The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-06
Uncle Joe Dixon Has
Touching Experience
In Ala. Mountains

years with the Evening Telegram
and well known to Lakeland people
ard to the State press as one of the
best editorial writer's in the country,
is Florida bound from his annual pill
grimage to the great State of Texas.
where, as is his annual custom, he
has been renewing his youth in the
teart of nature. The following beau
tiful human-interest story, with
C?cle Joe as the central figure, ap-
peared on the editorial page of the
Montgomery Advertiser last Sunday,
and will be read with interest by
Uncle Joe's host of friends.
81 was stranger, and ye took me
in; was thirsty and ye gave me
drink"
There marched into the city of
Montgomery yesterday patriarch,
who had walked most of the distance
between a point in Texas and Mont
gOmery on an annual hike which he
takes for his health and pleasure.
His home is in an adjoining State,
whittier he is bound to resume his
labors for which he is so well fitted
by three months of outdoor roughing.
He is 72 years of age, is slightly
stopped now wears the beard of an
Abraham and the smile of boy He
believes in humanity and while in
Montgomery he told story to illus
trate the basis for this belief The
story should be set down here
A few days ago this genial wander
the far interior of North Alabama
county. Rain threatened to overtake
him, SO he prepared to rest till the
cloud passed. Soon he heard voices
few yards away. In a bottom at
the foot of little mountion he saw
one-rOOm house where children
were playing and listening to a
scolding from their tired mother. 1t
was occupied by a woman, her chill
dren and her sister. In a few mo.
ments the sister came to the patri
! arch and accosted him. What a
beauty. Her Titan hair fell loosely,
gracefully over her shoulders. Her
soft brown eyes looked gently upon
Eer out of background of rosy, soft
cheeks. She was straight and 1.-the.
She was barefooted. Her mouth moved
nervously to conceal her same at
chewing a small quid of tobacco.
Stranger said she, "Whar be ye
goin'?"
"On my way to Montgomery,
ma'am, but the rain is delaying me.
shall be away shortly, however" he
said.
They amt no train now"
I'm walking"
"Whut. Walkin' t 'gom'ry? ?"
She was amazed Then she returned
to the house, procured an old quilt
and brought it to the stranger.
Mister, eff you won't be insulted
or nothin' I'll offer ye this here quilt
fur t sleep on" she said. "Ye CANT
walk outen here. They's long tun.
mel down tn road It's night. Th'
soldiers air at tn bridge an they'd
shoot ye fur spy or somethin. Ye
must stay here" He accepted the
quilt with thanks.
The next morning the girl came to
him again.
Mister, we air pow'ful pore-we
hain't got nothin' hardly but whut
we got we'll divide. We want We to
eat breakfast with us. eff We kin make
out with our grub"
He went into a palatable breakfast.
When the meal hour was nearing an
end. the stranger observed in the
girls hand ak NOTED. worn handker.
chief, with which she was fumbling.
She said, addressing him:
mister. me an my sister have
been a-talkin' erbout We an a-think-
in erbout We. an we think yer too
old fur t walk t Mon'gom'ry. Take
some O. this money an ride. I'll
wave tn train down an We kin git
on The stranger had only a dime
and was weary and old. He hesi-
tated long before accepting the prof
erred gift. They insisted earnestly
and he accepted one of the five dol.
lars in worn greenbacks. The girls
waved the train shortly. Before bid.
ding her farewell he said to her:
Young woman. are you this good to
all strangers?
Mister, L haint never knowed
nothin' but jest t be good
With tear in his eye the old man
boarded his train. waved to her and