The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-01

" How FAR TO SHELBYvILLE, GRAN'PAPD
down here?" ST asked patriarch, who was
sitting on his porch by the roadside in split.
bottomed roc<ing-chair, resting his bony
hands on cane, the head of which was a
rams horn. smoking a corn-cob pipe and
watching the passing column with lack-luster
eyes
Sab" said the sage, poking down the
ashes in his pipe with his little finger, ''Pve
done lived in the Duck River Valley ever
sence Capting Jimmy Madison wuz elected
President the fust time, and never seed SIGH
wet spell as this afore / reckon hits all
along o. the wah We alters have powerful
sight o. rain in wah times. Hit raned pow
erful when Jinerul Jackson wuz foutin the
Injuns down at Horse Shoe Bend, and the
Summers durin' the Mexican war wuz monty
wet, but they didn't hold candle to what
we're hayin this yeah. Hits the shootin'
and bangin', reckon, that jostles the clouds
SOS they can't hold in'
" How far is it to Shelbyville, gran'pap?"
asked Shorty.
" Don't call me yer granpap," piped out
the old man in angry falsetto, and shaking
his cane. I" / won't stand hit. won't stand
everything. I've had enough ter stand from
you Yankees already. You've stole my
chickens an robbed my smoie-house, an
run off my stock, an Tve done stood hit, but
won't stand bein' called gran'pap by ye
I've some monty mean grandsons, some that
orter be in the penitentiary, but haint none
mean enough t. be in the Yankee army"
We didn't mean no offense, SIR" said 81
placatingly. eve really don't want you for
a grandfather. We've got gran'fathers o. our
own, and they're very nice old men, that we
wouldn't trade off for anything ever raised in
Tennessee. Have you anything to eat that
you'll sell us? Well pay you for it''
No, [ hant got nothin'-nary mite"
quavered the old man "Your men an our
men have stole everything I have-stock,
cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, meat an meal
everything, except my bare land an my hope
o. heaven. Thank God, none on we kin steal
them from me-"
1" Don't be too blamed sure about that, old
feller," said Shorty "Better hide 'em.
The Maumee Muskrats are Jest behind u.s.
They're the worst thieves in the whole army.
Don't let 'em know anything about your
land or your hope O. salvation, or they'll
have it in their haversacks before you kin
wink"
You haint told US yit how far it is to
Shelbyvllle," said ST.
Young man," said the sage oraculary,
" that altogether depends. Sometimes Shell
byville is monty fur off, an sometimes she is
right here On bright, cl'ar days, when the
roads is good, hits only few steps over thar
jest two sees an holier"
What's that 2" said ST. "Two sees an a
holler? How far is that?'
g He means" explained Shorty, that you
go as far as you kin see from the highest hill
top to the next highest hilltop twice, and
then it's only about as much farther as your
voice will reach"
Jest so, assented the patriarch. CT kin
saddle my ole nag arter dinner, rack over
an do some tradin, an rack back agin in
time for supper. But when we have SIGH
sorry weather as this, Shelbyville seems on
t. other side o. nowhar. You've got t. pull
through the mud an swim every branch
and cricll, an you're monty lucky if you git
thar in q week"
"Why don't you build bridges over the
creeks?" asked ST.
Can't do hit when hits rainin' an
they're runnin' over thar banks"
But why don't you do it when the
weather's good ?"
What's the use? You kin git over all
right then"
'Sir," said the Brigader- General, riding
up and addressing the old man. "where does
the Shakerag road come into the Bellbuckle
road ?"
Instantly the old man felt that he was
being asked to give aid and information to
the enemy" and his old eyes grew hard and
his wrinkled face set q don't know, sab ="
"Yes, you do" said the Brigader-Gen-
eral impatiently, "and want you to tel.
me-"
~ don't know, sah," repeated the old
man.
Are there any works thrown up and any
men out there on the Shakerag roads? asked
the Brigadier.
81 don't know, sah.''
Did large body of rebels go past your
house yesterday, and which road did they
take at the forks?" inquired the Brigadier.
81 don't know, sah"
The Brigadier-General was not in the best
of humor, and he chafed visbly at the old
mans answers.
Does not Goober Creek run down there
about a mile in that direction he again
inquired, pointing with his 6eld-glasses.
g / don't know, sah.'
How long have you lived here ?" asked
the Brigadier sayagely.
Nigh on to So year, sah.'
And don't you know where GoOber
Creek is and which way it runs +" asked
the Brigadier, losing all patience.
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