The Adair County news., 1907-04-03
EARLY HISTORY OF MELVIN WHITE
(By u. l.. Taylor)
CHAPTER Ill.

There was one weak point in the plan
of campaign, and Hooker was quick to
see it. When the whole line was or
dered forward, they literally covered
the teacher. but he shook them off like
an old raccoon with a lot OF pups.
Hooker soon saw that while he could
manage one, two or three at time, ne
could not hold his own against dozen,
and thinking that discretion is the bet
ter part of valor, he shook himself
loose and made for the back door, and
through it he went. He fell back has
tily. but in good order. and took a po-
sition under large beech tree, with
both TANKS protected by staked and
rider fence. Here he held his position.
for three long, mortal hours, while the
bows held high carnival in the church.
The girls had all taken fright, and left
for home, leaving the beligerants IN
full possession of the school. Hooker
finally withdrew his forces, and ad-
vanced backward. and took up his Win
ter quarters in Columbia. The trus-
tees were called to consider the matter,
and each one of them had one or more
sons in the transgression and they re-
solved that, inasmuch as Hooker had
failed to enforce proper discipline be
had better not undertake to teach any
longer. Another teacher was engaged
to finish the term, and the preacher
concluded to 90 back to preaching for a
livelihood.
We come now to the most interest
ing and romantic episode in his exper-
fence. of three days and nights in his
fathers cave. Melvin had long been
anxious to explore that cave, but his
father would not allow it, telling him
each time that there was danger of
getting lost, and being bitten by VEN
omous serpents, or being devoured by
wild beasts. Melvin turned deaf ear
to all his fathers advice, and procur-
ing a tallow candle, and companion In
the person of young Rollin Hurt, set
out on Saturday afternoon for the long
coveted exploration. They had thor
oughly read up on caves, and every
passage that might be found was per-
fectly familiar to the youthful ex-
plorers. They had both been in the
cave before, but had not gone Tar
enough to satisfy their curiosity. Ihey
remembered some branches to the cave
that thew were anxious to investigate,
and thew investigated. Lighting their
tallow candles, they stepped boldly
forth into the first strange prong that
they reached, and the half had not
been told. They went into a large
room, which was beautiful to behold
Nature had lavished her beauties lar
beyond their expectations. They stood
entranced for time, and witnessed the
wonderful phenomena. Rock lclcles
hung in thick clusters from the ceiling,
the work of ages.
When finally they were satisfied, and
wanted to GO on, or return, they found
they had lost their way. In spite OF
their best efforts they could not find
their way out of that beautiful room,
they tried on all sides until they be-
came thoroughly alarmed, and to add
to their horror, their candles were al
most gone. Like the foolish Virgins in
the parable, they had not prepared
themselves with lighting material. just
before the lights went out. they dis
covered little fissure in the rock on
one side. They wedged themselves in
that the LIGHTS departed, and they