The suburban citizen., 1901-09-14
had settled on the Little Pc

can Creek, l yOkcd up Lep
and COaly, the oxen, and put them to
the wagon l was going for a load Of
straw to Johnson place, six miles
north. toward the head Of the Little
Pecan.
Two miles from home came TO the
house where Sinclair McCarty, 4 boy
OF my own age, lived. AS he was Il
good hand at stacking or loading straw
father had suggested that l stop and
get him to go with me. But his moth
ar told me that he had gone hunting,
and had been out an hour.
l drove on. Johnson would help me
load the straw; but while jolting
through the woods, l saw McCarty's
dogs run across the read, and knew
that Sinclair was near. A few shouts
brought him to the wagon. He was
very tail for a boy OF sixteen. very
tkin, and had prominent nose.
"Well, what Go You think Of my new
gum" was his first remark, as he
held the weapon up for inspection.
"IGded my saddle for her." lie eX-
p,ained.
Sinclair's new gun was an old
army musket, hut he had never owned
gun before, and was very proud Of
it,
"-Ow dOcs it shoot" | asked.
Don't know. Just got my ammull-
ton this morning, and haven't seen
anything to shoot at yet She's all
rigat, though; lou can tell that by
looking at her.
He consented to 20 with me, and rs
we logged along, he showed me his
new powder-horn, which he had made
hinself 1t was a large one, low near.
ly full Of powder. 1t hung on one side
Of him, and an amuntion-Das OF uE-
dressed Geer.sEin on the other
Scarcely had we left the woods when
Z mule-eared rabbit jumped out Of
the prairie grass by the road and went
hopping of, but sat down anCut thirty
yards away.
t',"Nov just watch her Tumble the
muie-eRT" said Sinclair. for with bor-
rowed guns he had become fair
shot.
Stopping the oxen. Went and stood
OF their heads to keep them from cun-
ming away. 1t the report Of the mus
ket the big rabbit darted eff like a
streak. Sinclair stood staring afier Il,
rs II expecting every moment 10 see it
drop dead. When it had disappeared
over the ridge, he rubbed his shoulder,
Looked into the muazle Of the gun,
and finally sQulntcd his eye along ,hc
barrel
"She looks al right, ana the barrel
straight enough" he ramarked, in a
puzzled, serious way. Done see why
she dont shoot stralghter Nearly
kicked my shoulder Of. too" Lc;el.
while Teloadinc, he said: shes o litiir
hard on the trigger. Guess / must
have pulled heg up when pulled her
eff
But after three more fruitess Glo,-
at "mulc-cars' as we drove along Il.
threw the musiet on the ground.
III that was what the Confederate
soldiers had to tigh5 with, no wonder
sur side got licked" he exclaimed an
srly.
Pick +, Sp and bring It along" ]
said, laughing. You'll need It Christ
mas. 1t makes q terrible noise" 70.
1t IS at Christmas time Texas boys sc,
of their fireworks
Sinclair took up the muskct "pi
trade her Off the very first chance
get" lac declared. angrlly "SOHeb1dy
has got to pay me for that saddle"
Sinclair was a born trader He hat
a reputation among the boys FOR get
ting the better in swappings, but fo
once he lad been badly cheated. anC
was angry over It,
"Whatll you take for it:' I asked
sIepucally.
Never you mind That saddle we.
worth $40, aud I'll get something JUS
as good"
Let's be travelling. Wen soon b.
where saw the deer last week. You,
better put in load Of burkshot,"
suggested.
He poured nearly a handful OF DOW
der into the gun, "In put III a loa,
that Is load-one thatll scatter al
over the country" he declared. IL
there's a deer between here and III
Big Pecan, I'll g. IT, Then he wad
dcd up a piece OF newspaper an
rammPd 1t down on the powder
You'll get kicked heels over head,
l. remarked, from some cxperienc
with a muslet.
let her kick, g was his reply. as h
hammered the powder till the rumro
bounced out Of the barrel I'm goin
10 put in ammunition enough to Iii
something, il che Kicks me clean OF
5.of the county,
Then Sinclair went on ahead al
walked all the rest OF the way, b.
saw neither deer-nor anything else
which he cared to shoot.
Johnson helped us put the straw {
tn frame. We threw off our Goa
and worked and worked, till the "
gon disappeared and the straw on
rose high above the oxen. Whr
finished the huge load looked like
stTawstack on wheels. The straw W
50 very dry and light that it won