Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-01-08
WILDCAT HOLLOW

yes, yes. You needn't holler Sc
Ioudl I'll come sCon's ! get this pot
on the hook. Can't leave It there tc
burn while put oft a travellers boss
Should think he'd know that--but
there, OF course a stranger don't
know He Is hollering for the hostler
and that's Bill, bat Bills off some
where with the loafeTs, and I'll have
to tend to the boss or Bill VIII lose his
job.
Bill and 1 will need every penny
that we can both OF us earn from now
till then-there, now. what makes me
blush so? There amt O living sou
that knows anything about it.
well, it's done, and these billed vic
tuals are ct for the king himself, OF
Colonel Byxbe-or even Bill. But
there / go ag'in.
Somebody will find out for sure II
don't shet mp. Land sakes! re
ruther lose a weeks wages. Well
Mr.. Barber runs this tavern, an pears
to know his business, but will say he
is Just like most other men; he don't
'preciate a good cook till he loses her
Now there's Bill, he is the only
man in the settlement that 'preclates
good qualities.
Law, mel that boss looks like ne'd
been swimmin' in mud Almost. tie
plain he amt been trayelin' no cordu
roy road.
Wei, I'll jst lead i'm to the stable
md feed i'm, and leave i'm for Bill to
clean up.
Il must hurry for the strangerll
smell the victuals and be in fret fol
his supper. Don't know which he'll
want first, that or somethin to drink.
I'm glad'there's plenty of hay In the
manger, for of all things I do hate to
climb up and throw down hay from
the NOW. Well, there, l guess eight
ears of corn will be about right for
a boss Of that size. My, it's gettin'
latel must step lively.
I'm jist slip down to the spring and
get a pail of water. 1t amt dark, but
it's hard to tell whether it's daylight
or moonlight. The moon is just risin'
and what a jolly round face he has.
Some way it makes me think Of Bill.
Il like jolly, red, round face.
Maybe Bill amt so thorough-goin'
as some. but he's a comfortable man
to have around for he never worries
nor bOthers himself. He's a real
obligin n n to do fur, too, and he pre-
ciates. Some way ] feel as happy to-
night as a duck in the rain.
My! / was just goln' to start to
singin' then. I'm glad 1 didn't, for
that's q deer there drinking at the
saltlick, sure as l live Who'd a
thought it, and right here in the settle
ment, too? Yes, aud she's got a fawn
by her side. III slip back and get
my rife. Yes, they are there yet.
Well, I'll shoot the fawn first, and If
/ hit it the doe won't leave it, so I'll
get them both.
There, I'm just right. I've got
them towards the moon and can see
them plain. Now I'll try the fawn.
Aim at the head, so; then bring it
down the neck to the shoulder, then
back a little and-hre. There, 1 knew
l wouldn't miss. Now must load
again quick
Just as I thought, the doe stands
over the fawn and shifts, and stamps
first one foot and then the other. Now
she raises her head high and looks
straight at me- This IS a good chance.
Now, if this gun don't miss fire I'm
sure of her. A leetle higher up and
pulse.
There, no man in the settlement
could do better and not many Of them
could do as well. Cruel too, It seems,
somewayl Well, I'll just slip back
and put up the gun and get Bill to
help carry up the venison. Oh, ye
needn't be so skeered of Injuns. That
was me shot. What did I shoot2 Oh,
ye can Jest come and see. It was
something worth shootin'. What a
fuss you all make over It! It's queer
they come, and that's all there is to
it. Oh, bother your blarneyl Call
me Captain Sally, indeed Well, my
housell be my fort. and | can defend
it, if / amt the head Of a company.
My house-head of a company-what
are you laughing at? The tavern is
my house now, amt it,
well, of all the yelling and anticsl
One would think you had all gone
plumb crazy. Captain Sally, Captain
Sally-well | can stop my ears. that's
ono comfort.
We'll. I'm a havin' a run of luck.
Last night the deer come right to me
to be shot, and today / got a letter.
It's the first one I've ever got since
come West That quarter dollar / got
for the deer Just paid for the letter,
an | didn't have to break in on my
wages. That's lucky, too. Seems like
the deer Jest came a purpose to pay
for my letter. II amt every one that s
so lucky. There's four letters been
waitin' pretty nigh a month in the
postofiice for the folks TO get money
enough to take 'em out.
Let me see, Bill promised to go
hickory-nutting this AFTERNOON. Well,
I guess I'll jest run in an do my hair
a bit afore he comes, then bring my
gun long out. / might get a chance
shot at somethin' or mother.
well, here 1 be. What beautiful
little lookin' glass IL is, too, as I've
said a hundred times Yes, and the
other two are Jest as nice to look in
as this one. I've always been thank
full that when we divided let EN- take
all the est, and just took these three
lOokin' glasses. What a helpful thing
they be, and then if / should break
one, why I've got two more left.
That's jest what thought when took
/ EN-. Course the folks made all man.
ner OF fun of me. Asked how l would
carry 'em a thousand miles into the
wilderness, and IL would use 'em for
plates and all that. But what did I
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