Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-04-01

son flowers touching her hair, now re-
leased from its homespun GOVERNS
where the sunlight and shadow met ant
mingled, her cheeks aglow from tb,
mornings toll, and her eyes, blue as the
ether above, turned toward the hum.
Die home on the hillside, she was in
deed q child Of 2ature-a true type q;
the mountain girl.
Good morning, miss" said Mr.,
Slade, who had approached unperoeiyed
by the girl, who had been busy with
her nblutions
The girl, startled by the sound Of q
human voice, sprang from the brook and
prepared for flight in the direction Of
the cabin, but seeing the kindly face OF
the old gentleman she stopped and ac.
knowledged his salutation with nod.
DO you live heres" asked Mr.. Slade.
Yes, " she replied, pointing toward
the cabin.
Now" said Mr.. Slade as his horse
came up from the brook after satisfying
his thirst, "oan I not get cool drink
from the spring."
"Oh, yesl I've got gourd there, -
replied the girl as she led the way to
the spring.
Taking large gourd which hung on
a broken bough Of a poplar tree over
shadowing the spring, she dipped It
brimming full of the ice cold water to
the thirsty traveller.
"Ah, that's drink fit for king, {"
said the gentleman after he had almost
drained the contents Of the gourd.
THAT'S what pap says" said tho
maid. "There hain't no colder water in
the Blue Ridge" she continued, filling
the gourd again aud putting it to heI
lips.
who is pap2" asked Mr.. Slade.
"Papl Why he is my father.''
II know that, sat intended to ask
his name"
John Hale. Howsomever, people as
knows him callahim Cap'n Hale, cause,
you see. he was in the big war.
whats your name, my ohild?"
"Ida."
Where's your mother, Ida?"
Mothers 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."
"Whcre is your father? Why is he
not plowing instead of your"
'See here, mister, pap amt able to
plow nor do nothin else. He can't walk
nor set up. He's got what they calls
r'lysis. 1 told you as how pap was in
the war. Well. over yonder at Chicka-
where there was big fight, the
Yankees shot pap two times, and they
almost killed him. hate Yankees, don't
yon?"
Mr.. Slade was silent. She continued
ner story: after awhile pap mended
and got SO he could walk around some
with orutch and work little bit. Ma
has told me as how afore the war she
md pap had a-plenty to live on, but
when he come home from Chiokamauga
t was all gone. Pap is mighty good
nan, and he done the best he could, and
lftcr awhile when we children was big
,nough we helped him, and ma, she al
ways helped him. One day just before
ma was tuck down sick pap was comm
lown the mountain, and he fell and hurt
iisself in the hips where the Yankees
hot him. Poor pap. he managed to
kinder crawl home, and we oil put him
o bed, and he is in bed yet and can't
urn hisself without help. Poor papl"
md the blue eyes grew moist, and there
vas choking In her throat.
After a short pause she continued her
tory: MA tended him the best she
ould, and she sold one OF the steers
he mate TO Old Spot, out there--and
he tuck the money and she went and
lired a doctor who lives way over yoni
Ier across the mountain on the other
ide OF the HiawRssee river to come and
ee pap. We all prayed while ma was
zone that pap might live and git well,
nd the good Lord. he heard us chill.
ren, aud pap did live, and he was a
light better when ma aud the doctor
ONE, The doctor, he looked at pap, and
10 'Kamined him close, and no held
own his head and studied and studied.
finally he looked up and said as how
ap might live long time, but he
you'd never get up aud be around any
lore. He said hs would do all be
onld, but he nor nary other doctor
Tas able 10 cure pap - poor pap
iat that doctor wouldn't tsoh mas
q cent Of it He's an
theT ono as is g0in 10 heaven whom
o's dead and buried, Then ma, sho
led % keep up. but she got weaker aud
leaker aud ono day when tho snow
las on ths ground nigh on 10 two year
ga, she come down 10 lbe sprinR, bat
le was ~ woak she oOuldn't git back
p the hill We children heard heF
All, and wo come a'Funnin, aud We
,uDd hoT q slttin over theTe On that rock
! white ~ lhe snow around. We chill
ron goa her back 90 the house Tho
'me Doctor bs come, aud he give MA
byslo, but-but ma never got up any
l0Te, and when lhe snow was all gone,
ld tho poplar leaves WA ali 0ut, and
10 monntEln IVY was abl0oln, she said
10 was a'g0in 10 heaYeD, ana she's
leFe now