The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-09
AMOS KIRK.
IA True Story.l

 Sholy we've hearn O Amos Kirk. Ne
 halnt? Well, l declare, Big an tall an raw-ooned with a crop
 O sandy hair.
 Why stranger, there haint Twin soul
 on top O this here hill Haint heain O him--the deadest shot
 that ever blowed pill. He warn't no spiclS-span gentleman you
 meet with up In town, Who'd passed nim by with stuck-u up
 air an a cold, indifferent frown. But with that hickory shirt O his he
 had human heart As big as all out-doors-an' he tried
 to do his part By every frail, weak creature-he was
 goin' night an day, He'd walk ten miles fer doctor fer a
 neighbor-jest his way. He never went to. school day-he
 couldn't write his name. Never had no book larnin to help him But he Hrnt his ilessons frum tn trees
 an rocks. He never heard No city orchestrasAhis songs came
 from the mockiL g. bird. He had one fault, I must admit, he
 made the moonshine booze; He couldn't get 1t through his head Amos argued, 'Talnt no harm that I
 kin see. kin you, To take little corn sn an squeeze it into The officers and Amos couldn't get
 along, .~.. An fore each term of court at Hunts
 vile Amos sholv. caught 1t strong. You see he was dead-sure shot, an
 when a bead he drew You might as well kink up an fall; 'twould be all day with you. The only Twin creature, 'cept himself
 that ct his grub Was onery yellow coon dog, "Gabe," q common yellow scrub, But he loved Amos-well. lguess-when fall acroes in d0OrStep-wpll- no
 dirty, sneakin' skunk Would dare mol9st him, fer tn dog
 with paws upon h,s breast Would lick his face an growl like Nell while Amos kept his rest
 geance he would seek, He was doci!e as q kitten with the
 nAsdy an tn weak. An many a lonely wido called him
 angel in disguise. While that very minit others cussed
 him wt.h their lies. An Amos Kirk at last srowed into
 nuthin' more ner less Than n brave dare devil outlaw hiding
 in titc wilderness, His face grew pale an haggard an he
 swore a Sol sr1n oath .:. That no officer should U&e him--"By
 Gawd. I'll kill us both. 7" He said. And tnen began a war up on
 the sun kissed crest of Old Sand M ,Intlin--home of plenty --haven of the olest. HOW lOn4 H6 llNtu Allti* lktillllL He |
 aint prepared to state, ,,,.
 SC, he golden snie One mornin wh ,n tn rlsln, sun up in
 the Eastern sky Kicked off his gcid-red blankct an
 went m ln1srin' ID tn sky, When the soft an olesome sobbin of
 the mighty IenuF ssee Tapped the feet of ola Sand Mountain
 like it loved it-tenderlY, Amos Kirk m "Cube" the hound, where
 sky an tall cliffs meet, Crept dowl to look at Scottsboro. the
 village cNuniy seat. Then upon leg the giant sat. an on
 the groun'
 Beside tn trustv rife dropped the taita-
 full yellow haun'. Amos gazsd with wlld-bleared ey,. an
 felt his body qI1ll. For slcanlin sn''w-white iii tie sun he
 saw the county lIil Pnor. trenholm. wcak--hnI If hearted
 hulk of nerveF there in the sun. If a officer had steped up he'd a been
 too weak % run. With tn light clean gone from out his
 eyc-with checks all slnkan m. He turned an jus said 10 the toe
 Thank Gawd, Gabe-you'rc my By gum, he hadn't moren said tha,,
 words-wheu, like a fash Tn dog spraDg up to lick his hard--an' --"Bang g"'-there was crash Old "Gabe" had touched tn trigger with
 his tonguc-weil, that was all Amos Kirk lav stiff an dead-piarcod
 by his rifle ball.
 Phil H. Armstrong.