The Elbert County tribune., 1902-11-13

lHI named sam. OF whom he was NY
wv tS@s sssd Sss' Il. SSunds 10 R'' 9ss %;lG
III mild-eyed dogs all woefuliy thin.
When the night was right, thnt -.
when there was moon and moisture 70
hold the scent. White and little sam
would 30 fox hunting up the branch on
the other side OF the woods.
one night. after the dogs had Jumped
or foS; r and ksP, % T. on the run a t9r sh shopms
voice when the fox and dogs came close.
SO he went 70 find MS dog. and sam Am
dendening pasture. across the timber
belt and down the hollow along the
sam was a brave little fellow and made
nothing OF being alone: He heard tne
| little thought. a flock OF twenty aunn
| had fixed themselves for the night, talls
together like the hub q Nh Wheel ,,,1dsi nna
| stepped on them. but they all got up with
tremendous beating and drumming OF
He saw a small black object in the path.
| trotting leisurely. Luckily he beheld the
sny ana hs sSppsd s iss for We he Knew
that Il was best 10 give a pois.rSat tHi. ~.
came uir to to q lase " sycamore "a @ stump. lie had
| helped cut the tree. There on top was q
funny little old woman. hopping about
this wonderful sight, until he heard the
| little woman say Don't stare SO, boy
ners'" s''''"' ""'
Sam was n polite little fellow. and he
/ turned very RED ana was shNlnE On
ways when the old lady called him back
Come here, SAM" she said,
Sam obeyed. looking foolish and awk-
ward-and so would you. for this little
old lady was no taller than stick OF
stove wood. which is twenty-five Inches.
and she had tiny broom in her hand,
Her little sharp face always brown and
very much wrinkled, and she had only
few wisps OF gray hair and no cap.
and she was much excited.
Come here. Sam" said she Il want
l Fna
But Sam hung back. Ms well he might;
oh, ~ pay you" she went on. IN
what's the mntter with you"
doR %ss went 10 esT5 amy Ss s91H se ss Walked
right up TO that stump. for he had oone
! nothing he was ashamed Of
,.,,ho ou 1on want pny sild me tunny mn,
prised; BLESS my soul I've been all
over this earth and everybody ever had
to do with wanted pay. and most OF EN-
"well. marin" said Sam, ~ can do
ANYTHING to help you. like carrying you
| home, or setting you on the road, Ia
rather do 1t for nothing"
She looked up at him, her little black
made funny sound, like laughter, You
Gun Just hand me my cap and shoe j.
impossible to get the cap. But you can
hand EN- to me- she demanded
She pointed them out 10 sam. He
| stopped to pick them up with his hands
when the little old lady screamed II
sounded like the highest note his father
he played the Devils Dream" on his
fiddle.
my shoe on the end. then hand 1t here"
This Sam did. and quick as rabbit she
slipped !, on her foot and ran around the
stnmp. lively as squirrel
Sam reached for 1t with the hazel and
again the old lady screamed. Don't rush
at things BE sure you're right. then go
Sam had heard this before and ne knew
it The best thing to do;
NOW" said the witch (for Il was n
witch, sure enough, get "A twig of SUI
mach and one from that rcd-bud tree.
lift the cap with them and pincc It on my
| aef. Now I'm all right" Then she sat
sideways on her broom and moved on
slowly. drifting like smoke.
is that all. ma'am?' said Sam. him
self edging away.
~ believe hi go short piece with you.
And she foated by Sans side on her
broom as easy and comfortable as n buzz
"You didn't get your pay. sam" said
she. How would a dollar strike yo1?''
NO. ma'am; l don't want no nay for
that. Me and nn cut and split two cords
~ stove wood for n dollar. and that tahes
all day ] don't want no pay for picking
The old lady seemed very much amused.
She knew OF people who expected 70 cents
for hanging up a hat, or handing a walk
ing stick or umbrella: yes. even for an
swerlnR n question; and lots and lots Of
reople who expected big pey for nothing,
But Sam did not know of these peonle.
and thought II nothing to obllge anv one.
/ and especially when they were In trouble.
Sam walked briskly But fast ns he
walked the little woman kept with him.
without any EFFORT at all. Finally she
said: You never saw anybody like me
before. did you2"
mo. ma'am, I never did,
And. don't you want to know who I
Indeed. na'nm. do said San.
'1eastways II you're mind to tell me"
well. now, Well, nowi Did you everi
seemed more than a little amused.
Once" said she. ''T had an accident. /
/ caught on n telegraph wire in n big city.
crowd gathered in a moment. md not
soul would do n thing hut eek cues
tions and worry me TITO fits. Luckily !
putting fence about me and actually
cha-ging % cents for q look"
well" said Sam. 81 never would have
tho"ght of that"
.'of course you wouldn't" said she.
Then, speaking very kindly. she said; at
about myself. I will tell YOU. however.
this much am the witch of the Wabash
and you have seen the best OF me, aud
you can pray that you never see the
IAN right. mann. I will" said Sam.
"and epod-hy, ma'au. tnlse good care ~
yourself and vnu must come and see us
II VIII" said she; ~ will indeed: for
you've. got lots of sense. Sam. though you
don't look IT.
Then she moved. cn and Sam went his
wav and never iool-ad back
But the Witch Of the Wabash was iust
trying him. to sec n he really meant what
he said about not taklrg pay. So she fol-
lowed and handed Sam handful Of pop
| corn Sha knew n wonld make him feel
uncomfortable to give him money.
Now. Sam had better looking popcorn
| hung on the rafter Mt home. but he did
not say so. Instead. he thanked the
Witch, as II It were money There are
plenty OF boys who would have thrown
| that corn away; but Sam kept II because
| II was a gift. He wrapped II carefully
in paper and put II behind the picture
| of George Washington. where he kent