The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-07-31
SLEEPY CREEK FOLKS

his face lit up with smile of pleasure and
anticipation as he turned to the countryman
who stood by his side watching the disap-
pt>ring train.
''Well, Mae, how are the folks?' he
asked.
"All right, sir, and they will be very glad
to see you. The missus has plenty of spring
chickens and I've saved you fine jow from
one of them Be,kshires to boil with your
greens tomorrow.
That's Bully. Have you any bait, and is
the water in condition.
Eyes, Jake spent the forenoon SEEMING for
minnows and got hundred beauties and
the water was never better Jim Mosely
caught eight bass before breakfast this
morning
e The two had been walking up the cinder
path by the trackside as they talked, and
now reached the little group which had
gathered about the small station in front OF
which the forward coaches had stopped.
Sleepy Creek wasn't much OF a place, just
two houses and small freight shed, painted
red on the platform of which rested an
odoriferous bag of fertilizer, two plows and
a couple of slabs of "side-meat." On the
ground beside the freight shed was group
of residents, headed by Ben Holiday, who
Kept the general store and as the mail
pouch sung across his shoulder indicated,
also was postmaster
A chorus of "howdys" and cordial hand
shakes greeted the passengers salutaton,
after which he walked toward the river to
get the boat ready while his guide fingered
until the mail was opened. Depositing his
grip in the boat he sat in the stern and
filed his pipe, and after the first long Whit
settled back with a grun. Of satisfaction
as he took in the scene.
To the eastward Old Broadback stretched
away across the landscape. massive and pom
derous, his rugged heights touched'by the
last rays of the departing day, while tho
shadows already were darkenng in the ra.
vines below. To the westward in the gap in
Sideliag hill. the sun was sinking, clear and
red promising fine day for The morrow.
Up that way the river flowed in a narrow
channel of molten gold, ripping to the line
of shadow cast by the mountain on the wa
ter.
Nearer by the river went deep, silent and
dark. With the going down of the sun the
air had turned suddenly chill and came
favored with little tinge of forest smoke
that hetokened fire in the mountains.
Once the passengers caught Whff OF ba.
con that WAS more stimulating to the Ape
tite than a cocktail Wood smoke, bacon
and mountain air form combination OF
outdoor odors that once smeled can never
be forgotten.
Soon old man Mac came trudging down
1 L. IL ~. ii
from the store and showed the boat off. As
hey rowed across the river they heard some
fellow along the t"wpath singing that
quaint country song. "Old Joe Bowers"
From farmhouse near the rive, chorus
Of frantic sQueas and grants indicated
feeding tim" for the hogs. The jangliug If
COW bells in several different keys was
evidence that little Hank was getting the
cattle in for the night. The odor of bacon
in the night air was unmistakahle now, and
with it came a flavor OF coffee and hot
bread. The Passengers were getting hungry,
The unprctentiOus frame house on the
hillside Just above the river, locked very
inviting with its lights and little wood
fire glowing in the fireplace to keep off the
dampuess in the night air. Old Macs
ting the table when the two went in and
and the rest Of them.
After supper the men folks sat on the
porch to smoke, being joined by Jake and
Jim Mosely and Pete Hawkins. neigMborS,
wao knew there would be visitors when
they saw the limited stop at the station
1t was BEAUTIFUL out there on the porch
One seemed very much closer the sky than
in town. The great are of the heavens
was studded with stars shining brilliantly
in the clear mountain air. a whippoorwIll )
mourntul cry came from the dark hillside
across the river. while the night sounds OF
the forest nearer hy filed the air
"Od Mrs Purdy died this week" said
Mae after pause which had followed a
desultory discussion OF the prospects of
fishing ior The mex. day. They lived out on
The Ridge, just where you turn of the
pike to 60 to Halncs' mills
Eve all went to the funeral, of course.
She was buried in the graveyard at Mt
Pisgah church, and parson WEIGH preached
powerful sermon. Old Man Purdy seemed
to kind Of lean on me IN his hour Of trlb
ulatlon, and | brought him back to his
house IN my buggy | wanted INN to come
home with me-, but he sand no, so We drove
up to his little place all alone, tAc other
folks having turned eft at different roads,
1T was late in the afternoon. just before
sundovn, when the sunshine has hat lone
some, melancholy look, you know. The
little house looked mighty iorloln because
We knew there was something missing in
it. The chickens stood around the back
door step. kinder DETECTED, as if they sus-
p,cioned there was something wrong and
that feeding time might be missed, Old
kitchen window sill, and am sure the Crlt-
ter Knew w"a' mad happened
I'VE went into the back sittin' room