The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-10-29
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz
By ALLEN CHAMBERLAIN

rvis was a Florida Crack
reared. and himself in |
others of his kind, in |
most thrifty orange dis |
state. Outwardly and in
Of living he did not differ |
Is d from any of his kin, but |
o-a 30, ~~c0ur xe,f his child |
'id11 sion 10 the workings of
/, he was unable to under
therefore was unable to
NJ In against.
Cracker is a singular crea-
u angular in his character or
of il as in his tribal name.
'S ASK a southerner what a
Is he looks aghast at your
then smiles and begins con-
) TO explain, but presently
/ all helpless in fit of STAN
and suffering, finally an
in despair: Why. he's a
I" While no one knows
these pO WINES oSfhAiSo
me it is conjectured that their
ged gauntness may have sug
The heron known as corn
and that this may by corrup-
we evolved itself into Cracker.
he localities in the south this
OF humanity bears the name
d-hiller which again may be de-
from his similarity to the sand
ane. At all events, the Crack
a curious creature utterly In
lie of applying himself to any
labor and wholly proof against
yement through contact with
He is a Cracker first and last,
Is long as his race endures. His
of right and wrong are tradi-
lly cratic, and when found guilty
Their mems standards he regards
elf as greatly abused. and in no
bound to respect any code not
led with force.
endarvis. or Pen, as he was ia
arly known throughout that sec
was beginning to tilt his see-saw
life the other way at the time of
oh | shall speak After many
rs of far too much work according
Cracker standards), made neces-
~ by the hearty appetites of his
erncreasing family, he was begin
BIZ to sigh for some windfall Of for
he which should allow him to hire
niger and buy a mule, when, one
". northern man came along and
egan to set out a grove on land ad
bning his own patch Through this
Granger Pen came into part OF his
bng dreamed-of windfall, for while he
Vas not able to hire hand to do his
bwn work, he at least found ample ex
Fuse for letting the weeds grow a.
home while for dollars he helped the
hortherner work on the new planta
ton Time thus wore on in happ,
and southern manner, until the yount
trees arrived at a stage where the,
could be safely left to stand alone FOL
a time. Then one day the newcome
went north to bring his family back
This was bad news for the Cracker
With rueful looks he regarded tn
rankness OF his own kitchen patch
and bethought himself of the dali,
naggings he would have to underg
from his "old woman until he SHOULD
begin work there. Some weeks later
while Pen was engaged in his regula
of hoe-handle mapping, h
to think that 1t was almos
time for that Yankee" to return
From where he stood he could Sc
that the young trees in his neighbor
orchard looked thrifty and handsome
but began to show the need or lttl
attention. Pen knew exactly wha
ought to be done for their RELIEF, an
calculated how many days could Q
spent over there, and just how man
days OF luxurious idleness would 10
low on the proceeds. Although 1t wa
still two hours before shutdown an
he had plenty of work to do on n
little patch. Pen shouldered his nc
and strolled leisurely up to his froi
porch. There in the cool shade, vi
ed back in his rickety chair. I
thought once more OF his comif
bliss.
That Yankees tarnal slow, must
Pen aloud. about a week later. SIM
that afternoon OF contemplation
had passed most of his time In sli
liar speculations as TO his approac
ing wealth. II was but a few ia.
later that Pen heard OF a man WI
was inquiring for healthy trees at "
dollars apiece, and after that
Crackers mind knew no peace un
he remarked to his wife next day IN
he reckoned their neighbor war;
comm back no mo-. A pity te
ter leave them hunsum trees Ter u
bugs and lice" he continued. no
Pen had lain awake all mig
thinking about those trees at U
dollars apiece. and his crude cai'
lations OF the proceeds Of 200 or )
trees at that price had furnished d
with visions of a sum OF money su
ciently large to keep his family a
himself in luxurious idleness for an
calculable period. A year. al Iea
in which to bask in the sun and re'
on hog fat and hominy' VINO CO.
resist so tempting vision r
hadn't the power: and. besides
seemed TO him such pity that th'
trees should be wasted
His wife had never seen Pen
eaxsr To yet to work as he was u
morning. He could not even NA'
ali his after-breakfast pipe before
ting out but shredded his leaf As
trudged almost briskly away WI
ever conscience be may have hAd