Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-05

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&eED in the teapot while was
sleeping. As soon as the rain had
passed he stood listening awhile and
shortly opened his knife and made a
little clearing in the corn by cutting a
few hills
"We've got to do It," he said. "er we
can't take any comfort, an the man
tol me could have all the corn I
wanted"
Ibid you see him, Uncle Eb" I re-
member asking.
YES" he answered. whiting in the
dark; II saw him when went out for
the water, an it was he toll me they
were after u.s.
He took look at the sky after
awhile and, remarking that he guessed
they couldn't see his smoke now, he.
gan to kindle the fire. As 1t burned up
he stuck two crolches and hung his
teapot on stick that lay In them SO
1t took the heat Of the flame, as had
seen him do in the morning. Our grot-
to in the corn was shortly rs cheerful
as any room in palace, and our fire
sent its light into the long aisles that
opened opposite and nobody could see
the warm glow Of 1t but ourselves.
We'll hev our supper" said Uncle
Eb as he opened 4 paper and spread
out the eggs and bread and butter and
crackers. "We'll jest hev our supper,
an by an by when every ones abed
We'll make tracks in the dirt, can tell
ye."
Our supper over, Uncle Eb let me
look at his tobacco box. n shiny thing
OF German silver that always seemed
to snap out n quick farewell to me be-
fore 1t dived into his pocket. lie was
very cheerful and communicative and
joked n good deal as we lay there wait
ing in the freight. l got some fur
ther acquaintance with the swift, learn.
ing. among other things. that 1t had NO
appetite for the pure in heart.
"Why not?" inquired.
"Well." said Uncle Eb. 'it's like this
the meaner the boy the sweeter the
meat"
He sang an old song as he sat by the
fire, with q whistled interlude between
lines. and the swing OF 1t even now
carries me back TO that far day In the
fields. lay with my head in his lap
while he was singing.
went asleep after awhile in spite
OF all. right In the middle Of q story.
The droning voice Of Uncle Eb and the
feel of his hand upon my forehead call
ed me back, blinking, once or twice. but
not for long. The Ore was gone down
to a few embers when Uncle Eb woke
me and the gr0tto was lit only by a
sprinkle of moonlight from above.
Mos ~ O'clock" he whispered.
"Better be off,"
The basket was on his back and he
was all ready. followed him through
the long aisle OF corn, clinging to the
tail Of his coat. The golden lantern of
the moon hung near the zenith and
when we came out in the open we could
see into the far fields. climbed into
my basket ut the wall, and as Uncle Eb
carried me over the brook. stopping on
dat rock midway to take a drink,
could see the sky In the water. and II
seemed az II misstep would have
tumbled me into the moon.
"Hear the crickets holler." said Uncle
Eb as he followed the bank up into
the open pasture.
what makes 'em holler?" l asked.
"Oh, they're jes' filin' their saws an
thinlSin'. Mehbe tellin' o. what's hap
pened 'em. Been a hard day fer them
little folks. Terrible hood in their
country. Every one on 'em he'd T. gil
up a steeple quick g he could er be
drownded. They hev their troubles an
they talk bout 'em too"
"What do they ale their saws for3'
inquired.
swell. 70 know" said he, "where than
live the timber's thick an they hsl