This etext was transcribed by Les Bowler [Picture: Book cover] [Picture: Mountain schoolhouse] GOOSE CREEK FOLKS _A Story of the Kentucky Mountains_ * * * * * By ISABEL GRAHAM BUSH AND FLORENCE LILIAN BUSH * * * * * [Picture: Decorative graphic] * * * * * NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO Fleming H. Revell Company LONDON AND EDINBURGH * * * * * Copyright, 1912, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY * * * * * New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 125 N. Wabash Ave. Toronto: 25 Richmond St., W. London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street * * * * * To _ALICE K. DOUGLAS_ _OF BEREA COLLEGE_ _whose helpfulness of spirit and enthusiasm for learning have inspired many a mountain boy and girl to a life of broad usefulness, this book is lovingly dedicated by_ _THE AUTHORS_ CONTENTS I. DAN GOOCH MAKES A DISCOVERY 9 II. MARTIN SURPRISES GOOSE CREEK 21 III. TALITHA SOLVES A PUZZLING PROBLEM 31 IV. THE STORM 42 V. AN UNEXPECTED RIVAL 52 VI. HUNTING A VARMINT 62 VII. THE JAM SOCIAL 74 VIII. THE MASTER KEY 83 IX. THE BAPTIZING 98 X. SI QUINN REVEALS A SECRET 119 XI. CHRISTMAS DOINGS 131 XII. GOOSE CREEK PLOTS AGAINST THE SCHOOLMASTER 137 XIII. THE “STILL” CAVE 150 XIV. LOST ON THE MOUNTAINS 160 XV. THE WALKING PARTY 173 XVI. THE MOUNTAIN CONGRESS 186 XVII. KID SHACKLEY GETS A GLIMPSE OF THE WORLD 200 XVIII. COMMENCEMENT TIME AT BENTVILLE 210 I DAN GOOCH MAKES A DISCOVERY