The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-23
FIDDLED HIMSELF INTO FAsff1.
with a Violin MS Capital, Luke Pry-
or Became N senator.
From the Chicago Inter ocear

VI REtahG N SthatOEs
From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
Luke Pryor, who fddled himself into
the United States Senate, died a little
while ago at his home in Athens, Ala.
He was a lawyer. and, besides being
senator, had been a representative in Con-
gress from the Eighth Alabama district.
Pryor used to like to tell how, through
his knowledge Of the fiddle, he became
started on his career OF prosperity and
politics.
Sixty-hve years ago, way down in the
greenbrier bottoms of Limestone county,
there nestled a primitive village named
Mooresville. in honor of the pioneer who
first settled on the slope above the Ten
nessee backwater. This section was not
cd in those days for rich soil, breakbone
fever, greenbriers, and coons. In the viii
lage dwelt, in two-story house. Capt.
Gamble. the richest man In the village,
the head of the Mooresville aristocracy.
There also dwelt In the same village a
poor widow who was left to rear a family
OF children; good stock, but run down to
poverty through misfortune. Among the
children was a red-headed, freckle-faced,
fourteen-year-old boy named Luke. lie
was a hustler, Industrious, and ambitious,
and when night came and he had stabbed
his steers, he saved on an old family
fiddle until he attained considerable skill,
and was the pride of his little sisters. But
Ills mother did not admire Luke's talent
or taste. The family lived in the regula-
ton log cabin with stick chimney. Their
pride of family position lost made them
keenly sensible to their poverty. One No
vember afternoon, as the good widow
Pryor was sitting by her hreside, the
only carriage In the village, owned by
the society leader the rich Mrs Gamble.
drove up TO the bars in front of the house.
Widow Pryor was called out, with her
hands wrapped in her white cotton apron.
Mrs Gamble said: Mrs. Pryor. l have
come to invite your son Luke to my
dance on Thursday night. so fix him up
and let him come " The delighted mother.
sensitive to the compliment paid to her
red-headed boy. assured the rich lady that
Luke would be sure to be there.
When Luke came In he was told OF the
good fortune; that he was to go to the
big house. His bright eyes glistened; Luke
was happy, and 80 was his honest moth
or. The next day she spent her savings to
buy Luke a pair OF trousers. and all the
house was aglow IN fixing Luke for the
feast In the afternoon Luke went up to
the store, where he met Capt Gamble.
the proprietor OF the house.
The captain said; Luke Mrs. Gamble
invited you 10 the party, believer"
yes" replied Luke II thank her; I
will be sure 10 come"
yes" replied Capt. Gamble. Il don't
doubt but you will come, but you be
sure 10 bring your fiddle; can't dance
without a hddle." The heart Of poor little
Luke dropped whhin him. lie caught
on" ana replied. Captain n was my nd
Ole YOU wanted not me. 1 suppose" The
night u the dance Luke played the nd
die and when the dance was over Mrs.
Gamble not only fed him aufnptuousiy,
but sent q great basketfui by him Tor his
family
10 years after Pryor often said They
wanted my nd1le not mo- bat the use ~
my fiddle BY ny frienaH haa fe1 nae anf
my family, sna Nv have EF0Na rich
upon a."