St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-07-04
A RECONCILIATION.

= VAAS0 jesus luUlG2O.
Chicago Tribune.
A RECONCILIATION.
The fog that had prevailed during tn
early hours of the morning disappcare'
before the bright rays of the sun a. j
arose above the mountains. We had
clear view Of the Junista from the p0in
mile above us, where it surged aroun,
. little bluff, crowned with clump O
budding trees, until it was lost agaiI
In gap in the dark, green ridges
mile below. At our feet rushed tn
swollen river, which the heavy rain
that had delugcd the country during
the week previous had transformcs
from a peaceful little stream into Al
angry flood, SO that 1t stretched on
its arms, and despoiled many . ricl
farm and laborer's home. Now it wa.
bearing its booty on it's broad, turbu
lent bosom to the valleys below, ther,
70 cast it aside. On the day before
barn, with frightened fowl perches
high upon ite peaked roof, had floatet
Ly the spot where Sam Soper and
were standing; several small fran,
houses, corn cribs and other ricket,
farm buildings had gone bobbing mer
rily along on the swift current; grea
trees. uprooted by the greedy waters
barrels, boxes and household furni
ture had we seen. Today the flood wa.
ebbing; its strength was gone; tn.
rains had ceased, and for the first time
after many days We could see the sur
overhead.
Iglanccd from the river into the fac.
Of the man at my site.
II guess, Sam. we will not see any
more houses go by," said; nothing
but barrels and such uninteresting oh
tects. suppose. though. they will bt
Of use to the people below"
'It's an i'll wind ez blows nobody any
good, ez Pete Siders sais," he replied
solemnly. ''The folks up the valley,ll
miss them bawrels an things, but
they'll come handy to them below e.
ketches 'cm."
I laughed.
'.It il easy for you to argue in this
manner, for you are one of the fortu.
nate ones, unless some one claims that
rocking chair that you rescued from
drowning"
A faint smile passed over Soper's face.
It was quickly gone, and his counte-
nance resumed its habitual stolid look.
He replied, somewhat grutTly:
''Ef feller don't seize his oppor-
tunity, it won't seize him" He hesi-
tatcd, and then added: ''Ez Pete Sider<
sails"
Tell me" 1 cried, "who is this oracle
Of yours whom you are forever quot
ing?"
For during my few days acquaint-
snce with the rough fellow at my side
I had been struck by the fact that he
frequently made use Of ancient adagcT.
the credit for the invention of which
was always given TO the mysterious
Siders.
I seated myself upon q stump and
awaited his reply. He was a crude,
rather stupid-looking man. clad in a
rough garb that betokened his rural
cnvironmcnts-a ragged cloth cap, a
heavy, we.l-patched suit, which hat,
cnce been of gray material. a collarless
shirt and high boots. His hair had
been close-cropped few days before,
in token of the coming Of summer, anG
his unkempt black beard stood out in
bold contrast to his seeming badness.
His nose was narrow, long and hooked.
md his eyes were deep-set beneath
shaggy brows.
After a long pause he replied to my
question in drawliEg tone, and with
the manner of man perfectly con.
vinced Of the truth of what he said:
''Ef you uns bed ez much in your head
q Pete Siders hes in his leetle finger,
you'd be = smart man."
But who is he? 1 exclaimed. Il
have visited this valley yearly since ]
was boy, yet never before heard of
him. He does not live hereabouts. docs
her
Soper seated himself beside me ana
replied:
NO, he don't. He lives up the valley
acrost the river. / usetcr live near
lin, tell me an him he'd words an fell
put. You see, Pete he was wonderful
smart, an was no match fer him. Nv
place almost iined his, an he mawried
ne sister. He knowed heap, did Pete.
N he'd read most Of the books they is.
lou ms 'ud hev enjoyed talkin' to him.
ron would, fer he'd travelled q lot in
his younger days. an he'd good edjur-
ration. An at music. Hedgins! II
hin feel that old fiddle of his'n a-eoin'
loo me yit. 1t Jest made you all blue
when he played sorrerful pieces. He
Eho't . heap Of thet fiddle, he did. Al!
ut I tell you they is few men like P.te
Diders,"
~How did you ever happen to part with
~ paragon, Sam?' asked.
.rsragnne," he repeated, sadly. 81
pevor heard him called thet. Nebbe he
As one, fer he was most everything.
acw did Ne hev worik. Hawgs; lest
|. 1ew hawgs done it. Sometimes !
lhink it was my fault, an ON them DAYS
eAen ! Tow Tn to blame / allus intend
=. - NYey to his place an make up. But
= evcr VI ben able to git on at them
+ Sn' when I kin git on allus
fete m cal'late he kin come /,
~ must have been : very serious