Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-04-28

Otllef, DlucH QOg serving us scout,
skirmishcr and rear guard-that was
the size Of it. They were the survivors
Of a ruined home in the north of Yer
mont and were travelling far into the
valley of the st. Lawrence, but with
no particular destination.
Midsummer had passed them In their
Journey. Their clothes were covered
with dust, their faces browning in the
hot sun. 1t was very small boy that
sat inside the basket and chung to the
rim, his tow head shaking ms the old
man walked. He saw wonderful things
day after day looking down at the
green fields OF peering into the gloomy
reaches Of the wood, and he talked
about them.
"Uncle Eb, is that where the swifts
are?' he would ask often, and the old
man would answer: mo; they Amt
real sassy this time o year. They lay
round in the deep dlngles every day"
Then the small voice would sing Idly
or prattle with an imaginary being
that had habit of peeking over the
edge Of the basket or would shout a
greeting to some bird or butterfly and
ask finally:
"Tired, Uncle EbT
Sometimes the old gentleman would
say mot very" and keep on, looking
thoughtfully at the ground. Then,
again, he would stop and mop his bald
head with big red handkerchief and
say, little tremor Of irritation in
his voice: 'Tired! Who wouldn't be
tired with big elephant like you on
his back all day? I'd be 'shamed o.
myself t. set there an let an old man
carry me from Dan to Beersheba. Git
out now an shake yer legs"
was the small boy, and l remember
it was always great relief to get out
Of the basket and, having run ahead,
to lie in the grass among the wild dow-
ers and jump up at him as he came
along.
Uncle Eb had been working for my
father five years before was born. He
was not strong man and had never
been able to carry the wide swath Of
the other help in the fields, but we all
loved him for his kindness and his
knack of story telling. He was bach
elor who came over the mountain from
Pleasant Valley, little bundle Of
clothes on his shoulder, and bringing q
name that enriched the nomenclature
Of our neighborhood. 1t was Eben Hol
den.
He had cheerful temper and an I'm
agination that was very wilderness Of
oddities. Bears and panthers growled
and were very terrible in that strange
country. He had invented an animal
more treacEcc:.cc:..s than any in the
woods, and he called 1t a swift. Sum
thin like panther" he described thu
look of tia fearsome creature that lay
in the edge of the woods at sundowr
and made noise like woman crying
to lure the unwary. It would light ones
eye with fear to hear Uncle Eb ~
his voice in the cry Of the swift. ManJ
a time in the twilight when the bay o.
a hound or some far cry came family
! through the wooded hills have seen
him lift his hand and bid us bark. Ant
when we had listened moment, oul
eyes wide with wonder, he would turI
and say in low. half whispered tone
as swift" suppose we needet
more the fear Of God, but the youni
children Of the pioneer needed also tn
fear Of the woods or they would hav
strayed to their death in them.
A big bass viol, taller than himself
had long heen the solace Of his Sun
days. After he had shaved-a ceremo
ny so solemn that it seemed rite O
his religion-that sacred VOL was un
covered. He carried 1t sometimes to tn,
back piazza and sometimes to the barn
where the horses shook and tremblsl
at the roaring thunder Of the stringz
When he began playing we children
had to get well out of the way and keel
our distance. remember now the lool
Of him then-his thin face, his sof
black eyes, his long nose, the suit 0
broadcloth, the stock and standing col
lar and, above all, the solemnity In hi
manner when that big devil Of thin
was leaning on his breast.
AS to his playing, have never hear
more fearful sound in any time Q
peace or one less creditahie to Chrii
han. Week days he was addicted I
the milder sin of the dute, and afte
chores, If there We're no one to talk wit
him, he would sit long and pour hi
soul into that magic bar Of lockwood.
Uncle Eb had another great accom-
plishment. He was what they call 1
the north country 20 natural coonsr.
After nightfall, when the corn Wa
ripening, he spoke In a whisper and ha
his ear cooked for coons. But he love
all kinds of good fun.
So this man had a boy in his heal
and a boy in his basket that evenin
we left the old house. My father an
mother and older brother had bes
drowned in the lake. where they ha
gone FOR day Of pleasure. had thu
a small understanding Of my loss. b,
I have learned since that the farm ",
not worth the mortgage and thu
everything had to be sold. Uncle 3
and la little lad. very little lad
slx-were all that was left Of what hu
been in that home. Some were for sem
ing me to the county house, but the
decided finally to turn me over to
dissolute uncle. with some allowan
for my keep. Therein Uncle Eb was
be reckoned with. He had sea his hea
on keeping me. but he wasa farm hs,
without any home or visible proper
and not, therefore. in the MIND Of Il
authorities, proper guardian. He III
me with him in the old house, and t
very night he heard they were com1l
after me in the morning we started
our journey.