Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-06-11
A RECONCILIATION.

The fog that had prevailed during the |
early hours of the morning disappeared |
before the bright rays of the sun as it |
arose above the mountains. We had a |
clear view OF the Juniata from the point |
mile above us, where it surged around |
u little Bluff crowned with clump of
budding trees. until 1t was lost again
In n gap in the dark, green ridges a
mile below. At our feet rushed the
swollen river, which the heavy rains
that had delugcd the country during
the week previous had transformed
from peaceful little stream into an
angry flood, SO that 1t stretched out
its arms, and despoiled many rich
farm and laborer's home. Now It was
bearing its booty on it's broad, turbu.
hent bosom to the valleys below, there
ITO cast it aside, On the day before
barn, with frightened fowl perched
high upon its peaked roof, had floated
by the spot where Sam Soper and l
were standing; several small frame
houses, corn cribs and other rickety
farm buildings had gone bobbing mer-
rily along on the swift current; great
trees, uprooted by the greedy waters.
barrels, boxes nnd household furni-
ture had we seen. To-day the food was
ebbing; its strength was gone; the
rains had ceased, and for the first time
after many days we could see the sun
overhead.
iglanccd from the river into the face
oftho man at my side.
guess, Sam, we will not see any
more houses go by" l said; nothing
but barrels and such uninteresting OBJ
lects. I suppose, though. they will be
OF use to the people below"
Its an Ill wind cz blows nobody any
good, cz Pete Siders sais," he replied,
solemnly. "rhe folks up the valley'll
miss them bawrcls an things, but
they'll come handy to them below ez
ketches en-
!. laughed.
1T is easy for you to argue in this
manner, for you are one of the fortu-
mate ones, unless some one claims that
rocking chair that you rescued from
drowning"
A faint smile passed over Soper's face.
1t was quickly gone, and his counte-
nance resumed it's habitual stolid look.
lie replied, somewhat grully:
"Ef Teller don't seize his oppor-
tunity, 1t won't seize him." He hesi-
tatcS, and then added: "Ez Pete Siders
eais."
"Tell me-" cried, "who is this oracle
of yours whom you are forever quot
ing?" l
For during my few days acquaint-
ance with the. rough fellow at my side
i had been struck by the fact that he
frequently made use Of ancient adagcs,
the credit for the invention Of which
was always given 10 the mysterious
Siders.
I seated myself upon stump and
awaited his reply. He was n crude,
rather stupid-looking man, clad in a
rough garb that bctokencd his rural
cnvironments-a ragged cloth cap, a
. heavy, we!l-patched suit, which had
once been of gray material, collarless
shirt and high boots. His hair had
been close-cropped few days before,
in token Of the coming of summer, and
his unkempt black beard stood out in
bold contrast to his seeming badness
His nose was narrow, long and hooked
and his eyes were dcep-set beneath
shaggy brows.
After a long pause he replied to my
question in a drawling tone, and with
the manner Of man perfectly con-
vinced OF the truth of what he said:
I '..Ef you uns bed ez much in your head
ez Pete Sidcrs hes in his leetle finger
you'd be smart man."
''But who is he" / exclaimed. 81
have visited this valley yearly since
was boy, yet never before heard oi
him. lie does not live hereabouts, does
hep"
Sopcr seated himself beside me and
replied:
mo, he don't. He lives up the valley
ucrost the river. / usetcr live neal
him, tell me an him he'd words an fel
out. You see, Pete he was wonderful
smart, an was no match fer him. My
place almost jined his. an he mawriet
me sister. He knowed heap, did Pete
an he'd read most of the books they is
You uns 'ud hev enjoyed tallsin' to him
you would, fer he'd Travelled lot ir
his younger days, an he'd good cdjur
cation. An at music. Hedgins
kin feel that old fiddle of his'n a-goin
thoo me yit. 1t jest made you all bu'
when he played sorrerful pieces. ii,
tho't heap of thet fiddle, he did. All
but tell you they is few men like Pet'
Siders!"
"How did you ever happen to partwitl
this paragon, Sam?" ! asked.
"Paragone," he repeata, sadly. "l
never heard him called thet. Mebbe III
vas one, fer he was most everything
How did we hev words. Hawgs; jes
few hawgs done it. Sometimes
think twas my fault, an on them day.
when low I'm to blame allus intenf
to go over to his place an make up. Blu
I've never ben able to git off at then
times; an when kin git off I alu
blame Pete an cal'late he kin come t.
zee me-"
ut must have been a very serious
trouble?" said /.
"Hawgs," he replied. "Nawthin' bu
few mean pigs. You see was livin' VI
there three summers ago. 4 made
'rangements with Hiram Bender, wht
he'd farm close be my place, fer him tt
let me hev three young hawgs in Sep
tember. tended to fatten 'em up an
hufcher ,e,u when IL come cold. Ont