The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-07-17
A RECONCILIATION.

The fog that had prevailed during the
early hours of the morning diSappeared
before the bright rays of the sun ~ it
arose above the mountains. We had Il
clear view of the Juniata from the point
a mile above us, where il surged around
a little bluff, crowned with Il clumn Of
budding trees, until il was lost again
in gap in the dark, green ridges =
mile below. At our feet rushed the
swollen river, which the heavy rains
that had deluced the country during
the week previous had transformed
from a peaceful little stream into an
angry flood, so that IL stretched out
its arms, and despoiled many rich
farm and laborer's home. Now IL Vvss
bearing its booty on its broad. turbu-
lent bosom to the valleys below, there
to cast IL aside. On the day befoI,. 4
barn, with frightened fowl perChed
high upon its peaked roof, had fioated
Ly the spot where Sam Soper anu l
were standing; several small frame
houses. corn cribs and other rickeiv
farm buildings had gone bobbing mer-
riIy along on the swift current. great
trees, uprooted by the greedy waters.
barrels. boxes and household furni-
ture had we seen. Today the flood was
ebbing; its strength was gone: the
rains had ceased, and for the first tIme
after many days We could see the sun
overhead.
/ glanced from the river into the face
of the man at my side.
Il guess. Sam we will not see any
more houses go by / SAID: nothing
but barrels and such uninteresl ing oh
iects. / suppose. though. they viii bc
of use to the people below"
Its an III wind ez blows nobody any
good. ez Pete Siders sais,'' he replied.
solemnly. THE folks up the valley'Il
miss them bawrels 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 forou-
nate ones, unless some one claims that
| rocking chair that you rescued from
drowning"
faint smile passed over Soper's face.
1t was quickly gone. and his counte-
nance resumed its habitual stolid look.
He replied, somewhat grutlly:
EFF feller don't seize his oII,or-
tunity, II won't seize him" He hesi-
tated. and then added: ''Ez Pete SideIs
sais.''
Tell me-" cried. who Is this oracle
of yours whom you are forever quot
ing?"
For during my few days acquaint-
ance with the rough fellow At my side
1 had been struck by the fact that he
frequently made use of ancient adageS.
the credit for the invention OF which
was always given 10 the mysterious
Siders-
l seated myself upon a stump ana
awaited his reply He was a crude
rather stupid-looking man. clad in a
rough garb that betokened his rural
cnyironments-a ragged cloth cap. a
heavy, we!l-patched suit, which had
cnce been of gray material, a collarless
shirt and high boots His hair had
been close-erOpped a few days before
in token of the coming of summer. anL
his unkempt black beard stood out il
bold contrast to his seeming badness
His nose was narrow, long and hooked
and his eyes were deep-set beneath
shaggy brows.
After a long pause he replied To ml
question IN Il drawling tone, and VIII
the manner of a man perfectly con
vinced of the truth of what he said:
''Ef you ans bed ez much in your hea'
ez Pete Siders hes in his Ieetle finger
you'd be a smart man."
But who is he? / exclaimed .
have visited this valley yearly since
was a boy, vet l never before heard a
him. He does not live hereabouts, doe
hep
Soper seated himself beside me an,
replied:
NO. he don't. He lives up the walle
acrost the river. l usetcr live nea
him, tell me an him he'd words an fel
out. You see, Pete he was wonderfU
smart, an l was no match fer him NJ
place almost iined his. an he maNvrie
me sister. He knowed a heap. did Pet,
an he'd read most of the books they j:
Iou uns 'ud hev enjoyed tall>in' To hin
YOU would. fer he'd Travelled lot /
his younger days, az he'd good edjuI
cation. An at music. Hedginsl
kin feel that old fiddle of his'n a-goiI
thoo me yit. Ii jest made you all blu
when he played snrrerful pieces. ii
tho't d heap Of tibet fiddle, ne did Al
but tell you they is few men like Pet
Siders,'
How did you ever happen to part wit
this paragon. SAM l asked
'Paragone," he repeated, sadly. .
never heard him called thet- Mebbe Il
vas one. fer he was most everythi hiEE
How did we hev words HavGs; je.
a few hawgs done il. Sometimes
think it was my fault, an on them day
when low I'm to blame ] allus inten
to go over to his place an make up. BJ
I've never ben able to git off at theI
times; an when | kin git of | allU
blame Pete an cal'late he kin come
see me-"
1t must have been very seriou
trouble?" said 1.
'Hawgs," he replied "Nawthin' bu
a few mean pigs. You see was hvin' u
there three summers ago. L mad
'rangements with Hiram Bender. VIII
he'd a farm close be my place, fer him {
let me hey three young hawgS IN Sci
tember / tended to fatten 'em up al
butcher 'em when IL come cold On
day, in corn huskin' time, l goes over I
Hiram's to git 'em. When / asst him fe
'em. he looks at me surprised like, al
sais. sails he: Why, Sam, Pete Slider
got them pigs. He tol' me you sayd b
t was to git 'em an you'd pay me fer zen
ez you owed him fer his hevin' heipe
f you three days in the woods last winter
/ was Jest knocked. Eknowed Pete wa
1 hard nm IA ha-I l-inHar ha-n 10 x-fr,r n