The Monte Vista journal., 1907-05-04


addition to the money two pounds Of
bacon. 4 tin cup OF sugar and army
hat full Of bareback. and I was hug.
ging myself to think OF my successful
management OF the transaction. when
something quite unforeseen and most
unexpected occurred. Mr.. Sheep. you
see. had not been consulted at all as
to the proposed change Of ownership.
and while was talking with the
woman he proceeded to die his ob1ec7
lions then and there. The woolly cuss
struck me with a force little less than
that OF two cars coming together In .
running switch. He caught me on the
caudle end OF my backbone. and sent
me scootinE clear across the punch
cons Of that cabin floor with such
force A. to rip every button from my
vest and blouse. A trundle-bed under
the big bed brought me to = sudden
stop. and with stars still before my
eyes l scrambled TO my feet. and sat
down on the bed till my head quit
swimming and | could see straight
again. Inside the door stood the
sheep. licking his chops in anticipa.
ton OF another onslaught. The chill
dren. the woman and the boys were
nearly bursting their sides laughing
at me. couldn't stand straight when
got OF the bed. and in trying to walk
across the floor to chair fell to the
floor In heap. entirely knocked hors
de combat. The sheep looked disgust.
ed and disappointed that he hadn't
killed me. and certainly for while
thought he had. The boys drove
him out OF the house, and | sat quiet
ly In a chair until felt more like my
self. When We were ready to leave
the woman caught the sheep by the
wool. and with the help OF the two
boys he was dragged to peach tree
In front OF the house. Hawkins got
up into the tree. and took him by the
hind legs and pulled them up through
the forks OF the tree. Jordan pulled
his head backward and upward. while
l dispatched him with knife fur.
nished by the woman. And right here
| wish to remark that never did any.
thing during the war which gave me
as much satisfaction as 1t did to cut
that sleeps throat After skinnins
him we all started for camp. the won
an and children going along to get the
promised grub. When We got to the
place where we had left the canoe We
decided that II would take two trips
to land us all. so Hawkins at the oar
soon landed Jordan and the mutton
on the other side, returning for the
woman and myself We had decided
to leave the children on that side.
where they were TO walt for the WON
an. She got In the boat and sat In the
stern end, while I was In the front.
We pushed OF. and when about mid.
stream the woman turned to speak to
the children. when the old trap
Topped over quicker than you could
think. Both Hawkins and could
swim. but the woman went under
with her mouth wide open. screaming
for dear life. She soon came to the
surface. however. and between the
two of us and some vines that grew
near the top OF the water we got her
ashore. We went and dished out the
grub for the woman and handed her
the three paper halfdollars. Her eyes
bulged out like two buckeyes on
forked stick A. the sight OF the money.
She couldn't read. I reckon, for she
said. What kind OF money Ia this7"
Yankee money" said We. Gosh"
said she. Il meant confederate
money" And then II Just dzwned OF
me that the woman had beaten US. fol
any amount Of confederate money
could be had at that time for IS cents
on the dollar. II we had been q Rock.
efellcr or Russell Sage We could have
bought that sheep for one Ercenbacl
dollar. We didn't lose anything. how
ever. for We sold three Of the quarter,
OF mutton for six dollars. and had al,
We wanted left. We ate 20 much OF
1t. in fact. that II made us all sick.
and have never cared for mutton
since. didn't sleep good or walk
straight fer q week. and every time !
saw a sheep after that kept my eyes
on 1t good I'LL II vas GU; Of sight.