West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-04-04
WITH THE FEAS-
TIERS AGAIN.
Travelling Among the Poor People In
the Mountains OF Tucker County.


ways. byways. nearcuts and crossroads of
the feasters. we concluded to visit as many
as possible before returning to Thomas.
Our equipment for the journey consisted
OF siab-sided mustang pony. who was a
chronic kicker" aud an old carryall.
which looked as u Il had gone through the
Filipino war. We were dressed as lumber.
men. Each OF us carried a quantity OF
tobacco and snuH, as we knew the Feasters
could be more easily persuaded to sell II
they had these articles
We started from Thomas at half past
five. and reached Lead Mine at seven
O'Clock. The snow had nearly all melted
and the streams were greatly swollen.
The sun was just peering over the Back.
bone mountains. sending his golden rays
from hilltop TO hilltop; the birds. fitting
from tree to tree, were pouring forth their
many melodies; the tall dark hemlocks
were nodding TO and fro IN the gentle
zephyrs, the merry shout of the milk. maid
could be heard in the distance. and the
sweet music coming from a farmhouse
caused us to forget our dependency.
As Josh Fcaster only lives one mile from
Lead Mine, we decided To- see him FIRST.
We drove one-fourth mile east and turned
directly north. no Lick Run. Here we
met young man who stopped US. saying.
Air ye some o. them ar minral hunters
from Frostburgi" :"
After explaining that we were looking
for timber. he said Where on 'arth air
ye goin' to git timber up here ?"
We told him we were going to see Josh
feaster, and without asking onr permission
he jumped into the buggy. saying; "set
over thar leetle bit. stranger. I'm goin
TO ride with ye." We gave each other q
wink and proceeded to interrogate the
youth regarding the Feasters. We asked
him many questions about their manner OF
living. and he finally said. with a deep
gutueral laugh. which is Characteristic OF
the Feasters. "I'll tell ye. strangers, that
Josh is powerful Gurus kind O. crI,ter.
Las summer he planted some taters, an
he was worryin about not havin' time to
dig EN- so made up my mind to fool the
old Teller. ! told him thar was tater
diggers to dig an gather up taters an put
EN- in sacks, an tie up the sacks. an that
saw 'em last July when was up at
Parsons. lie said he would like TO have
one fur awhile. so I told him wps goin to
buy one II sold my coal TO the Crellen Co.
After sold my land told him I had
bought one o. them ar tater diggers an
would bring II down some day, an dig his
taters. He says. alright. Sam. you air
good to poor man who has suffered as /
have with rheumatic.
So. one fine day went down TO Iosh's
an took the tater digger. an put IL into
Josh's taier patch. He sot thar till after
dinner an talked an talked After while
told him ] had fetched that ar tater
digger down and II was at work an we
had better go up an see about IL. He
says. Sam. does II sack EN- p Yes. says
], purity near Dustin to laugh. Strangers,
yez ought O. seen Josh when we got to the
tater patch. He first turned red. then
green, then yaller. for had borrowed
Pafson Swades big long noscd brindle
SOW an turned her into his tater patch. an
she had rooted 'em nearly all out. told
him thar was the tater digger, an he
wanted to lick me for lyin'. but run home
an / was so cussed near gone that MalIndy
didn't know me for more'n a whole week.
Al this juncture we heard the loud
baying OF dog which betokened our
proximity TO Josh Feasters cabin. Sam
yelled for Josh. which was answered by
the simultaneous roar OF six spotted
mastins.
After few moments Josh made his
appearance "Air yer some OF them ar
officers come to make me send my young
uns to school ?" querled Josh.
No" we returned.
II thought" said Josh. that air feller
rfrf Of -.
teaches school down at No. g. or was
thinkin' he might be the new preacher I
hearn was comm at Lead Mine"
Does be look like = preacher ?" in.
quircd the Parsons Lumber man.
Yes" answered Josh. giving his
shoulders a shrug. Il hearn Parson Swade
say that any feller who had an eye for the
wimen an lip for chicken ought 20 be
preacher"
After talking timber TO Josh for awhile.
he said. strangers come in an will show
you my pets"
We entered the cabin which was a one.
roomed affair and furnished with a cook
stove. two cots Of straw. an old fashioned
three-corned cupboard. and four split.
bottomed chairs. Josh went 70 the cup.
board and opened the door and. 10! out
came six ground hogs smoky. you git
some milk an show these ar feilers how
your pets eat" said Josh. addressing a
copper -colored youth Of twelve or thirteen
years. The lad brought out . washpan
and poured some milk into u. and the
ground hogs all plunged pelImeli into the
pan. jostling each other worse than
Italians In a melee. They fought for some
minutes and as the room needed de odor.
izing badly before the ground hogs we're
turned loose. we we're compelled 10 leave
the room by this time
We finally got Josh into the notion Of
selling his timber. after a great deal of
persuasion. and a very generous gift Of
SNUFF.
After pcrambuiating the timbered por.
ton Of Ioshs land we drove 10 Nose
| Feasters cabin. Nose Is Justice Of the
Peace and there we're several people
there on Official business
DO you know anything about this
cussed Criminal Law ?" asked Nose.
handing us copy Of the Acts Of oz.
Not very much" we responded
This here Is Henry Feaster. an he
wants to git warrant for Psrson Swade's
boy for stealin'. an. he dun broke into
/ Henrys tater hole. think I ought to send
him 70 the Pen. but then you know he
/ didnt brake through any lock
After considerable discussion. Nose
/ gave him warrant lie then said.
Henry you will have TO swear 10 this"
Alright replied Henry. u can swear
to mos anything"
| Raise your hand an be sworn r com.