The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-05

: the famous Houses Spring, and. while
Huskey drives the team into the branch
that they may drink. we get out to quench
our thirst with the cooling water. A fcck
of geese impedes our way. one glance at
the camera is. enough for them, and they
allow US to pass.
And now 1t is the bashful girls turn to
! get out. We deposit he at the mouth of
a lane which leads up past IL field. wherein,
above the rails of a worm fence. We can
see a thrashing outfit at work.
| And now We come 20 Big River. and,
crossing it. get a good view of Van der
Crussen's mill. The waters o. Big River
have a fall out of the ordinary. and numer-
Gus water-power mills lot its banks at coed
points of vantage.
Byrnesville is the next post Office. This
is the place where the tie RATS went to
pieces the other day. and the boss rafter.
who halls the stage coach down by the dam,
points out scattered portions of the awful
wreck.
Il feel powerful bad over t." he says.
'I sure feel powerful bad. About as bad
as a man could feel about anything. I
reckon, unless he lost his wife. or some
thing like that.
Just think. Mister Huskey. there was
1.523 ties in them two RATS" he goes en-.
ut was two days after the big rain of last
week. I knowed-"
"Get outr' says Huskey. you don't say?
Fifteen hundred and twenty-three! That's
a powerful lot o. ties to lose at once. Didn't
you get any of 'em back?'
"a few. Just a few. Nothin' like what ia
Ike to have. An them I did recover had
about four inches o. mud on 'em. Had to
raise 'em FIN the bottom. y know. An
just think. Mister Huskey. I could o saved
] 'em all IL I'd only had one more rope. Yes.
sir: just one more rope. It's too bad. but
I sure can't help IT now. 1 done all I could
do. an that's all any man can do"
AT Cedar Hill Post Office we encountered
another mill and the biggest store on the
route. 1t takes our driver some time to
! transact his business here. as there Is
something of n paper mall to be turned
over here to a man who is waiting for It
with a cart and a saddle bag with ~.
S. NJ stamped on it. While the important
routine 10 being gone through with We
watch two small and freckled boys stoning
a lizard.
Closer and closer are We getting. now in
to the heart of primitive nature. into hill
sides where myriads of rattling good Skinny
clubs are just naturally going to waste.
This is Missouri. the Missouri so dear to
those who dwell here. 50 teeming with its
rich bottom lands. so resourceful In timber
and mineral wealth hidden in its hills.
Here's where they raise good corn and good
wheat. Here's where excellent potatoes are
grown. Here's where the best of Irish set
tiers wheIp their young and the squirrel dog
comes in handy. Here's where they grow
the hillside navy" Here's where they
know good horses and ride them. Here's
where they raise that most valuable ami
NAL, the Missouri mule. Now we are far
enough away from st. Louis to lose sight
of the truck and vegetable farms. This is
our great. undeveloped Missouri.
1t is getting late now and the long shad-
ows stealing through the runs, "the arrows
of sunset lodging In the tree tops bright
on the lower side of the rock road. all go
to remind us that we are getting decidedly
hungry.
And now we are at Morse's mill. our
journeys. end. Let us go in and wash uD
for supper. Yes, Mr.. Wilmer will
date US.
Corn pone, buttermilk. bacon and newly
laid eggs, hot biscuits. jam. strong coffee,
fresh vegetables and a quiet smoke on the
store porch after supper. It's worth COM
ing for.
Besides. the bass are biting good just
] below the dam now. DICK WOOD, :.