The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-08-31
Sheepskin John
STORY or HIS VISIT TO RIyEs-
WILLIE THE WONDERFUL
DOWN RIVER TOWN.

RIvESvILLE, Aug. 81. - You can
say what you please, but our town
surely has some kind of magnetism
about it, as scarcely any one ever stays
here very long without becoming at
tached to the place or people, n or
the other, or both, to such an extent
that they will wander about for many
years and then bob up when least ex-
pected. To illustrate and for proof
I'VE will mention one special character
who we will call sheepskin John for
the following reasons: About seven
years ago a diiapidated looking speci-
men of male humanity came to Rives-
vile on cold winter night. His wear
ing apparel consisted OF a sheepskln
suit or outfit, his cap. which he wore
on his head, his coat and pants we're
all made from the hide of sheep with
the wool on them. This poor unfor-
tunate mada his way in to the store
of Smith Hood. ST., of this place and
crowded up to a red hot stove which
the cider nine and the sycamore nine
and everybody in the store was enjoy
ing, in the meantime listening to Kid
Hawkenbarry's fish stories and Squire
Haught's hickory withe tales and how
he used to almost cut the legs on the
boys when he taught school on Jake's
run in old Monongalfa county fifty
years. ago, but when the hideous look
ing John presented himself neither
Taught nor Hawkenberry could hold
an audience any longer. The small
boys got behind the larger ones, the
girls got behind the counter and in the
stair. way for safety. Some Of the
crowd present and who were not panic
stricken tried to talk to him but found
that he was of the "me no under
stand" kind, being an imecile OF Hun.
garian nationality, Some said one
onethfng, some another. One fellow
said he did not think it would be any
harm to kill him but Uncle Cebe Sat.
terfeld, a man of wonderful presence
of mind in a general way and at ordl,
nary times and the same maj who OBJ.
jected to the blood hounds chasing
down the thieves who stole his last
pound of meat for fear it might be
some good fellow or friend OF his.
Well, Uncle Sehe Just lost his head
and wanted to get a pair of sheep
shears and cut the wool right of of
him when the very zero was froze out
of the weatehr machine, and Kid Haw-
kimberly said he had no business but.
ting in when men we're talking and
Squire Haught had no doubt that he
could educate him II he could make
him feel the effects Of a good sized
hoop.pole, but by that time he had
begun to thaw out and some thought
he'd better go out, but Robin Hood,
the then six year old boy of the pro
prietor of the store, spoke up and said,
Lets feed him, papa. for he looks
hungry" Some n yelled out, "bring
him some hay;" some other n said,
'Throw him an ear Of corn" but Rob
in by that time had aroused other feel
ings in the audience and those who
had recovered from the shock began
going down in their pockets for their
nickeis, while Robin had ventured
close enough to hand him a half Of
a fiat cake with an inch thick of but
ter on it and stood before him, say
ing, Gee whiz. papa just watch him
stuif'er downl"
sheepskin John has not been back
since, but others have. and Jasper
Haught is a candidate for squire. Be
lIeye me what 1 say. and put on your
coats and cast your votes for him on
election day. LONE STAR