Of
course, we did not 60 to their stills,
nor we did not hear them say they had
any stills, but the little brown jugs
would put in an appearance in the
early morning and whet our appetites
to enjoy the good country fare. There
is no danger in these mountain people,
who attend to their own business, and
every latchstring hangs outside the
door for any one who is not med
dler.
It is hard for me to decide which is
the best scope of country through all
the stretch we travelled. The valleys
between the hills with crystal streams
allowing and delightful springs gush..
ing out from the rocks at the foot Of
these hills are so pleasing to an old
man that we are more than apt to see on
ly the bright side of the section. The
only trouble is to get your produce to
market from among these mountains.
This will be overcome in time, and then
this will be the most desirable coun-
try to live on the face Of the earth.
The section has everything to recon-
mend it. The soil is rich, the water
30 pure, the fresh air so bracing and
healthful, that it is no wonder the
mountaineer is recognized as brave
and generous by those who know him
as he is.
In the travel Of a week failed to
fud single thing save just one Incl
dent that was brought to my mind by
visiting the mining region Of Dade
that could throw damper over the
spirits and good cheer engendered by
the surroundings. The mines recall
ed a poor fellow that was sent from
my section to serve term Of twenty
years there, and the story is worth
repeating, that the young generation
may be impressed to their advantage.
The man I speak Of was black
smith of the good old times, and I re-
member him as the picture Of health
and a model of fine physical manhood.
His dwelling was close to his shop in
these old times, and many has been
the time that I have looked upon him
as blessed as I would watch his chill
dren as they played under the big oak
that stood near his door. But the
house was tumbled down, the trees
have passed away and the family have
all died or scattered, till there is moth
ing now but memory.
Once the smith had been a drinking
man, and liked much to join in the
sports that then pertained around the
crossroads grocery. But he had
turned over "new leaf" as the say
ing goes, and had become prosperous
and happy father. Twenty years ago
this smith was sent to Dade County
as the penalty Of rash act in an evil
moment.
He, with his little son, John, was
returning home from the village. On
the roadside stood one of these dog
geries, and at this little house the
smith was led to stop for moment.
'sDon't go in, papa" pleaded his
little boy, as the smith drew up his
reins and stopped the horses.
"Ah, John" said the father, "you
have all got to treating me as though
I was a child" whereupon he pushed
the reins into little Johns hands and
bid him mind the team for a moment.
In another moment he was standing
with some of his old associates in front
Of the plank counter Of the bar.
"Just one drink, comrades said
the smith; 'and hurry, for little John
is holding the team, and my folks
treat me as though I was as weak and
tender as babe in these days, and
little John will be grieving if I don't
get right along"
In haste the drinks were poured into
the glasses and the smith was hurry
ing to return to his boy. Just mo-
ment he was detained to get his change
from the bartender. This was the
fatal moment. A rough, rowdy fellow
staggered up from dark corner Of the
little house and, getting between the
smith and the door, insisted that he
had been insulted in not being invited
to drink, and nothing would do but
fight to settle the matter.
The smith was no man to back
down from fight, especially after he
had taken one drink. In less time
than it takes to write it there was
general row going on in the room, one
man was lying dead upon the floor,
the smith team had become frighten-
ed and run away, smashing the wagon,
and up the road little John lay dying
at the root of tree.
The smith was arrested upon the
charge Of murder, found guilty and
sent to the Dade coal mines for 20
years, while the poor wife and two
little girls were left all alone in the
world.
In two years the mother died, the
two girls drifted away and were lost
sight of, while the father fretted for
18 years in the mines. In some way
he was turned loose after 18 years and
returned to his old home, to find all
that he had known to be gone. shall
never forget the look of that poor man
upon his return. / saw him coming
down the road, bent and gray. He
halted at our gate and leaned upon the
gatepost. He looked at me and then
at my wife, and then his eyes would
wander off at the trees.
"Come right in, stranger, said /.
Not word did he speak and not a
move did he make, save to stare about
him in dazed manner.
My wife vowed that it was some
crazy fellow; but, crazy or no crazy, !
hobbled out to where he was, and
there in this broken-down old man l
saw the smith of 18 years ago.