The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-06-20
"OLD CY WALKER"
A Charcater~ Study From Charles Clark
Munns Next Book, "Boyhood Days

| A Character Study From Charles Clark
Munn's Next Book "Boyhood Days
on the Farm"
All that was known of him was that
one day, many years previous to the
advent of us boys, he had taken posses
sion of an old house on a seldom
travelled by-road and used 1t for his
abode. The only room in the house
that could be occupied at all he had
repaired in various ways to keep out
the snow and rain, and here he lived
a hermit's life. In one corner he had
built a bunk and with a few ragged
quilts to cover his bed of leaves and
straw, two rickety chairs, shelf for
table, a scant assortment of dishes
and cooking utensils, he managed to
keep house in way that perhaps sat
isfied him. He cooked his meals over
fire in the big open fireplace; baked
his bread in a tin baker placed in front
of it, and with a faithful dog and a
gun for companions seemed to enjoy
himself.
He worked occasionally for the neigh
boring farmers, but spent most of his
time in fishing, hunting and trapping.
He never shaved or cut his hair wore
clothes that were a combination of
patches of all kinds and colors, and had
two peculiarities that were noticeable
The first was that he would never go
near women, and seemed to be afraid
of them. If by any chance he saw one
coming toward him in the road he
would jump over the fence and hide
until she passed, or else walk off into
ndr H.
ed for the neighbors he would never
enter house to eat, but must have his
meals brought into the fields to him,
or else he would go hungry.
His other whin, if such it may be
called, was to visit the village grocery
every Saturday night and If no woman
were there he would cautiously enter,
buy small jug Of rum and perhaps a.
few groceries, return to his rookery,
drink and rum, talk to his dog, and
finally, when the liquor made him
hilarious, dance and sing until he sank
into a drunken stupor. For the rest he
was a peaceable old fellow, minded his
own business. harmed no one, and was
honest. He was considered an eccen-
trio character, however, and rather to
be avoided. Only once a week did he
indulge in his solitary orgy, and the
rest of the time he behaved himself and
remained in his cherries abode.
Though living in this desolate man |
ner and apparently wishing to be let !
alone by all human kind, he was new
ertheless an object of interest to us |
boys, and, strange to say, seemed to
enjoy having us about him. OF course
his method of existence was to our
minds an ideal one and full of romance
so attractive that we were all
anxious to follow it, We envied him
he freedom to fish and hunt all he
hose, and esteemed it a favor to be
allowed to accompany him on those en-
petitions. Our parents thought other
wise, however, and as he was consider
d disreputable old vagabond, some
T us were forbidden to ever go near |
i'm and the others scolded if it were
nown they did. But it made little diff
erence for he was too interesting and
oetic an ideal for us to resist, and how
lany fibs we told to explain where we
'ere when with old Cy, our parents
ever even guessed. AL the fascinating
ales Of trapper's or hunters life we
ad ever read were realized in him, and
re hours we spent in dark swamps
atching him set traps for mink and
luskrat, or in mountain gorges for fox
nd coon, were unalloyed pleasure.
To follow him along merry brooks,
here he caught trout in each foam
acked pool or under every rocky bank,
here the gnarled roots reaching out II
yer the rocks looked like tabled
homes, was worth more than the dan
ar of a scolding or even a possible
hipping: so we worshiped at the
lrine of "Old Misunderstanding year
ter year. What mattered it to us \
at he looked like a walking scare
ow, so long as he knew where all the
'od trout holes We're, where gray
uirrels could be found, and Just a
here to set traps? What did we care n
his hair and beard We're a shaggy q
that never knew comb or
ush; or that once a week he got q
unk?
He was always glad to see us and ! q
ad to make us happy, and would go h
t of his way and wait for hours until n
could join him on some expedition u
TO the woods or swamp.
When we were old enough to fish he
,uld show us all the best pools and |