The San Francisco call., 1897-07-04

mountains OF Tennessee one summer, with
my tent on my back and with my grip
with Punch and Judy and all OF Punch's
unlucky family in it. in one hand.
Wherever found clearing would show,
and while the Tennes scans in these parts
did not seem 10 have much money they
were powerful good hearted. They en-.
ioyed the show so much that l liked TO
play for them. was young man then,
and not married, and as long as made
living and saw the country l was suited
very well.
"There was little hamlet like that
then went by the name of Smithburg,
though where the burg was l couldn',
find out. The houses were scattered.
guess the name was only the fun of some
one-full of fun the woodchoppers and
m moonshiners were you can depend. | had
set up my tent ana Mr.. Punch was anus
ing the grown people and children, when
suddenly the queerest old fellow l ever
saw came into view from somewhere. He
was tall and bony and straight as an
Indian. His eyes were crossed so that
couldn't for the life of me tell which way
he was looking. No one laughed at him,
although he was really funnier than
Punch. Mighty handy he was with q
pistol so the people told me later, and he
would pull without warning ometimes.
"He came up and raped with knuck-
les that were all bone on the stage, and
said in hoarse, strange voice: Stranger,
do you ever play for nuthn for sick chill
dren?'
1.-The word children took me, for am
fond of the little fellows. Nobody wanted
to dispute me when said l would have to
go. The old mountaineer went ahead,
carrying my tent on his shoulder and
the grip in his hand as if they were
feathers. He would not let me carry
them. SO l came along behind, looking
about and taking it easv.
You're square pardner' said the old
fellow, turning once to look back, If you
were an officer you wouldn't dare to
come
The cross-eyed old man was a moon
sinner, l afterward found out, and the
pluCkest officers didn't stir him up often.
After awhile we came to q log cabin. A
young woman was standing at the door.
She was just as like the old man as she
could be. cross-eyes and ail-must have
been a family OF freaks She had been
crying and did not say much. We went
right in and the old man closed the door
after he had looked at his gun and placed
it where he could reach il. Then he went
up to the bed where a little girl (the pret.
test kid have ever seen) was lying. Her
cheeks were too red and her eyes too
bright with the fever to suit me, and
sort of choked up as she looked at me, for
she seemed something like little gIri l
had known and who died good many
years ago.
Hurry up with the show said the old
man in a husky whisper, as I'm power
full 'fraid she will be too tired 20 see it to-
day. Make it gentle and pleasin' like as
you can
"Well, it would have done you good to
see that kid laugh. l had to make up
new story for Mr.. Punch that day. In
stead OF killing every body. he just led
the m in to dinner and | made him tell all
the funny newspaper stories | could
think of (they were all new there). amt
Mr. Punch's family MADE love like lot
of turtle doves for that little sick girl. !
was so used to having Mr.. Punch kill
them all off that / found it hard not to
make a slip. l played for the little one