up old Peaky Top back of our cabin on
Hiawassee."

Down at the railroad station he narrowly escaped being run over by a
swiftly moving engine. Its shrill whistle and the objurgations of the
fireman as it passed, startled him not a little.

For some time he watched the movements of trains and the shifting of
cars, and finally found his way into the general waiting room for
passengers. A red shirted bootblack accosted him in a bantering tone.

"Hey, country! Have your mud splashers shined? Only a nickel."

"I'll shine your nose with my fist, if you don't let me alone," said
Ralph, with so fierce a scowl that the boy edged away.

The mountain lad, though but half comprehending the bootblack's
meaning, was aware that he was being made game of. He paused before a
full length mirror in the toilet room, and for the first time in his
life obtained a good view of his entire person.

"I declare! That looking glass is a sight. I'm a sight, too. I don't
wonder folks call me country."

He was sharp enough to realize the difference in appearance, between
himself in his home made outfit and the generally smart youth of the
city. Yet he could hardly define wherein the contrast consisted.

"I know I ain't no fool," was his reflection, "yet I know I must look
like one to these sassy town fellows."

The sight of an Italian fruit and cake stand reminded him that he was
hungry, so he invested a nickel in a frugal supply of gingerbread,
which he munched as he stood on the curb.

"Take banana. T'ree fo' five centa," urged the black eyed girl, with
large ear rings, who had supplied his wants.

Ralph eyed the pendulous fruit dubiously. He had never seen anything
like it before.

"Looks some like skinned sweet taters," he said to himself. "Are they
good?" he queried aloud.

"Verra goot; go nice wiz shinger braad."

"All right. Give me three," and he parted with another five cents,
then bit into the fruit without more ado.

The girl tried in vain to smother her laughter.

"Zat nota ze way. You peel um--so." She accompanied her words by
stripping the skin from one. "Now; be ready fo' eat."

Ralph turned away with his relish for new delicacies embittered by
another reminder of his worldly deficiencies.

"I never know'd before how ignorant we mountain folks are. Even that
foreign girl as can hardly talk at all, laughed at my way of doing."
He dropped the bananas into the paper bag holding the gingerbread, and