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

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1Ns hOrses shook and trembled at the
roaring thunder Of tse strings.
having put on my cap and coat stood
me on the table and stopped SO that
could climb into the basket-a pack
basket that he had used In hunting, the
top little smaller than the bottom.
Once in, could stand comfortably or
sit facing sideways. my back and knees
wedged from port to starboard. With
me in my place, he blew out the lantern
and CROPPED his way to the road, his
cane In one hand, his rife in the other.
Fred. our old dog-a black shepherd,
with tawny points-came after US.
Uncle BIB scolded him and tried to send
him back, but plead for the poor crea-
ture, and that settled It; he was one Of
our party.
Dunno how we'll feed him." said
Uncle Eb. "Ouv own mouths are big
enough t take all we can carry, but I
hahn no heart T leave I'm all lone
there"
was old for my age. they tell me,
and had serious look and wise way
Of talking for boy 10 young, but I
: had no notion Of what lay before or be-
hind US.
"Now, boy. take a good look at the
old house." I remember he whispered
to me at the gate that night. "'Tain't
likely yen ever see 1t ag'in. Keep quiet
| now" he added. letting down the bars
at the foot OF the lane. We're goin'
/; west, an we mustn't let the grass
grow under US. Got t be purity spry,
I can tell ye.-
/ It was quite dark, and he felt his
way carefully down the cow paths into
the broad pasture. With every step I
kept sharp lookout for swifts, and
the moon shons after awhile, making
!, ny work easier.
| had to hold my head down present
y when the tall brush began to whip
the basket. and heard the big boots
Of Uncle Eb ripping the briers. Then
we came into the blackness Of the thick
timber, and could hear him feeling
his way over the dead leaves with his
cane. I got down shortly and walked
beside him, holding on to the rife with
one hand. We stumbled often and
were long in the trail before we could
see the moonlight through the tree col.
umns. In the clearing I climbed to my
seat again, aud BY and by we came to
the road, whore my companion sal
down, resting his load on bowlder.
Pretty hot. Uncle Eb: pretty hot,
he said to himself, flaming his brow
with that old felt hat he wore every
where. We've come three mile 81
more without stop, an guess we'd
better rest Jiny."'
Ny legs ached, too. and was get
ting very sleepy. remember the jolt
Of the basket az he rose and hearing
him say, "Well, Uncle Eb, guess wee
better be goin'."
The elbow that held my head, lyine
on the rim Of the basket, was already
numb, but the prickling could no Ion
ger rouse me, and. half dead with wea
siness, fell asleep. Uncle Eb has told
me since that tumblsd out Of the bas
ket once and that he had time Of 1
getting me in again, but remembe
nothing more Of that days history.
When I woke In the morning coult
hear the cracking Of Are and felt YER.
warm and coy wrapped in the bill
} shawl. I got a CHEEKY greeting from
Uncle Eb, who was feeding the fir
with big heap Of sticks that he ha,
piled together. Old Fred was lickin
my hands with his rough tongue, and
suppose that Is what walked me. TIE
was stepping in the little pot that hun
over the fire, and our breakfast Of Dol
/ Cd eggs and bread and butter lay on
paper beside IL remember well til
scene OF our little camp that morning
We had come to strange country, an
there was no road in sight. A woode
hill lay back of US, and just before ra
4 noisy little brook, winding betwee
smooth banks, through long pastul
J into q dense wood. Behind wall 9
the opposite shore great field Of ru
Ting corn filled broad valley an
J stood higher than mans head.
While went to wash my face in Il
|
{ vome ears of corn that he took out I
1 his pocket and had them roasting ov'
the fire in moment. We ate hearth
7 giving Fred two big slices Of bread ar
i butter. packing up with enough renal
9 Ing for another day. Breakfast owe
0 we doused the fire, and Uncle Eb p1
t on his basket. He made after squi
j rel presently with old Fred and brougl
= him down out of tree by hurlir
o stones at him, and then the faithful fl
i lower Of our camp got n bit of meat f
9 his breakfast. We climbed the wall
q he ate and buried ourselves In the de-
n corn. The fragrant silky tassels brus
ed my face and the corn Kissed at o.
z intrusion, crossing its green sabers
o our path. Far IN tho field my compa
& - hssps4. 1. mn Il NJ est sssts 8