The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-25
WHEN WINSTON COUNTY WAS
 "'WILD AND WOOLLY" SECTION

while the deer, a great sntlered buck, was
 approaching from the southwest.
 l Say, did you ever have buck ager?" No? Then you never saw wild deer in the woods. I didn't know I had it. In fact I thought myself wonderfully coh lected, for jumped up and waved my hat and hallowed at the deer, trying to turn him toward another stand. The other man fired, but the distance was too great.
 Then I tried to load my gun Taking the charger in my left hand, the powder horn in my right, I removed the peg with my teeth. as I had seen the others do, I at- tempted to fill the charger. I finally suc- ceeded. but the ground for several feet around me was black with spilled pow der. and then I realized that was trem- bling from head to foot. My knees would
 hardly sustain me. Buck ager?" Man, 1 had the genuine old-time variety in it's worst form. It's the most peculiar and unaccountable sensation imaginable, and absolutely uncontrolla ble.
 | During that same day I was with one of the huntsmen traversing some rather open woods. He was in the lead. Sud ! denly I called, Look there," pointing off to the right. He whirled with rifle poised, but the deer. a doe and fawn, had disappeared in some bushes before he | could take aim. why didn't you shoot?' | he asked. Feeling like a fool, I said didn't think about 1t. "Shucksl'' was his I only reply, but I was struck with the l tone Of his voice, and I noticed we
 turned immediately and wended our way l homeward. Three deer in one day and
 none slain Twice that day I fell far
 below the standard. and I noticed, too, that they arranged no more deer hunts ! for me.
 l My stay for the three months was in | the home of Judge H. Gle was at one time probate judge of the county) They
 suggested that ''board around" and it would not cost me anything. but I de-
 murred. Having the princely salary of
 s25 the month, what cared for ex. penses? Especially as, now I'm going to
 shock you folks. and I don't know after 1 all this lapse of time whether or not I
 could find living witnesses but Pm will ing to make my "aey davy" as to its
 truth My board, lodging, lights, fuel,
 laundry and mending cost me just s per
 month. What? Oh, mo- That was away
 back wonder. You couldn't find such a
 place now, even in Winston.
 WAS A REAL HOME
 | And it was really home Mrs. H.
 vas & splendid woman, with motherIy,
 kindly ways She had wavy white hair,
 and her large, soft eyes were always filled with the mother look that made
 nor sweet old face really lovabe The
 judge, with his great proportions and
 splendid head, was a kingly looking man.
 and always full of a kindly, dry humor
 He was. among other things a preacher,
 and at one of his appointments in the lit-
 tie log house where I taught, he called
 me to one side before services and said:
 Mack, today you get seat on the left,
 next the wall, and. when time for prayer
 comes, just settle yourself as comforta-
 ply IS you can and don't kneel I'm go-
 ing to call on old Brother N to lead" | I didn't understand just why. but de- | cided to follow the advice. Sure enough I he called on Brother N. I noticed others in the congregation arranging themselves as comfortably as might be on the benches. most of which were simply split logs with pegs for legs. Brother N be- | gan. l don't know whether he divided | that prayer mentally into firstly, secondly
 and thirdly, but I do know I thought
 lastly would never be reached. He be- gan smoothly in a rather low pitched
 tone, which was gradually worked up to ear splitting heights. I have never heard
 such a prayer for either length or yo-
 ciferousness. and heartily did I thank the judge Tor his warning before its 45 min- utes or screaming pleading was finished. One old fellow remarked afterward: "Ef Ithe Lord ain't deef he shore can hear
 Brother Ms prayer" The singing was
 earnest, and the mingling of their un-
 trained voices in the old-time songs. to
 me. was scul stirring and very melodi- ous.
 Those mountain people were really
 great people ill their crude way Kind
 hearted! Hosptable! Where, except in
 some like mountain region, could a
 stranger travelling the public highway
 and overriding a native, expect a cor
 dial invitation to stop and spend the
 night? l have had that happen to me in
 old Winston after no more formal ac-
 qlaintance than the exchange of "how- dies' between travellers, and in the old days, an offer to pay for the nights llcdging would have been considered discourtesy Their home, though but a ore-room log cabin, with all that was in it was yours, and given with that deep innate courtesy born of kindliness. l 'Moonshiners?" Yes, and uneducated The rough angles of their manners not
 polished by the niceties of refinement. but
 their crude hospitalities carried always the stamp of genlireness. They were a
 lovahle people, once you knew them, and II cherished the memory of my stay | y,1o