Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-12-23

my MOTHER GAVE ME- ALL THE
SCHOOLING HAD THAT WIN
TER"
notes seemed to whirl and scurry,
light-footed as rout of fairies. Mean
while the toe of his right boot counted
the increasing tempo until 1t came up
and down like ratchet.
Darius Olin was mostly Of q slow and
sober manner. To cross his legs
and feel fiddle seemed to throw his
heart open and put him in full gear.
Then his thoughts were quick, his
eyes merry, his heart was a fountain
Of Joy. He would lean forward, sway
ing lis head, and shouting "Yip!" as
the bow hurried. D'ri was a hard
working man, but the feel Of the I'D
die warmed and limbered him from
toe to finger. He was over-modest,
making light Of his skill II he ever
sroke Of 1t, and had no ear for COM
pliment. While our elders were dane
ing and others Of my age were play
ing games in the kitchen-kissing-
games with rush and tumble in them,
puss-in-the-corner, hunt-the-squirrel,
and the like. Even then I thought
was in love with pretty Rose Mer-
riman. She would never let me kiss
her, even though had caught her and
had the right.
My mother gave me all the school
ing I had that winter. A year later
they built schoolhouse, not quite
mile away, where I found more fun
than learning. After two years !
shouldered my ak and went to the
overland with the choppers every win
ter morning.
My father was stronger than any of
them except D'ri, who could drive his
ak to the bit every blow, day after day.
He had the strength Of q giant, and
no man l knew tried ever to cope
with him. BY the middle Of May we
began rolling in for the raft. AS soon
IS. they were floating, the logs were
withed together and moored in Sec
dons. The bay became presently o
qnaking, redolent plain Of timber.
When we started the raft, early In
June, that summer Of 1910, and worked
It into the broad river with sweeps
and poles, I was aboard with D'ri and
six other men, bound for the big city
Of which l had heard so much. I was
to visit the relatives of my mother
and spend year In the College de st.
Pierre. We had little trans house
on a big platform, back OF the middle
section of the raft, with hunks in 1t,
where we ate and slept and told
stories. Lying on the platform there
was a large fat stone that held our
fires for both cooking and comfort.
D'ri called me in the dusk Of the early
morning, the first night out, and said
we were near the Sault. I got up,
rubbed my eyes, and felt mighty
thrill as I heard the roar Of the great
rapids and the creaking withes, and
felt the lift of the speeding waters.
D'ri said they had broken the raft
into three parts, ours being hindmost.
The roaring grew louder, until my
shout was as a whisper in hurricane.
The logs began to heave and fall, and
waves came rushing through them.
Sheets of spray shot skyward, coming
down like a shower. We were shaken
as by an earthquake in the rough wa
ter. Then the roar fell back Of US, and
the raft grew steady.
"Gin us a tough twist" said D'ri,
shouting down at me-"kind Nv twist
o. the bit n kick n the side"
It was coming daylight as we sailed
into still water, and then D'ri put his
hands to his mouth and hailed loudly,
getting an answer out Of the gloom
ahead.
"Gol-dum eff it haint the power Nv
a thousan' painters!" D'ri continued,
laughing as he spoke. Never see
nothin' Jump n kick n spit like thet
air, less it he'd fur on-never n all
my born days"
D'ris sober face showed dimly now
in the dawn. His hands were on his
hips; his faded felt hat was tipped
sideways. His boots and trousers
were quarreling over that disputed ter
ritory between his knees and ankles.
His boots had checked the invasion.
Smooth water now" said he,
thoughtfully. Seems terribly still.
Hain't a breath Nv air stirrin'. Jeru-
shy Jane Pepper! Wha' does thet
mean"
He stepped aside quickly as some
bits of bark and small bough OF hem
lock fell at our feet. Then shower
of pine needles came slowly down,
scattering over us and hitting the tim
ber with a faint hiss. Before we could
look up a dry stick as long as a log
fell rafting on the platform.
Never seen no sech doin's afore, d"
said Dri, looking upward. Things
don't seem t me t be actin eggzac ly
natral-nut jest es I'd like t see 'em."
AS the light came clearer, We saw
clouds heaped black and blue over the
tree-tops in the southwest. We stood
moment looking. The clouds were
heaping higher, pulsing with light,
roaring with thunder. What seemed to
be a flock of pigeons rose suddenly
above the far forest, and then fell as
if they had all been shot. A gust OF
wind coasted down the still ether. flut-
tering like a rag and shaking out a
few drops Of rain.
Look there!" I shouted, pointing
aloft.
"Hark!" said D'ri, sharply, raising
his hand Of three fingers.
We could hear far sound like that
of great wagon rumbling on a stony