Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-03-31
NUMBER 13.

lock and poplar rear their straight
trunks toward the light and darken the
mountain side with their shade. Log
ging camps are scattered along the
stream, and we passed frequently by
logways where the timber is snaked
down incredibly steep places by long
strings Of cattle and rolled into the
stream. When freshet comes, the logs
go whirling along, many Of them TO
lodge on projecting rocks and then wait
for the next period Of high water. Here
and there queer, picturesque little grist
mills are built on the mountain branches
flowing into the river.
During the latter part Of the ride the
rain fell steadily, wettiDg us below our
coats and soaking through our shoes,
and here the mo0nshiner's s whisky filled
its useful place and made US think the
rain a delightful variation in the mo-
notony OF fair days. A mile before reach
ing our destination pushed on ahead
Of the others. eager 10 see my old guide.
Mack was &C Sunday school. Rather
funny place, | Thought, for that reck-
less, harebrained guide, who in former
times ca Shooting creek would as soon
brain an enemy rs help friend. BY
this time the others had arrived IN the
porch. and Cur hostess, who was "a
shouting Methodist. bad opened lively
attack on poor Reilly, who had lately
joined the Episcopal church. As turned
myself round and round at the fire
heard her tell him through the window
that there was no way you could get
around regeneration.
Presently Mack came in, surprising
me with "A figure too tall and spare for
the broad shouldered and stoutly built
Mack | expected to see Perhaps my
memory was at fault after 80 many
years, as had already found 1t in other
particulars.
II know your face" he said. Jest
give me a little time. When your party,
under guard Of Parker's men, crossed
over the fork just above the mill ON 10
the Webster road, came 10 you out Of
the bushes aud talked with you and Sill.
Don't you remember that:'
didn't remember the circumstance.
but il was precisely what Major Sill
had told me before leaving New York.
YES, / remember you, sure, be
continued. II mind jest how you stood
while We was a-taikIn. You looked sort
Of keerless like. told you If you could
get away TO come straight to me, and
we would get you through 10 Tennessee.
| told you TO look carefully at the
mountain tops 80 as to be able TO find
the place again.
had always believed this TO be the
same Mack Hooper who had guided me
from Shooting Creek TO Loudon. This
Mack had exchanged part Of his clothes
with Sill and Lamsun on the rocks dur
ing the excitement Of the Watson affair,
and when | first met my guide he bad
been wearing Lamson's coat. This Mack
had staid with the Kitchens in Shooting
Creek and knew all the people there
whom inquired after. be had guided
Union officers through 20 Tennessee,
but the incidents | mentiond he could
not recall Did he remember lodging
under the bed a. Mrs. Kitchens when
the two rebel officers came and surprised
ME reading by the fire? This was the
crucial test, and he showed none Of the
enthusiasm | expected. Then it trans
pired that there was another Mack
Hooper who lived in White county, Ga,
who was short and stout, as | remem-
bered my guide, and whom they called
Fool Mack, not from any lack Of
brains, but in token Of his reckless
bravado.
All the men went on 10 Webster at
day light the next morning, and was
left with my camera and sketcbbook 70
pass long. sunny day rambling about
the scenes Of my former visit. The old
fashioned house, with its broad roof and
deep porches, which | had 50 longed 10
see again as IL was when we drank Ma
| lor Parker apple jack by the great fire
place, was transformed into barn. In
the center N this structure the log walls
OF the main house, stripped Of weather
| boarding, still remained. Climbing up
over the hay and stalks found the sim
gle window Of the upper story where
Lieutenant Sill and | had slept, aud
where we bad been awakened by the
loud talk that preceded the thrice hang
ing II Headen. By this window it was
possible to locate the front Of the house,
and coming down to the yard easily
walked to the place at the branch where
we had found the Georgians washing
when the hanging party came in from
the orchard. A dozen fence rails thrown
in the bed Of the little stream were
crushed and splinteIed by the passage
Of the laden wagons from the c0rnheld.
The orchard was gone and the fences
changed, but the same blue mountains
| looked down on the valley in the same
morning sunshine.
Just above the union Of the two
branches Of the Tuckasegee picturesque
wooden bridge spans the stream, and ON
the arched roadway between the log
ramparts broad patches Of sunlight
found their way through the oyerhang-
| ing trees. At the house just across the
bridge | found namesake and sprung
nv trus5y camera on the old lady al
most in the shadow of Shelton noun
tain. A little farther up the east fork
and just below the point Of our crossing
was rare old mill built into the bank
at the end Of log dam, over which the
sparkling water tumbled and foamed
under the undershot wheel which turned
the gearing of the slab covered sawmill
extension.
At cabin / met two men who had
been present with the company that had
captured us at Headen's.
Passing the point where on New
Years day in 1864 We came upon the
four dead Watsons with their wives
wailing over their remains, There,
saId my guide, Just beyond that apple
tree in the cornfeld is the place where
you saw the bodies. "
THE END.
An Agricultural Peer.
The Earl of Winchelsea is best known