Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-12-02
By FRANK II. SWEET.

iec'. 20 know. sab. Dey's 10 all de
worr lax calves nm colts an kittens.
Wen dey's young dcy kicks up dere
heels; den dey steades down au' chows
dere cuds an pulls dere loads an
hetches deere mice jes' lax 'sponsible
t'ings mus. Wash he ain nary bad
spot In him, sab. He don't tink; dat's
MI. Wen his heels git plumb steady
on de Groun he'll pull his load shore
'nough. Yo'll see. sab"
But I'm spite OF the sanguine expec-
tations OF Uncle Nose, who vas NOT
Vash's uncle at all. but his grandpa
Their. the boy continued TO "projec." He
was now fourteen. and his chief labor
seemed 10 consist In devising ways Of
eluding chores and school and Just
punishments. His habltual movements
we're skulking. and. though his eyes
danced fearlessly and his mouth
broadened into almost perpetual mer.
riment. he sought rather the solitary
paths OF the pine woods and Suwanee
banks than the more populous lanes
and roads OF his native Ellaville.
There he was apt to be reminded of
upfulfllled contracts, stolen melons,
decorated doors and fences and OF
many other matters which he prefer
red to let sink into forgetfulness. OF
his own family Uncle Nose was the
only one with whom lie condescended
10 fraternize. and this concession was
due as much to the fact that the old
man excelled him in his own chosen
pursuits OF trapping and fishing as to
his being openly sympathetic
There were few spots inside radius
OF ter miles with which Uncle Nose
was not familiar. and this familiarity
was especially comprehensive in re-
gard TO the fishing holes OF the Suwa.
nee. Fifty years before he had been
slave boy on neighboring plantation,
stealing of TO the river on every pos.
sible occasion. and this love for the
sport had been the one great pleasure
OF his life, interrupted only through
the score of years which followed his
emancipation, during which time he
was working hard to provide himself
with home and TO fit his children for
Il future which should be worthy OF
them as free citizens.
But as they grew up and branched
out for themselves he returned more
and more 10 the pleasure OF his child
hood until now there was scarcely an
afternoon which was not spent In part
upon the Suwanee banks. And with
accommodating years and suffening
joints bis early wanderings up and
a L..
bank beneath wide spreading. moss
grown tree, from which he could cast
line into water which experience had /
taught him was congenial to fish.
Here after the sun had begun to throw
shadows to the east he could generally
be found either alone or in company
with Wash
His son Link was Of a different ma
ture. lie was Woodworking. shrewd,
more tolerant OF faults than Of frivol.
ity or carelessness. able 10 read n little
and subscribing for several political pa
pers. narrow In his politics and party
aud voting at every opportunity and
on every possible preteYt. lie was an
example OF strong. ambitious manhood
weighted down by lack OF knOwl
edge. Between him and Wash there
could be ouly Misunderstanding ap-
prchension and avoidance on the ono
side. disappointment and upbraidiug
on the other Hut before az open
break came there were rumors OF war.
fits declaration. call for troops. and
then before the family realized what
was happening Link had volunteered
aud been accepted, the first to join the
imInunes from lis county.
The Day after he left Uucle Nose did
not even look toward the river. Wasl
skulked down and fshed under tho
biz tree for awhile, then wandered on
Into the woods 90 look NJ his traps
The next day he went TO the big tree
again. but apparently did not like nSh.
Ing alone. FOR he sOou bid his pole and
ouce more wandered IN into the
woods And The third day aud the
fourth were the same. but after eating
dinner on the NTH instead OF hurry
lug ont 10 dig bait as usual. he looked
wistfully md irresOlutely az Uncle
Nose and when the old man rose and
went o1t followed him 60 the truck
patch behind the cabin
NH ~ kHiNt NNulN lN IUI t EFd 10
pap he asked discousOlafcly.
Uncle Nose leaned upon his hoe han.
de and looked al him bcuiguauuy.
'Not tiu so pap git~ baok honey"
bc answered. Oars heap, % wuk
roun di, place now So pap been do
hit mawnius an arter hc done git
from wub at dc sawmU nights. an
'ccpu' ] tub his place hit'U shore fall
ON so NANNY an she bab mo now
den shc ought SO. no. honey. yo'u
halter look out 10 dc 6sb an let de ole
iuau bon his bacE oDcr dc tatcrs an
iutur5 au rings
The boy dug bis heels into fine sand
81 reckon yO' niu car 10 Gshiu' no
how sraup1p' Doc nid lrruably. III
10 did yo.c fix do wuk some way"
Uncle A. sank 'ho blade OF his
3ov moug The weeds at hig feet
tI1. Hottr. f.Nfr.f az ....r ...f.