Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-10-03
CHAPTER XI.

IL was almost dark when they applied
Tor admittance and were ushere into
the low, smoky room, which they found
almost filed with guests. The crowd
was unusually merry, and it was appar-
ent to Sampson and his party that the
product of Sis still was being banded
around in pretty free manner. A blind
fiddler was among the guests, and after
the bottle of fiery liquid had been passed
aGsin he took up his instrument and for
hslt an hour the room resouoded with
the strains of "Sourwood Mountain. -
The young mouotsineers danced to the
ton" in lively manner. Suddenly the
music cesS-d sad the fiddler called for
anV'her dram A5tsr being Supplied
with another drink ne sgain took up his
fiddle AID struck up Ire tune of "O,d
Dan Tucker" and this tine the old as
W i as the young joined in. the dance.
TGe old moonshiner was lying fast
asleep in one corner Of the room not
withstandin, the noise OF the dance.
y, 81 sick?' asked Sampson o. Har-
dia'S wife when the music had agai,
ceas ID
"No, he's not sick, but no purity full
tonight" replied the mountaineer's
wife. But he'll be sober ~ jedge
when he wakes up"
You seem to be havin' a purity lively
dom here tonight" put in Reuben.
YES" answered the woman, "weins
hes got corn shuckin' tou,or', and 81
axed in some o. the noighbors to Rev a
jubilee tonight"
In an hour or so 81 awoke The I'D
der was doing mis- best or a famous old
mountain jig. With a bound the old
moonshner was on the floor dancing
and Keeling about in the widest manner.
Pull down GA her, pull down on her,
Ale, " he shouted, 81 b'leiye that tune
would wake me ef wuz in ruy grave"
continued the old nloonshiuer wildly.
"Sit down, 81, an stop your fool
doins, - said his wife, "folksll think We
crazy eff We DON'T"
But 81 never heard.
stop playin', Abe" she said to the
fiddler, sis done gone clean crazy"
The fiddle stopped and for the first
time 81 saw his new guests. He greet
ed them cordially and babe them feel at
home. Sampson then related the fight
with the Copperhead and his band snd
the rescue of Mrs. Randolph and Simon.
'Weil," said ST when Sampson had
finished, "had known whut We wuz
arter I'd bin right with ye"
Didn't tell ye. 81, that Teller wuz
bad un," spoke up the old moonshin-
er's wife.
After talking the fight for time the
almost empty bottle was passed again
and the crowd proceeded with their hi
larity.
PLAY 'Boatin' Up Sandy" said 81
rs the fiddler began TO twarg the strings
of his instrument leisurely with his
fingers
The fiddler obeyed his host, and for
several minutes played the lively air.
That's what suits me-" said 81, rs
another bottle was brought from under
the bed When it had been almost
emptied of its contents the blind fiddler.
who was beginning to feel Just right, >"
jumped to his feet and smashed his in
serument over a big mountaineer's
head.
Damn yer soul, said the big fellow.
''ef We warn't blind I'd put A in yer
head
The fiddler punched the fellow with
his bow under the eye and was prompt
ly knocked down by the big mountain
eer.
'I'd hate to jump on a blind Teller,
Bill, said 81, calmly.
Il didn't jump on him, Uncle 81, re-
piled the other, 'he jist fo'ced me to
hit him.
81 cosXed the drunken fiddler up from
the floor and put him to bed, where he
was soon asleep. Now as there could
he no more music nothing remained for
the others but to retire also, which they
did.
Early next morning Randolph, his
wife, brother and Ben Moore babe Har-
din and his guests good bye and started
towards Matewan. Jim and Reuben re-
manned for the husking bee now at hand.
We'll be ct your house tomor', Mr..
Randolph" SAID Jim as Pete and his
party left the cabin.
Before the SUMS first rays had pene-
trated the narrow little valley Hardin's
neighbors began to pour in, and soon
there were goodly number on hand for
the days work. When they had gath
cred at the husking place, Hardin said:
Nov, boys, ye see what's afore us.
think we kin shuck it out afore night
and not half try, but right in the middle
Nv the pile is two gallon jimmy john
NV the best Ticker you ever tasted. go
the quicker we shuck the corn the quick
er we'll git to empty the Jug"
This seemed to enthuse the crowd and
c0On fbo ffahucLaU xuaro