The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-04-03


lips.
"Who is pap?" asked Mr.. Slade
"Papl Why he is my father"
II know that, but l intended to ask
his name. "
John Hale. Howsomever, people as
knows him calls him Cap'n Hale, cause,
you see, he was in the big war.
whats your name, my childP'
"Ida."
where's your mother, Ida?'
Mothers gone to heaven more IAN
two year ago. leastways she said she
was goin there, and | believe it. See, "
she said softly, pointing to mound OH
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 blowing instead Of youF'
"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
par 'lysis. told you as how pap was in
the war. Well, over yonder at Chicka-
manga where there was big fight, the
Yankees shot pap two times, and they
almost killed him. hate Yankees, don't
your
Mr. Slade was silent. She continued
her story: "After awhile pap mended
and got so he could walk around some
with 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 a 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 papp"
and the blue eyes grew moist, and there
was a choking in her throat.
After short pause she continued her
story: MA tended him the best she
could, and she sold one 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 a
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 long time, but he
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 pap!
But that doctor wouldn't tech mas
money-not a cent of it, He's an
other one as 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 Oh to two year
ago, she come down to the spring, but
she was SO weak she couldn't git back
up the hill. We children heard her
call, and we come a-runnin, and we
found her a sittin over there on that rock
as white as the snow around. We chill
dren got her back to the house. The
same doctor, he come, and he give ma
physio but-but ma never got up any
more, and when the snow was all gone,
and tbp ron1ar laauoc xroC a II o,,t o,,J
the mountain ivy was abloom, she said
she was a-goin to heaven, and she's
there now"
She was silent. Her simple story had
been told
There was something in Mr. SHADES
throat which prevented him from speak
Ing, but seeing the girl about to leave
he asked, "Who makes living for you
ALP"
"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 over without help. We chill
dren gathers straw and broom corn for
him, and he makes hats and little bas-
kets and hrooms, and the doctor, he takes
and sells EN- for pap and that money
buys us clothes and shoes and sometimes
piece Of bacon. Then the old COW
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
know enough-and pap says God will
provide a way for me to know all want
to know-I'll 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 the children with the dinner F."
And she bounded up the hill like a
deer.
Tell your father will come in q
few moments to see him." he called
out to her.
She turned as she entered the cabin
door and nodded her head.
Half an hour afterWard Mr. Slada