Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-03-15
a Sam slick story.
From the New Series.

L \EiVm TIC 1NCW CcIAcSsy
nAs we sat eating together late last
night, the danger Of fire al sea was talked
Of, the loss Of the Kent Indiarnan, and the
remarkable GOODNESS Of Col. M Grigor on
that occasion was discussed, and various
anecdotes related Of calmness, presence Of
mind and GOODNESS, under every possible
form Of peril. There is good deal Of
Establishment in all these stcries,' said Mr..
Slick. sThere is always fact to build a
story on, or peg to hang it on, and this
makes it probable; SO that the story and
It's, fiction get 50 mixed up, you can't tell
at last what is truth and what is fancy. "A
good story is never spilled in The tellin', es-
cept by critter that don't know how to
tell it. Battles, shipwfecks, highway rob-
berries, blowed-up steamers, vessels a-fire,
and SO on, lay foundation as facts. Some
people are saved, that's another fact 10
build on; some captain, or passenger, or
woman haint tainted. and that's enough to
make grand affair Of it. You, can't hard
ly believe none Of them, that's the truth -
Now, I'll tell you story that happened in
farm house near to fathers, in Sllckville,
iist common scene Of comnaon life, and
no romance about it, that does list 60 for
10 show what call GOODNESS. Our near
est neighbor was Squire Paleg Sanford;
well, the old Squire, and all his family
was all Of them the most awful passionate
folks that ever lived, when they chose, and
then, they coulo keep in their temper, and
could be as cool at other times as cucum-
bers. One night, old uncle Peleg, as he
was called, told his son Gucor., boy Of
fourteen years old, 60 and bring in back
log for the fire. A backlog, you know,
squire, in wood fire, is always the biggest
stick that one can find or carry. 1t takes
stout junk Of boy to lift one. Well, as
soon as Gucom goes TO fetch the log, the old
Squire drags forward the Goals, and fixes
the fire 80 as to leave bed for it, and stands
by ready to fit it into its place. Presently
in comes Gucom with little cat stick, no
bigger than his leg, ard throws il on. I'm
Gle Peleg got SO mad, he never said word,
but just seized his ridin' whip, and gave
him a most an awful whippen'. He tan
ned his hide properly for him, you may
depend. "Now," says he, ''gc, sir, and
bring proper backlog" 4
"Gucorn was clear grit as well as the
old man, for he was chip Of the old block,
and no mistake; SO out he goes without so
much as sayin' word, but instead of goin'
to the who'd pile, he walks off altogether,
and staid away eight years, till he was one
and-twenty, and his own master. Well,
as soon as he was man grown, and law
fully on his own hook, lie took it into his
head, one day, he'd 60 to home and see his
old father and mother agin,- and show them
he was alive and kicken', for they didn't
know whether he was dead or not, never
havin' heard Of OF from him one blessed
word all that time. When he arrived to
the old house, daylight was down, and lights
lit, and as he passed The keepin' room win
der. he looked in, and there was old Squire
sittin' in the same chair he was eight years
! afore, when he ordered in the hacIic- AM.
gave him such an onmarciful wllippin'. So
what does Gucom do, but stops at the wood
pile, and picks up most hugaceous log,
(for he had crowd to be a. most thun-
derin' big Teller then and openin' the door,
he marches in and lays it down on the
hearth, and then, lookin' up, says he,
Father, I've brought you in The backlog.
Uncle Pelcg was struck up all of a heap;
he couldn't believe his eyes, that that great
six-footer was the boy he had cowhided,
and he couldn't believe his ears when he
heard him call him father; man from the
grave wouldn't have surprised him more
he was quite onfAkilized, and bedumbed
for minute. But he came too right off,
and was iced down to freezing point in
no time, -"What did you say?" sails he
"That have brought you in the backlog,
sir, you sent me out for" "Well, then,
you've been id long time a'fechin'
it, sails he; "that's all can say. Draw
the Goals forrard, put it on, and then go to
bed" Now, that's fact, squire; know'd
the parties myself-and that's what do
call coolneSs-and no mistake"