Chrons III Finale....CCI is Formed....Off to the Gathering!!

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: "Aye, my Dearies!" spoke Dr. Uncle Mark.  "Next week at this time we will begin the journey to North Carolina to see where Last of the Mohicans was filmed!  We'll travel the same route that your ancestors did when they traveled south to this thing they called the Gathering!!  This is it, me Buckos!!  'Tis the end of Chronicles III!!"

: The Niece and Nephew sadly sat down with their Dr. Uncle.  They waited quietly as Dr. Uncle began the last of the third Chronicles, the last of the MacWilliam stories.

: "So, the lads gathered at Fort Augusta.  'Twas Many Flags and Three Tales; Malcolm MacWilliam and Davey Gunn; Seamus and Uncle Quasi and Uncle  Angus and the sheep; and Andrew Kuntz and William JohnsTon.

: "They met outside the Fort, by the light of the moon.  Sitting in a circle, on their packs, with Uncle Angus and the sheep standing off to one side, Three Tales began the impromptu meeting.

: "Relatives and friends.  We have traveled far together and have had many adventures.  New to our little band has been Andrew Kuntz, the artist.  But, thanks to him (Tales gave a little nod to Kuntz), we will be immortalized for all, to know that we lived and loved, that we fought and laughed, that we were real folk with big ideas and warm hearts...."

: (Hee, hee, hee....laughed Uncle Quasi.  "Big and warm, that's me."  His son Seamus poked him in the side and handed him the flask that had made it's way round the circle several times already.)

: Tales continued: "Quiet, there Uncle!  I have a proposal to make to all of you.  A band of friends we are, a band of friends... and relatives,too.....that we will always stay.  But, I propose we have a name for our band.  We have always been drawn back here to this place where it started...here near the Chillisquaque Creek.  This place which the early Shawnee called the Chillicothe, since many years ago it was the site of their principal town."

: "I propose we call ourselves a name....that name to be the CHILLISQUAQUE CREEK INDEPENDENTS!"

: With that, Sgt. MacWilliam looked at brother Gunn and began to grumble something low into his ear.  Many Flags, knowing full well what his cousin Malcolm was thinking, stood up and spoke.

: "Wait, Malcolm!  This has nothing to do with independence from the Crown.  Tales, Seamus and I have talked of this name and know what you, JohnsTon, and possibly cousin Davey think of this word INDEPENDENCE.  We are not proposing independence from the British Crown, although that may divide our politics someday in the future.  Nay, Cousin Malcolm.  This word INDEPENDENCE refers to our nature as Longhunters and yours as Highland Grenadiers.  There is not doubt that we march to the beat of a different drummer.  We are not as other men.  So, let us adopt this name for our small band...all of us here.  What say ye, my friends and relatives!??"

: The small group was quiet.  Then Andrew Kuntz jumped up.  "And what are the rules and regulations for this band of comrades you propose?  I am as independent as the rest of you.  I am an artist and have my own ideas of how to live my life.  What regulations to you propose?"

: "Aye!" shouted William JohnsTon.  "I have been blessed to be part of this band from the start, one of your inner circle.  What bounds are put on us by this Chillisquaque name?"

: Many Flags looked off into the distance, eyes misting over for a moment.  He gripped his brother Tales's arm and then wrapped his other arm 'round the waist of Seamus; and holding tight, in a thick whisper was heard Flags's words...."Only this...that we are comrades for life.    It is said that blood is thicker than water.  Well, that is all well and good for relatives and friends.  But....we are MORE!!  We are those of strong blood that is thick as iron...and IRON is thicker than all.  We are the Iron Comrades, we are the Chillisquaque Creek Independents.  Huzzah!!"  And with that, all the lads rose up and let out a shout: Flags, Tales, Malcolm, Davey, Seamus, Angus, Quasi, Kuntz, and JohnsTon.  And the sheep....they raised up their hind legs and "baaaed, baaaaed" to the light of the moon, Mother Ewe racing around to nudge all her sheep into action!

: They gripped arms, then passed the flask again, and with one great shout of "Pax Aye! God bless the Chillisquaque Creek Independents!The Iron Comrades", took up their packs and trekked off south along the Susquehanna River, south to the Carolinas, to the Gathering.  For, they had decided beforehand, that when this meeting was over, they would turn south and leave at night, traveling by moonlight, quietly, silently, through Penn's Woods, only to return after this Gathering was finished, returning to their homes and regiment.  

: And as they marched off, one could hear the faint baaing of sheep; the click, click of Uncle Angus's walking stick; the "hee, hee" of Uncle Quasi; and short phrases mumbled in delight and comradeship..."the Gathering what..?"; "they like kilts, you say.."; "so, it's breechclouts they dream of, huh?";  "scotch and schnapps"; "a wet leggins contest, hoo, hoo!"; "sweet tea and hush puppies...what?"; Chillisquaque, Chillisquaque, Slante', Slante mhath!"; "Pax Aye, Pax Aye, pax aye.....pax....aye....aye....aye.....PAX AYE!!"

: Dr. Uncle Mark paused.....  Hannah and Hiram looked up at him with their big eyes, gave him hugs, and shouted..."Let's GO!!  To North Carolina! To see the sites and sights of Last of the Mohicans.  To follow the, ahhh... Chillisquaque Creek Independents, the MacWilliam Lads and their friends, the Iron Comrades....LET'S GO!!" 

: And off they went...in Spirit with their ancestral kin...Flags and Tales, Malcolm and Davey, Seamus and Uncle Quasi, and of course....Uncle Angus and the Sheep.....Pax Aye!  


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