Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1896-02-21
UNCLE SIS UMBRELLA.
BY JOHN RIM.

"Talkin' about parachutes," said old
Ben Marston, reminds me of a curious
thing AT happened up on the mount
ing yender, bout so years ago" Ben
tipped back his chair, put his feet high
er on the stove and clasped his hands
comfortably over the region of his
stomach.
1t was in the village store at Cardiff,
In New Hampshire, the night after the
county fair at Perryville, ten miles
away, where there had been balloon
ascension. A woman had leaped from
the balloon with a parachute, and had
reached the ground safely. This had
furnished subject of conversation to
the usual group of loafers in the store.
After Ben has assumed his favorite
attitude for storytelling he thought it
necessary to asseverate that the forth
coming tale was an "actooal fact"
San if we don't believe it," said he,
bringing his feet down with tbump,
I'VE can jest come up the mounting with
me in the mornin', mn III show ye the
very spot where it happened"
Then he went on with the narrative
l shall not attempt to report his talk
which might become wearisome, but
will tell the story in my own words.
Silas Hopkins, who was so much
loved that he was Familiarity called
Uncle Silas, was so years ago famous
lay preacher in the White mountain
region. He made frequent missionary
journeys, holding services here and
there, comforting the sick, and doing
great good. He suffered much hard
ship in travelling on foot through the
half-settled, rugged regions about the
Franconia range; but he bore it with
admirable patience, keeping his simple
sunny nature unchanged to the end.
Whenever he appeared in village O
dozen doors offered him hospitable vel
come; and in the evening be would al
ways find the Westinghouse or the
schoolhouse well filed to hear him
preach.
Almost as well known as Uncle Silas
was the green umbrella he always car
ried. 1t was large and strongly made
with a stout hickory handle, hand
wrought ribs, and an iron point to
make it serviceable in mountaineering.
ing, This, with his Bible, and a small
bundle that he carried easily over his
shoulder, constituted his worldly prop
erty. He seldom had any money at all;
and if he possessed any it was freely
shared with the needy.
Uncle Silas priced his green umbrella
highly. 1t was like the Scriptural
promise, "a covert from the tempest,
n shelter from sun and rain. lie had
slept many night OH the mountains
with no other shelter, and never felt
quite without "habitation to dwell
III so long as he could prop Il against
great rock and sleep under its protec-
ton.
Many treacherous cur had he
routed by sound whaclk of the lmbrel-
las hickory handle. Once, in lonely
place, he had come unexpectedly upon
bear and two cubs. The dam, savage
for her young, growled frightfully and
rushed upon him. But vigorous flour
ish of the green umbrella, which for
tunately flew open in the most alarm
ing way, took all the courage out of her,
and sent her whimpering away with
the cubs.
One winter, lest SO year ago." ac-
cording to Ben Marston, there. was a
panther scare in Cardiff, a real scare, -
with good cause for it. The winter was
severe, and panther had been driven
down from the mountains by hunger,
Several times its scream had echo d
from the ridge behind the village, and
had been heard even in the store-"Jest
here where. I'm a-settin'," said old Ben,
with emphasis that would have set all
doubts at rest.
Som sheep had been killed on outly-
ing farms; and Deacon SWANS heifel-
was taken one night from his barn cell
lar. The beast had on that occasion
come in from the south, as the tracks
showed, actually traversing the whole
village by its main street. After that
no one felt safe alone out-of-doors after
nightfall. The boys left the village
store before sunset. small knot of
mon still gathered to their accustomed
places nightly; but all brought Ian
terms and guns, and escorted eacn other
cautiously home at nine o'clock.
In the midst of the scare Uncle Silas
Hopkins arrived, and gave notice of the
evening services in the schoolhouse
The schoolhouse was in lonely spot.
as schoolhouses often are in scattered
communities, and only a few~of. the
bravest responded to The preachers in
yytion.
tpcle silas spent few days in Wis.,
from house to house. After hold.
services on Sunday he an.
sption TO walk Monday