The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-03-13

sweet or Redeemed with the rudy
pokeberries. A flock of speckled
guineas run chattering like children
turned loose from school, and hide
in the weeds, sure though that they
have fully made known your APP
proach.
The interior of the plain dwell
ing is plainly furnished bed, a
cupboard, table, books and a few
chairs. You are struck with the
smooth, hard ash floor, the boards
hand-sawed, as was the manner in
early days. This was a feature of
the homes OF early times.
There was ever a kindly well
come to visitors and when | recall
it, hospitality as genuine as it was
open. mere l wish to correct an
impression that Mr.. Irving's sketch
! may leave. Mr.. Moseley was not a
| rollicking fellow, but a refined,
gentlemanly man, who could play
TIE violin remarkably we'll But he
maintained a home of dignified re-
/ spectability. He was a man Of su-
/ perior education when measured by
the standard of his day and sur
roundings. He was quick at re-
partee and genial in controversy.
Personally he was attractive. Pur-
itan in looks, Quaker in deeds
rather short o. stature, with a rud-
dy face and when | first knew him
always smooth shaver; his gray,
keen blue eyes could summon
fash from their depths in ire, or
twinkle in jollity. He loved child
rem ard they never left his prem
Uses without a supply of fruit, eggs.
nuts or buns. His farm was TILED
by his few slaves and gave ample
For every need. he was a widower
when ! first knew him, and to say
that I knew him, costs me an ac-
acknowledgement of over three-score
Years ard carries me back nearly a
score of years before the Civil War.
Mr.. Moseley was a pioneer in
the importation of improved farm
implements and live stock. With
one anecdote in this connection,
this sketch will be brought to
close.
1t was about 1853 or 1854 he
had bought a pair or a trio of
Southdown sheep and on their ar
rival in town, of course, every
body gathered on the streets to
pass judgment on the merits of the
stock. There had come to our town
a family of Jews, very clever and
enterprising people, too, but they
were from Amsterdam and were
spoken of as Dutch" Their lead
er was Henry Small, who had way
Of passing his jokes and jibes
around pretty recklessly and no one
enjoyed them more than Uncle
Henry if he could get the laugh on
the other fellow, but he didn't like
it at all if the joke was turned on
him:
Uncle Bob, want to ask you a
question" said this looker-on at
the sheep show.
Well" said Mr.. Moseley.
Can you tell me the difference
between a Southdown ram and a
ram down South" triumphantly
called out Mr.. Small.
The difference" said the ready
witted farmer, that there is be-
tween an Amsterdam Dutchman
and any other d--n Dutchman."
A roar of laughter completely
squelched Mr.. "Dutchman."
There are few living now who re-
member the subject of this sketch,
but | am sure if one of them reads |.
this, it will kindle his recollection |
of this reputable old Kentucky
farmer, who lived on the pigeon /.
Roost Fork of Muddy" away back |
in the forepart of the last century
not as a rollicking fiddler, as Mr.. /.
Irving would have us suppose, but
as a quiet gentleman, a progressive ,
husbandman and an all-around /
good citizen.
He has passed along with that .
procession of the pioneer settlers to .
the final reward. His grove of wal /
nut trees has fallen to the greed of .
the lumberman for hardwood. The
little turf of bluegrass has long ago .
been turned and blghted by success
sive crops of tobacco. The oasis in .
the desert is gone.
How did it come there? In my
thology We read of one of the gods
who was powerful enough to seize
mountains and throw them at in
truders. May we not conjure some .
vulcan also among them so pom
derous that. when they came to
fashion the beautiful bluegrass
country, he might chisel the foun-