xt7x696zwr7q https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7x696zwr7q/data/mets.xml Bush, Isabel Graham. 1912  books b92fb9634go2009 English Fleming H. Revell Company : New York Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Goose Creek folks: a story of the Kentucky mountains. text Goose Creek folks: a story of the Kentucky mountains. 1912 2009 true xt7x696zwr7q section xt7x696zwr7q 
  
  
GOOSE

CREEK

FOLKS

  
  
  
  
  
  
GOOSE C R E E K

FOLKS

A Story of the Kentucky Mountains

By ISABEL GRAHAM
AND

BUSH

FLORENCE

LILIAN

BUSH

NEW YORK

CHICAGO

TORONTO

Fleming H . Revell
LONDON AND

Company

EDINBURGH

  
C opyright, 1912, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY

N ew Y o r k : 158 F i f t h A venue C hicago: 125 N . Wabash Ave. T o r o n t o : 25 R i c h m o n d St., W . L o n d o n : 21 Paternoster Square E d i n b u r g h : 100 Princes S treet

  
ALICE
OF

K.
BEREA

DOUGLAS
COLLEGE

whose helpfulness of spirit and enthusiasm for a life of broad usefulness, this book

learning

have inspired many a mountain boy and girl to is lovingly dedicated by
THE AUTHORS

  
  
CONTENTS
I. II. III. DAN GOOCH M A K E S A DISCOVERY GOOSE A . CREEK 9 21

MARTIN TALITHA

SURPRISES SOLVES . .

PUZZLING . 31 42

PROBLEM IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. THE AN STORM

UNEXPECTED A

RIVAL

. . . . . . .

.

52 .62 74 83 . 9 8

HUNTING THE THE THE Si JAM

VARMINT . . . . A

SOCIAL KEY .

MASTER

BAPTIZING

QUINN

REVEALS DOINGS

SECRET . .

. . THE

119 131

CHRISTMAS

GOOSE C R E E K PLOTS AGAINST SCHOOLMASTER . . . . . . . . .

137 .150 . 160 .173 . 186

XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII.

THE LOST THE THE KID OF

"STILL" ON THE

CAVE

MOUNTAINS PARTY. CONGRESS GETS . A . AT

WALKING MOUNTAIN SHACKLEY

GLIMPSE . BENT210 200

THE WORLD .

XVIII.

COMMENCEMENT VILLE

TIME

7

  
  
I

DAN "

GOOCH

MAKES

A

DISCOVERY

I " X O you reckon i t ' l l s eem the s a m e ? "    J T a l i t h a , quite breathless w i t h the ^ - ^ ^ l o n g climb, stood l o o k i n g d o w n at h er brother, who was f o l l o w i n g more slowly u p the scraggy slope of R e d M o u n t a i n . " W h y not ? " he answered. " B u t say, are y o u g o i n g to keep up this gait f o r long? If y o u do y o u ' l l be plumb tuckered before we get h ome." T h e g i r l l aughed, and then sighed. " I ' m s o anxious to get there, M a r t ; seems l i k e I c an't wait. T o think w e've b een away 'most a y ear! D o y o u s 'pose R u f e and little D o c k ' l l k n o w us ? " " L i k e as not they won't. I ' m sort o' i n h opes they'll t h i n k w e've c hanged some," returned M a r t i n . H e dropped upon a convenient ledge and pulled his sister d o w n beside h im. " I ' m a f r a i d they won't see m u c h difference i n m e, but you've changed a whole l o t , " T a l i t h a d eclared p r o u d l y w i t h a sidewise g lance of the b r o w n e yes. " M o t h e r ' l l n otice i t t he first t h i n g . " " I g uess y o u haven't looked i n the g lass
9

  
io

Goose

Creek

Folks

l ately," scoffed M a r t i n , r eddening at the i m plied p raise. " Y o u aren't the same g i r l w ho l eft for school last f all w i t h a pigtail hanging d own h er back and her dress 'most to her k nees." " I s'pose I l ooked just as L a l l a P o n d e r d i d w hen she started i n this spring, and s he's c hanged a sight." T a l i t h a put up her hands t o smooth the soft r oll o f wavy hair w h i c h h ad t aken the place of the tight, g i r l i s h b raid. A y ear had never made so much difference b efore. " I 'm going back i n the f a l l , " s uddenly announced M a r t i n . " A r e n ' t you, T a l l y ? " " S o far as I know, I am, but it all depends o n m ammy. I t'll be harder f o r me to l eave t han y ou, I reckon." T a l i t h a rose to her feet a nd a djusted her bundle knapsack-fashion a cross her shoulders. " W e ' l l m ake it before d ark, I should say," t h i n k i n g of the r o u g h m ountain w ay yet to be traversed. T h e y had l eft the train early that m o r n i n g , and walked s teadily since sunrise. N o w it lacked a halfhour o f noon. A nother s teady climb and a descent, and t he two found themselves on f a m i l i a r ground. A t t heir feet G oose Creek crept sluggishly. A f ootpath followed on the low, sloping bank l ike a p ersistent shadow u ntil b oth w ere l ost t o sight in the curves of the foothills. H e r e i n the cool shade of a tangled g r o w t h , close t o the stream, brother and sister paused to eat

  
Dan Gooch Makes a Discovery

u

t heir l unch, w h i c h M a r t i n p roduced f r o m his b undle. T h e y w o u l d be at home i n time f o r s upper. " I w onder i f S i Q u i n n is g o i n g to teach t he Goose Creek school this term ? " Martin h elped himself to a sandwich. " I r eckon so, but I w i s h he could go to B entville l o n g enough to get it out of his head t hat the earth is square. T o think of his t eaching us such foolishness! " M a r t i n s hook his head. " It wouldn't be o f a ny use; he's the g reatest p erson to argufy. H e ' s g ot it a l l figured out that i f the earth is r ound w e'd a l l be rolled off into nothing. It w o u l d be ' onpossible ' to stay on i t . " T a l i t h a d ipped her hands i n the creek and w iped t hem on her handkerchief. "I wish " she began, then stopped suddenly. M a r t i n l ooked up and his e yes f ollowed hers. A r o u n d t he farther curve of the creek path a ppeared a horse's head; then the animal and i ts r ider came slowly into view. " It's somebody f r o m Stone J u g , I reckon," said M a r t i n , " o nly it rides like D a n G o o c h . " " I t is D a n G o o c h , " decided T a l i t h a under her b reath. " W a i t and see i f he knows us, M a r t . " T h e old sorrel plodded dejectedly along the p ath. T h e m a n on his back was as loosejointed a nd angular as his steed. A n ancient b road-brimmed h at slouched over his f ace t o k eep o ut the bright sunlight. I f the two seated a t the creek's e dge i magined he was about

  
12

Goose C r e e k F o l k s

to pass t hem unnoticed, they were immediately u ndeceived, f o r the man raised his head and eyed them as though he had come for that e xpress purpose. " H o w d y ! " s aid M a r t i n w i t h the tone of one stranger saluting another. " H o w d y ! " responded the man, s till s taring. H i s horse had already stopped and was n osing t he herbage. " H i t ain't M a r t Coyle a nd T a l l y ? " exclaimed D a n Gooch after a s peculative silence. " I t is." T a l i t h a sprang up w i t h a laugh. " B ut you didn't know us right off, t h o u g h . " " I ' lowed 'twas you and agin I 'lowed 'twas f urriners. I n ever seen young-uns change so i n sech a few months. Y o u ' d better let me go ahead and t ell y our m a m m y thar's comp'ny c omin' f er supper." T h e m a n slipped f r o m h is h orse with a chuckle. " I f you've walked f rom the Gap, hit's been a p u r t y stiff climb. C r a w l u p on the beastie, T a l l y , I ' l l keep M a r t c omp'ny." A f t e r m uch demurring the g i r l m ounted the s orrel a nd soon both were lost to sight a r o u n d t he bend. T he sun, a huge, fiery b all, w as poised o n the bare summit of a peak i n the w est, w hen T alitha r eached the e dge o f a c ove o n the m ountain-side. C u r l i n g indolently u p w a r d , the s moke f r o m a cabin chimney was lost a m o n g the trees c rowding the slope beyond. I n spite o f her haste, she halted the not u n w i l l i n g

  
Dan

Gooch Makes a Discovery

13

s orrel a nd sat f o r a few moments gazing at t he place she called home. T h e picture in her m emory supplied all invisible details. T h e cabin was small, one-roomed, w i t h a l oft a bove, the rough, unbarked logs b r o w n as a beech nut. T h e m u d and stick chimney a t one end looked ready to collapse at the f irst b risk w i n d . T h e r e was no g lass i n the t w o shuttered openings w h i c h served as w i n dows. T h e interior of the cabin was scarcely m ore attractive. W i d e cracks showed i n the p uncheon floor, the walls w ere s moke-stained. I n a c orner near the fireplace,   there was no s tove,   were s everal rude s helves filled w i t h c oarse, nicked dishes. The loom, warping b ars, spinning wheel, a deal table, w i t h three o r f o u r chairs and a couple of benches, nearly filled t he r o o m . A r o w of last y ear's p epper p ods and a bunch o f herbs s till h u n g f r o m t he dingy ceiling. O utside, t w o children romped a m o n g the geese a nd chickens. Presently a w o m a n , spare a nd s tooping, appeared, and toiled s p r i n g w a r d f or a b ucket of water. Tears filled T a l i t h a ' s e yes a s she went on. H e r mother was not o ld, y et she was as careworn and bent as w omen twice her age i n the village. T o the g i r l , B entville stood f o r the w o r l d w h i c h lay b eyond her mountains, and the l o n g i n g to t r a n s f o r m h er home l i f e into something l i k e t he comfort and h a r m o n y o f those she h a d j ust left was almost overwhelming.

  
G oose Creek F o l k s
T alitha r ode up to the door amid the j o y f u l s hrieks of the children and the squawks of the f owls as they flew precipitately i n every direction. D ismounting, she released herself as s oon as possible f r o m small embracing arms a nd h urried to her mother who had set d o w n the bucket and was eyeing her daughter perplexedly. " H i t 'pears ter me you've growed a heap sence y ou war g one," w as a l l the comment M r s . C oyle made upon Talitha's changed appearance. " W h a r ' s M a r t ? " w i t h sudden misgiving as the g i r l p icked up the bucket of water a nd stepped briskly along at her side. " H e's coming. D a n Gooch g ave m e a l ift on h is sorrel and he footed it w i t h M a r t . " T alitha w ent on into the cabin, but her m other lingered outside. She had caught s ight of a young, stalwart figure beside their n eighbour. She smoothed her o l d homespun g own with w o r n , calloused hands, and wished she had the " tuckin' comb " T a l i t h a had sent h er f o r Christmas in her hair. " H ello, m a m m y ! " M a r t i n p ut his arms a round h is mother and kissed her a w k w a r d l y . A f t e r D a n Gooch had accepted the hospitable invitation to stay for supper, the three r epaired i ndoors. T a l i t h a had rallied the y ounger members of the f a m i l y to her assistance, and was already dishing up the evening m eal. A f resh cloth had been l aid, a nd a handful o f mountain laurel, i n a t i n can on the

  
D a n Gooch Makes a Discovery

15

w i n d o w - s i l l , t ransferred to the centre of the t able. A t this juncture S a m Coyle appeared f r o m t he " fodder patch." A f t e r a hasty g reeting he retreated to the basin of water outside w i t h a bewildered, company feeling he h ad n ot experienced since a college settlement w orker had visited them the year before. A t t he table he listened w i t h silent pride t o the answers w h i c h D a n Gooch's volley of q uestions elicited. H e learned that a mountain f a r m c ould b r i n g its owner a good l i v i n g i f r ightly c ultivated, that T a l i t h a had made w i t h h er o w n hands the dress and apron of " store g oods " s he was wearing. Perhaps his w i f e h ad b een i n the right after a l l when she i n sisted on the two older children g o i n g to school, a lthough it was against his judgment. " A n d you-uns hev been a-larnin' carpenterin' ? " c ontinued their neighbour, addressing Martin. " Y e s , I've been w o r k i n g at it a l l the year, o ut of school hours," was the reply. " T h e n thar's a job w a i t i n ' fer y o u at Squar' D odd's. H i s house ain't b i g 'nough ter suit h i m , a nd he's bound ter hev a po'ch and a l ean-to on thet place of h i s ' n . " , " T h a n k y o u e ver s o much. I ' l l see M r . D o d d a bout it to-night." M a r t i n ' s e yes k indled at the thought o f putting his knowledge to s uch immediate use. " I r eckon thet school'd be a fine place fer m y A b n e r a n d G i n c y , " mused D a n .

  
16

Goose C r e e k F o l k s

" O h , it w o u l d , " urged T a l i t h a delightedly. " A n d G incy could room w i t h me i f I go back n ext year," with an appealing glance at her f ather. S am Coyle frowned. " I reckon a y ear's s choolin's 'nough fer any gal. H i t ' s a s ight m ore'n I e ver h ad," he said surlily. H i s n eighbour g ave a d erisive laugh. " C an't neither of us read or write no m o r e ' n i f we war b lind as bats. I hain't any m i n d t er s tand in the way of m y chil'ren gettin' l a r n in', ' specially i f hit ain't costin' me n o t h i n ' . " T he thrust went home, as the speaker i n tended, for it was well k n o w n that M a r t i n a nd T a l i t h a had paid for their year at school by their own exertions. A l s o that S a m Coyle h ad t aken little of the added b u r d e n s     d u r i n g t heir a bsence   upon his o w n shoulders. " G incy would like it e ver so m u c h , " pursued T alitha, a nxious to preserve p eace. " S he'd e specially like the singing." " S he would, I reckon," agreed her father p roudly. " G incy has a purty ear f o r a tune, a nd I 'm a imin' t er give her a chanct i f I didn't hev one myself," he said, r i s i n g to take his d eparture. M a r t i n w atched h i m disappear d o w n the s lope i n silent astonishment. H e had supposed D a n Gooch would be the last one to see the " needcessity of l a r n i n ' , " a nd here he w as the champion of their c ause a gainst their o wn father.

  
D a n Gooch Makes a Discovery

17

T a l i t h a w as b r i s k l y clearing a way t he supper dishes when a couple mounted on one h orse rode up to the door. "Howdy!" g reeted S a m Coyle, l o u n g i n g f o r w a r d w i t h a s how of cordiality. " S had 'lowed he seen a gal and boy trompi n ' ' cross the m o u n t i n g this m o r n i n ' , a n d I s ez hit wan't nobody but M a r t a n d T a l l y , " s aid t he old w o m a n , slipping cautiously to t he g r o u n d . " Y o u w a r a true prophet fer once, A n n , b ut I'd be bound nobody'd k n o w n 'em anywhere else," declared her brother. " P l u m b spiled, most l i k e l y , " grumbled A n n . F r o m t he depths o f her black, slatted sunbonnet the gimlet eyes k eenly scrutinized her n ephew and niece. " Well, you air growed u p fer sure, and I reckon y o u k n o w m o r e ' n t he old schoolmaster hisself. T h a r ain't n othin' l ike t he insurance o' young-uns thet's g ot a leetle l a r n i n ' , " p ursued the o l d w o m a n w i t h a cerbity. " N o w what I want ter k n o w i s, w hat k i n y o u do thet the g als a nd b oys w hat never seen Bentville, can't ? " A n n B i l l s h ad s eated herself before the fireplace, removed her sunbonnet, and was l i g h t i n g the p ipe she had taken f r o m her pocket. " L a w s y , A n n , " protested M r s . C o y l e indignantly, " t heir pappy and me air terrible p leased w i t h what t hey've l arned, and I don't see no c all f er y o u ter be so p o w e r f u l ornery. I f all y o u r s i x b oys h ed been g als I 'll be

  
18

G oose Creek F o l k s

b ound t har couldn't one o f 'em make a g o w n l ike thet Tally's wearin', and she tuk every s titch h erself. A s fer M a r t , y o u ' l l k now what he k i n do 'fore long, I reckon." M r s . C oyle and her sister-in-law d i d not a gree o n the subject o f education. T h e latter's f amily o f boys had g r o w n to man's e state a nd m arried w ithout having mastered the second r eader. F o r once S a m Coyle d i d not come to h is s ister's aid. A l t h o u g h he had no intention o f a llowing his children to return to school, he was swelling w i t h pride at their changed a ppearance and his tongue was ready to w age a s harp battle in the c ause o f " l a r n i n ' . " F a i l i n g t o secure an ally, the old dame p r u dently c hanged her tactics. " H i t a i r purty f air w ork," she admitted i n a conciliatory tone, s crutinizing t he hem o f Talitha's gown. " B u t I d on't set much store by thet k i n d o ' goods; h it c an't h old a c andle ter homespun when hit comes ter wear. I f I w a r you, I ' d put T a l l y t er the l o o m ; she air old 'nough ter be l a r n i n ' s omethin' o f more 'count." T alitha t urned back to her dishes w i t h a s igh. M a r t i n h ad escaped U n c l e Shad's e qually a crimonious tongue and gone to interview Squire D o d d . H e d i d not return u ntil the old couple had taken their departure. G incy G ooch came over the very next afternoon. T h e dinner w o r k was out o f the w a y a nd M r s . Coyle was spinning while T a l i t h a

  
D a n Gooch Makes a Discovery

19

s at o n the doorstep at w o r k on the " store g oods " M a r t i n h ad brought his mother for a n ew gown. G i n c y watched the deft fingers w istfully. " P a p p y s ays y ou-uns hev larned a heap of t hings," she remarked. " A n d you've changed a s ight; 'most 'pears ter me y o u ain't T a l l y C oyle any m o r e . " T a l i t h a l aughed. " W e l l , I a m, and when y ou've been to Bentville a while y o u ' l l change, t oo." " K i n y o u reely read books right off 'thout s pellin' o ut the b i g w o r d s ? " " Y e s , " T a l i t h a nodded, remembering her s hortcomings of only a year ago. I f she never w ent back to school h o w many things she h a d t o be t h a n k f u l for. " Y o u ' d like the singing, G i n c y , " s he said abruptly, " it's so different f r o m a ny music y o u e ver h eard." "Diff'runt, h o w ? " " W e l l , I ' l l show you. Just begin some song a nd d on't get off the tune no matter what I sing." " I a in't never got off the tune y i t , " reproved G i n c y . She began i n a clear, s weet v oice " T h e T u r k i s h L a d y , " an o l d E n g l i s h b allad ( one o f many preserved f o r generations a mong the mountaineers). It r a n t h u s :
" L o r d B ateman was i n E n g l a n d born, K e t hought himself of a high d egree; H e c ould not rest or be contented U n t i l h e had voyaged across the sea."

  
20

G oose C r e e k F o l k s

T a l i t h a j oined Gincy i n a mellow alto, and t ogether the two sang v erse a fter verse. T h e s pinning w heel c eased t o t urn w hile the spinner l istened t o this new blending o f voices, for the m ountain p eople only sang the air. A t the edge o f the slope S a m Coyle heard it i n amazement. T h e old ballad was f a m i l i a r enough, but it had never sounded so beautiful. G incy s howed no surprise at the innovation. H e r h ands clasped i n her lap she looked w i t h l arge, dreamy eyes o ff to the green-topped h ills l ying p eacefully against the shining sky. T h e echoes c rept out o f the silences and chanted the words softly over and over again. W h e n t he song was finished, G i n c y h a r d l y p aused to take breath before she swung into a nother familiar melody and T a l i t h a followed, h er w o r k forgotten. T h e y had h a r d l y reached t he t hird l ine when a b ass v oice j o i n e d them, a nd M a r t i n d ropped d o w n on the doorstep beside the two girls. B elow, o n the creek path, a sorrel horse and i ts r ider had halted. " Thet a i r G i n c y ' s voice f er sartin. I reckon the Coyles a i r a-singin', t oo, but hit sounds d i f f ' r u n t ' n I e ver h earn ' em a fore; somethin' l ike t hem a-choirin' up y ander, I reckon," glancing upward. W i t h a r egretful s igh he heard the last e cho d ie a way. " G incy's goin' ter hev a chanct ter git l arnin', t het's a l l , " declared D a n G o o c h as he j ogged s lowly homeward.

  
II

MARTIN

SURPRISES

GOOSE

CREEK

r p > H E n ext day, M a r t i n b egan w o r k on t he addition to Squire D o d d ' s cabin. -   S a m Coyle, much elated at his son's s uccess i n securing the job, hastened thither a nd p lanted himself i n the shade to watch its p rogress. H e was not without company. T here were a number who considered the s quire had shown undue haste i n g i v i n g so i mportant a p iece of w o r k to a " s t r i p l i n ' , " a nd h ad gathered to note proceedings and proffer advice. M a r t i n l istened i n silent good h u m o u r to t he w a g g i n g tongues. T h a t his employer had c onfidence i n his ability was enough, a n d he w o r k e d w i t h unceasing energy. A t the end o f t he second day the critics were silenced, a nd b efore the w eek w as over it had been n oised a broad that S a m Coyle's son had come b ack f r o m school w i t h a trade at his " finger e ends ' sides a heap o' book l a r n i n ' . " T h e Settlement store was, f o r the first time i n m a n y m onths, nearly destitute of loungers. I nstead o f the intended lean-to, a one story f rame addition was built across the front of
21

  
22

Goose Creek F o l k s

t he D o d d cabin, shutting the original completely f r o m view of the traveller on the c reek path. A wide porch increased the magnificence of the structure, and when a c oat o f y ellow paint w i t h trimmings of a b rilliant r ed d enoted the completion of M a r t i n ' s contract, the spectators w ere u nanimous i n agreeing that t he mountains had never seen anything quite so grand. The p eaks l ooked d o w n at the i n novation with a new d i g n i t y     s o it seemed to t he young carpenter. H e had been learning t he value of simplicity, and he realized how l ittle h is handiwork harmonized w i t h the b eauty around it. B u t he had only carried out the wishes of the squire, and he dismissed the s ubject f r o m his m i n d f o r something more w eighty was upon it. " I 've been t h i n k i n g e ver s ince I came home," he said that night to T a l i t h a , " of something P rofessor Scott s a i d : ' It isn't enough to get g ood things for ourselves, we must p ass t hem o n.' I w ish I could take some of the b oys b ack to school w i t h me." " I t hink you can reckon on A b n e r Gooch a nd t he three Shackley b oys a lready. I c all t hat a pretty fair beginning. A n d there'll be m ore. I heard that D a n Gooch said yesterday o ver at the Settlement, ' I f you want ter know w hat thet school d o w n below here k i n teach y our young-uns, j est l o o k at Squar' D o d d ' s m anshun yander.' " M a r t i n l aughed g r i m l y . " I f they do go

  
M a r t i n S urprises Goose C r e e k

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t hey won't t hink i t such a w o r k o f art when t hey come back." " W h e n they get back they'll h ave l earned e nough to understand, I reckon," responded Talitha. " T h e t h i n g is to get them there. Y o u o ught to see how Gincy's w o r k i n g , and t he whole f a m i l y too, for that matter. I actually b elieve t hey've p icked most of the berries f or t en miles around here. T h e y are at it n ow. J ust t hink o f D a n G o o c h going berrying!" " H e has some backbone after a l l . It's such a p ity he couldn't h ave h ad a chance when he was young. A n d that reminds me, I met G i n c y ' way over i n B e a r H o l l o w y esterday m o r n i n g a t sun-up w i t h a b ucket. A f t e r berries, I s uppose; but I don't see how they're g oing t o eat 'em a l l . " " E a t ' e m ! T h e y don't, they're d r y i n g 'em t o s ell. T h e Settlement store has promised t o take every pound. T h e n M r s . G o o c h is r eckoning o n her geese f eathers, too. If G i n c y c an only get money enough for a start, s he'll find w o r k to help her through the year." " I r eckon so," assented M a r t i n . " T h e y ' r e m i g h t y f riendly folks at the school." " Y o u ' v e saved enough now, haven't y o u ? " T a l i t h a ' s m i n d s uddenly reverted to her b rother's p rospects. " Y e s , I ' l l m a k e it do w i t h t he odd jobs I c an p ick u p ; but I misdoubt father's being w i l l i n g f o r me to go back. H e thinks I k n o w

  
G oose C r e e k F o l k s
a s ight now. H e ' s running all over the country t r y i n g to get me another job, and here's t he crop going to waste. I reckon I ' m needed at home for a spell, anyway," and M a r t i n w ent g loomily o ut to w o r k i n the m u c h neglected f ield. H e h ad seen t h r i f t y orchards and gardens i n t he l ittle s heltered c oves o f those g reat h ills n ear Bentville, and he had often pictured h is o wn home w i t h such a background. D i s heartened, the y o u n g fellow regarded the task b efore h i m for a moment, then r allied h is t wo younger brothers. W i t h t he promise of a r eward they attacked the w eeds a mong the c orn w hile M a r t i n w ent on to the l ittle o rchard. I t was thick w i t h dead wood, and he f ell t o p runing the branches energetically. W i t h t he k nowledge he had gained what a change he c ould m ake in the place even i n the two months l eft of his vacation. O v e r i n the garden he could hear T a l i t h a a nd h er mother. T e n d i n g garden and m i l k i n g t he cow was as much woman's work, according to the K e n t u c k y mountain code, as washing d ishes or m a k i n g bread. T h e sound of a s turdily w ielded hoe i n the earth spurred h i m o n. " I ' l l go back some time, anyhow, i f I l ive," he declared, s t r i k i n g deep, vigorous b lows into a lifeless tree trunk. H a d M a r t i n a nd T a l i t h a only k n o w n , their e nergy spoke volumes for the Cause l y i n g so n ear their hearts. A new interest had been

  
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s uddenly awakened i n the Coyle f a m i l y . T h e s lightest pretext took their l ess a mbitious n eighbours along the creek path curious to see " w hat M a r t Coyle was up ter n o w . " A wide, r o o m y porch across the front of the c a b i n     w hich M a r t i n h ad s k i l f u l l y contrived at little e xpense   served as sitting-room d u r i n g the w a r m w eather. H e r e T a l i t h a ' s wheel w h i r r e d d iligently i n the shadow of the vines w h i c h h ad t aken k i n d l y to her late transplanting. T h e Coyle enterprise was contagious. D a n G ooch, w i t h a new-born enthusiasm, valiantly l ed h is sons forth to produce order f r o m the c onfusion a round the exterior of the cabin. I nside, G i n c y and her mother w o r k e d w i t h t ireless energy and bright dreams of the future. F r o m t he first Sunday of M a r t i n ' s and T a l i t h a ' s return, the Gooch f a m i l y had taken t o " j est d r o p p i n ' i n , " d u r i n g the afternoon, u n t i l i t had become a settled custom followed b y one neighbour after another. P a r t s i n g i n g w as a novelty of w h i c h they never tired. W h e n t he blacksmith's eldest son found that he was t he possessor of a richer, deeper b ass v oice t han M a r t i n ' s , h is delight was unbounded. T h e r e w ere o thers besides G i n c y who could s uccessfully hold their o w n i n the a i r i n spite o f t he other parts, although Gincy's clear, b ird-like t ones r ang a bove t heirs on the h i g h n otes. A n d s o the summer wore a way, a nd the h eralds o f approaching autumn sounded a

  
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Goose C r e e k F o l k s

w arning n ote in the b reezes a nd fluttered their s ignals f r o m the mountain slopes. I t was only a w eek b efore the time f o r t heir d eparture that S a m Coyle g ave a r eluctant c onsent to M a r t i n ' s a nd Talitha's return t o school. T w o others besides A b n e r a nd G incy were to accompany t h e m     P e t e r and I saac Shackley, sons of the blacksmith at the S ettlement. Peter was to take his horse, a h andsome bay o f which he was very proud, the fifty miles to Bentville, and then sell it t o defray his e xpenses a t the school. It had t aken him a l o n g time to determine on the s acrifice, a nd his was the only sober f ace i n the merry l ittle c ompany w h i c h set forth that S eptember morning. ' T h e night before, the other members o f the p arty c ame to the Coyle cabin i n order to m ake an early start. T h a t s i x y o u n g people w ere to leave f o r Bentville the next m o r n i n g m ade a stir at Goose Creek. T h e y were f a vourites i n the mountains, and d u r i n g the e vening a dozen families called w i t h some p arting g ift o r admonition. T h e y were not a ll w isely chosen, but the kindest intentions p rompted e ach offering. F r o m t he younger ones there were various gifts o f f r u i t a n d f lowers. A n n B i l l s h ad so far relented as to p resent her niece w i t h two pairs o f w o o l s tockings which T a l i t h a could not refuse however much she would have l iked t o do so. M r s . T w i l l i g e r brought several strings o f

  
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f reshly dried pumpkin which she much feared G incy m ight " git ter hankerin' arter." The S lawson boy, who was " light-minded," b rought his pet coon and wept bitterly when A b n e r gently but firmly refused it. L i t t l e T a d S uttle was equally persistent in f o r c i n g on t hem his dog W u l f , who was warranted to k eep t he b ears a nd painters at a proper distance when the company crossed the m o u n tains. T h e B i l l s f amily w ere i nclined to consider t he occasion a m o u r n f u l one. I f the young p eople had been going to the ends of the earth i nstead o f but fifty miles a way, t hey could n ot h ave b een more pessimistic. T h a t M a r t i n a nd T a l i t h a had returned unharmed seemed t o h ave n o weight w i t h them. " S ho, n o w , " objected the blacksmith j o v i ally, " I a in't goin' ter cornsider m y young-uns as lost ter the mountings. I 'low they're j est g oin' t er git some l a r n i n ' a nd come back ter h elp me." " B o o k l a r n i n ' a in't goin' ter give 'em m uscle," objected the elder B ills. " L a w , no, t hey've g ot 'nough o f thet now. I a in't r a i s i n ' a passel of prizefighters. I f K i d s tays h ome ter help me one blacksmith's 'nough i n a f amily, I reckon. I've heerd the Bentville s chool is g reat o n idees, and thet's j est w hat t hese m ountings air needin' b a d . " " Y o u talk like we w a r plumb idjits, E n o c h S hackley," cried A n n B i l l s , h er black e yes

  
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G oose C r e e k F o l k s

s napping angrily. " I've heerd t ell o ' folks y ou'd n ever 'low had any head stuffin' t i l l t heir s kulls got a crack and y o u could git a s ight of their brains, but I never heerd as t his p art of the kentry w a r noted fer sech. M e a nd my fambly hain't never had ter go b orrowin' f er idees." " L ands, no," said M r s . T w i l l i g e r . " H o l d u p your head w i t h the best o f 'em, G i n c y ; G oose Creek folks hain't never took a back seat f er nobody." A t l ast the callers melted away and the w eary people they left behind hurried to bed t o get what sleep they might before time f o r t heir e arly departure. A s t he little party started d o w n the slope the next morning, a wonderful light quavered a bove the mountain-tops f o r the most part c overed w i t h a thick, g orgeous l eafage o f c rimson, g reen, and gold flaming out a m o n g the duller browns. N o w and then a rough, s craggy peak like B e a r K n o b showed g r i m l y a gainst the sky. B e l o w them the mists lay h uddled a sleep a w a i t i n g the c o m i n g o f the s un. T h e cool smell of the night was s till i n t he air. D o w n where the creek path trailed o ut o f sight came a jubilant chorus of b i r d v oices. A s trange feeling made Gincy's heart b eat f aster, and a lump rose i n her throat. B u t w hat might have happened d i d not, f o r T a l i t h a , w i t h f oresight, reached up and l aid a r ough,

  
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b r o w n h and tenderly over the one o n the p o m mel o f the saddle. G i n c y looked d o w n into t he blue eyes s m i l i n g encouragement and was h erself again. A s traggling little procession, they followed t he s lim s tream w h i c h curved around the b ase o f t he h ills. A t noon the party stopped to eat their lunch on its banks, and then they l eft it f o r a steep c limb up the m o u n tain. A n h our before sunset they had made good p rogress, coming out suddenly upon a cleared c ove h alfway d o w n the mountain. A t the f arther side, against a background of pines, s tood a large, well-built cabin. V i n e s tinted w i t h a utumn colouring clambered over the b road p orch. T h e s pace i n front was cleanly s wept. B a c k of the l o w palings i n the rear w as a large, t h r i f t y garden, and fragrant o dours of ripening f r u i t came f r o m the small, b ut heavily-laden, orchard. " Y o u can t ell t hat a Bentville student lives h ere, a l l r i g h t , " said M a r t i n . " T h i s is where T a l l y a nd I stayed over night on o u r w a y to s chool last year." T h e i r a pproach had been di