The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-10-18

One OF these fellows, dW-DOhcu ia
fooier-amd-fve, said that | could sta.
overnight with him, "bein' "a its you,
he added, "but you mustn't ask any ques'
tons" Then he assured me that he never
had ANYTHING to do with moonshlnlng
but that if needed any OF the "artIcle,
he thought he knew where he could get II
for me, if | had the "carsh. Gentle
reader. please excuse me when tell you
that gave him quarter; for | could not
find blessed drop OF water along the top
of the mountain lie was TO bring me a
quart of the PARTICLE" 1t was then
nearly "milk time" as the fellow express
ed il. and he told me to wait there till he
could 20 and see about if, promising TO
return within fifteen minutes. do not
know how these people count time, but !
STAYED there till the sun was hiding
behind the far off blue mountains of old
"Kaintuck," and still the fellow never
reappeared. Then the truth began to
dawn upon me; but | will leave you to
form your own conclusion a. to the matter
for have never seen him since TO ask for
any explanation.
saw that it would soon be dark, and
having no desire to be caught there alone,
with only the glimmering stars OF the
heavens TO give me light q was afraid to
light fire.. resolved TO seek shelter
in the first cabin could find, if indeed !
should he able to find one at all. ! left
the top of the grim old mountain, coming
down the side, and after hurriedly making
about mile, came in sight of Il little
cabin, built Of split logs, with stick and.
clay chimney. balloed at a respectable
distance, and gang of dirty-faced, un-
couth looking children Of all ages, from
about fourteen years down to the wee
fodder, came trooping out into the yard.
"What yer want, strauger?' demanded
the eldest of the group in a rather hoarse,
rough laugh.
told him that was lost, and should
like to stay with them till next morning,
if they would be so good as to keep me.
"Reckon yer don't want ter stay" said
he, "ior dad an mans both gone, an us
chil'erp can't talk to yer like, an 'sIdes
hes none o the article here"
"Where are the old folks" ! asked the
boy.
dad, he's gone ter whar they make the
lrticle,' said he. can nam, she went
dong with him, but they told us not to
ell whar they gone, an by the gOshllns,
IN not gwine to-
"Well," said !, II am lost, and should
ike to stay overnight with YOU
81 reckon yer kin stay, stranger" said
he boy with twist Of his mouth, but us
,hil'ern can't talk peritical, as dad says"
| went in, and when the eldest boy, who
seemed to nave the care of the others had
hem all safely in the house, he closed
he board shutter, and gave me a three
egged stool upon which sat down before
he fire The children were then all seat
I'd by him upon long high bench in front
IF the fire. The bench was so high that
noticed several of them could not touch
he floor with their feet.
In few minutes the eldest boy whose
lame learned was Basil, said: 1--WE all
at supper afore dad an nam went off,
IN thar's dothin' left for yer ter eat; but
reckon yer kin do without supper"
"Oh, yes" assured him, 81 am not
ooking for supper"
"Say, stranger" said he, 81 kin give
Ter some of Their article ter drink for
en-center."
"All right" said |, "just bring your
Irticle along"
He raised up a'puncheon from The floor,
nd took out key, from which he poured |
ut about gill of its contents into
,ourd, and reached it to me. drank it !
nd then reached him the "ten- center"
"Now, chil'ern," said Basil, "the's
nough Of the article left for us ter drink
er-night."
Then he poured out a gourdful and
anded It to the one on the end of the
ench nearest him, who quafied it and
his lips with evident satisfaction
lie continued to fill the gourd, and pass it
ound among them till they had each
rank two gourdiuls, when Basil claimed
is share.
1t was not long before the children
egan to show signs of having taken an
verbose of the article" One little fell.
w in shriIl, piping voice exclaimed,
durrah for old Roam, here's yer mule
I'd fell of the bench on the floor. Then
asil having despatched his share of the
'ntents of the ieg, dragged the boy
way from the fire, and dropped him on
e floor where he lay quite still. Then |