Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-10-26

The Black Hawks band played
welcome, and the captain came down
the plank to conduct the General on
board. From quiet, lazy and almost
deserted landing the place leaped into
the full throb of life. Negroes and
shiftless whites came from their novels
to gaze upon the magic splendor of
this journeying palace, and the three
shell man stepped ashore to gather up
dollars.
Dinner was state occasion. and
after it, the ball. Then their state
rooms-then morning and Natchez.
The address was to be delivered in
the afternoon, and when the time came
the General led him over to the hall to
hear the speech, imprisoned him with
out bail in corner, and there he had
to sit. The address was long, academic
and dull, and the sufferer unused:
81 don't see why. Shottle ever called
you a remarkable character"
Everybody came about the General
to take his hand. Young women told
him that they had never been so
| thrilled. brace lied to him, too, swore
him an orator
'Let us walk off alone" said the
General.
Slowly they walked at first, but after
a time the old gentleman struck a
briSker pace, toward the River.
Snow, my boy, as we've got through
with those beaters of dust out of old
carpets. Wen have some fun. Old
'"'1nel pamhertoii wanted me to go
home with him, and he has a delight
full house, gracious wife and hand
some daughter, but l had to decline.
I've stood about as much now as /
can. Wen go down to old lobe Ma
sons tavern, under the hill. lobe Is
a gentle old fellow, never killed but
three men. One of them shot Tobe's
leg off and now he wears q peg; and
want to tell you that when he I'M
straps it and hops around in fight,
he's right meddlesc>ne. At trial in
the courthouse here not long ago, the
judge issued an order that all deadly
weapons must be left with the deputy
sheriffs at the door--and sir, they
made old lobe take off his -ooden
leg"
The tavern was as tough place as
river men could make it. Built Of logs
bricks, stone and clapboards, it looked
like an architectural stagger, trying
TO climb the hill In the main room
was the bar. Herein lobe gave his
famous 'possum feasts and dances,
when the spirit of liquor mounted high
enough to swing it's partner off the
ground
'Well, I'll be knocked in the head
for q steer" old lobe cried out, stump
ing toward the General 81 haven't
seed you since the River tuck fire.
Well, Welt Thinkin' about you the
other day. Glad TO shake your
hand. Mr. brace. Set right down."
''Tobe, I'm glad to see you,' said the
General. "And fetch us about two
quarts of that summer-grape wine. Let
me tell you about it, BRACE. We have
wild grape here that gets ripe along
in August Its much larger and Is not
sour like the fox-grape, and its vine
likes to climb about a sassafras sap
ling. And then you see an umbrella of
grapes. Now don't say word till
you've had a good taste of 1t. lobe
makes it himself, and he'll fetch us
some that's at least twenty-five years
old. Here we are"
The wine was as red as blood, cool
and yet warm. It's flavor was the rip
ened sweetness Of the spirit of autumn,
1t was as mellow as the scent Of the
apple at harvest time.
what do you think of II, hey"
AUncle Howard, are you sure that
this was not made by Baechus instead
of Tobe7"
Good. my boy! Enjoying yourselfT
ayes. I'm doing fine, General. You
see, can't express myself as well as
you can. / haven't as much to draw
from. You've not only book-knowl-
edge but experience, worth more So
cially than all the Libraries in the
world"
"You hit 1t off well. But what is
better than 1t all? Moral freedom.
This table here is rough, with one
rheumatic leg slightly drawn; these
chairs we sit in, bottomed with strips
of hickory bark, would be scorned at
a sheriff's sale; but sir. Mark Antony,
In his first triumph, his chariot drawn
by lions, was not more regal than we
are at this moment, enthroned and
sceptered with moral freedom. Pour
out, for as that same Antony said:
'Scant not my cups.'-Tobe, where's
that old scoundrel who used TO play
The Arkansaw Traveller
lobe stumped his way over from the
bar.
"You mean old SlithersT
"That's the man. What's become Of
himT'
@Nothin'. And reckon he's playin'