The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-11-19
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
/: POOR OLD DIADAMIE.
4 BY Hngelia Moods.
n Copyright. 1871
A.
Copyright. 1871

THE early settlers in the narrow Kill
buck valley in central Ohio were
wellacouainted with the hardships COM
mon topioneer life. 1t required not a 1T
tlecourage and perseverance to conquer
Abe forests and to exterminate the rep
Giles and wolves; but still more ior-
nidable foe to these lonely people was
the miasma that arose from the slow
muddy creek that wound its way
,brough the beautiful valley. II you
we're to walk to-day through the bury
inc ground on the East Hill. you would
read the story upon the little white
slabs so thickly set in the green grass.
II was hard climate for little chill
aren.
In those days, when travelling TO n
new country was done by wagons, 1t
was customary for wagons TO join
train. whether strangers or not; and
when one or two or three dropped out.
no one thought it strange. or indeed
thought of it at all. For this reason
no one knew when Diadamie came or
where she lived.
The people of the village knew her
only as a peddler of the berries that
grew amongst the hills. These berries
we're rich and sweet, and were keenly
relshed where fruit was almost un-
known. The housewives had learned
TO expect Diadamie some time early in
July, and thereafter once, twice or
perhaps three times week.
Dadamies approach to the village
was across the creek through covered
bridge, which brought her suddenly to
the foot of the main and only street.
She carried a large basket upon her
head. and as she emerged from the
bridge her clear mellow voice rang out
upon the summer air: "Old Diadamie.
huk-kell-berries." This call was re-
peated from door TO door, until the last
of the little shining berries were dis
posed of. Then Diadamie would make
some small purchases at the village
store. always including a stick or two
Of bright red and white striped candy,
after which she walked out across the
stretch Of level road and disappeared
In the shadow of the mountain.
Why she called herself "Old Dada
mic" was mystery. Her figure was
straight and slim, and she walked with
a quick, firm step which does not be-
long to age. Her eyes were blue, but
Of so dark shade as TO be easily mis-
taken for black. Her hair was deep
black. with a strong tendency to curl
had il not been dashed back with bands
and pins in her effort to subdue it. Her
mouth was large and strong, and when
she laughed she showed that every
tooth was of amazing whitencss and
perfection. Diadamie wore a dress OF
indigo blue calico, with a sunbonnet
of the same material. She was always
scrupulously clean and neat.
Diadamie's house was little more
than hut. 1t was built of logs and
had but one room; 1t was situated upon
the top Of the mountain, hemmed In
and sheltered by the dense forest. But
Diadamie did not live quite alone. No
che had Tietro-Tietro, who knew heI
only as Nanan. Walled in by hugs
drifts Of snow, the winters were dreal
enough to this strange pair. Wher
summer came, and Diadamie wa
obliged to spade and plant her garden
and later to 60 on long walks gather
Ing berries, and afterwards to tramp t,
the village to dispose Of them, the day
were long and lonely for Tietro. Itwa
then in the silence of the mountain
that little Tietro's brain was full o
imaginings that caused him to asl
many bewildering questions of Dada
mie upon her return.
Tietro sat all day long just as Dia
DAME had placed him in the rudely
constructed chair. which was higl
enough to enable him to look out Of tn
window. There was a rest for the lon 9
thin, useless limbs, and cushion 70
the misshapen back. For hours Tietr
would sit listening to the wind in tn
trees, and watching the patches Of sun
light upon the soft green moss. No,
and then gray squirrel would run u
and down the trees; but no sound fror
tae outside would ever reach Tietro'
mrs. He had never se<n living bein
out Diadamie. Tietro's arms were lon
and thin like his lower limbs, but the
"sre not so limp. He could use hi
hands and arms, but he had neve
walked step. Diadamie Away
"rsssed him In long loose gown, gait