"Cracker Jim" [pp. 51-70]

(3G C~'acker j?m." [July
This was their last meeting. In less than species of torture, after which the song was
a fortnight, Jim Snyder was on his way to resumed.
Virginia with Barrett's regin~ent; and what "In vain from her grief dew they hendever to
soldier on the battle field of Manassas did wean her,
not hear of the gallant deeds of the Fourth Fur they hev tuk him fur erway, to the Isle o'
Alabama? Saint Herlener."
Another interlude on the fiddle.
$ * * * * * * *
"No moar`ull he figl~t on the hattie-field goary,
The war was over. Five years had elapsed No more`oil he lead his sojers to gloary."
since the fighting had ceased, and recon- "Fiddlin' air foolishniss, ter my thinkin,"'
struction and carpet-baggers were busy said Hester, laying the bats of wool carefully
throughout the South in making the sur- away in a basket at her side. Just then
render at Appomattox a fact. In many homes three riders came in sight. They were men
there had been starvation; in more, desola- returning from the mill about four miles betion; everywhere, wreck and ruin of fortune. low the mountain, and carried their week's
Never had the fable of Pandora's box been provision of meal behind their saddles. Hesso literally enacted, and never had a people, ter rose from her chair, and descending the
inspired by an undying hope, struggled so steps into the yard, met her husband in
sublimely. It was summer in Big ~Iountain, time to assist him fron~ his mule.
and early in the season, for the rhododen- "Naow, Mis' Harjoe," said Bill Stokes,
drons had not lost their glory, and the odor who had already alighted and was tying his
-of the yellow jasmines lingered through the mule to a tree, "Jest holt on-gin me er
forests. Hester Harjoe sat in her house, in chance; I ken hoip Dick offen that critter
the open passage, through which the after- better'n ye ken."
noon sun was streaming, carding bats of "No, Bill Stokes, obleeged ter ye; I hev
wool, to be spun on the wheel, which still larnt the ways 0' holtin' his cretch. It haint
kept its old place. A short distance up the every man ez`ud git erbout on one leg ez
road winding around the mountain, and good ez Dick Harjoe. Ef ye want ter help,
within sight and sound of her own door, jest lay on ter that meal-bag en fetch it in
stood a new cabin, from which now issued the house."
a strain of music. Hester now and then "Stan' ter me-stan' ter me, Hester,
suspended her noisy work of carding, and said Dick, as he cautiously dismounted. "I
turned her ear to listen. "That air that had the usen 0' tew legs nigh on ter forty
fiddlin' fool, Pete Dobine. He`ud er sight year, en hit dew take er man er leetul time
better be in the corn-patch, ur wurrukin' ter git usen ter one."
Cherrykee's gyarden. Fiddlin' air er ruin- "Jest light en rest yersef in er cheer, all
ation ter er young man." on ye," said Hester, not forgetful of hospi But Pete did nor hear this comment on tality, as she aided her husband; "ye`ull
his performance, and the music, which con- hev time ter git home afore night ketch ye.'
sisted of two or three lines of a song, alter- ~Vhen all were seated and pipes were
nating with a refrain robustly scraped on an ready, Pete Dobine's nasal twang and shriekexecrable fiddle, rose higher and higher. ing fiddle were distinctly heard.
"Looizy, she weeps fur her hero departid, "Ef Pete air gwine ter keep that fiddle, I
Slie inoarns while she st~eps, en she wakes brukun- wouldn't gin much for his corn-crop; hit
heartid." won't be wuth shellin'," said Dick Harjoe.
Here followed a sawing and shrieking of "Waal, Pete war not in the anoy haffen
the instrumei~t that rendered it an ingenious er year afore he tuk ter fiddlin' like all na