Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-11-20
miscellaneous.
BIRDS FOR BREAKFAST.
A rals of the EaTIy sgttIgmgnt Of .-..,v
BT BEN. PERLEY poor

'ho Ptdfles on Tue banks ot-the Red
River, and in less than a MONTH think
ltwas IN August, 1920, a long train OF
Conostoga wagons had crossed the Mis-
siss'ppi en- route for the land of promise.
They were under the direction of Sauire
frierson, wealthy old planter, who had
grown rich by land speculations. aud now
hoped not only to locate some rich tracts
Tor himself but to get mortgages on the
farms of his associate pioneers Stalwart
sons of toll, they had bat little idea that
they We're in reality but serfs. and indul-
ged In high hopes of future prosperity,
as they goaded along the sluggish oxen.
or kept together the heards hat grazcd
as they journeyed along The wagons,
generally speaking, would rumble over
ten miles day, aud when the sun began
TO dcclne, they were 50 halted as to form
squ2re, III the center of which the camp
hres were lighted. The cattle were cor
aiied. supper was prepared, and then
groups would guther around the fires to
listen to marvellous tales of frontier. life
As the fires burned low, the groups
would diminish, and soon the watchful
guards would have the lights in their
tents extlnguished, one by one, until the
silence of night reigned
One morning three young men who
had been patrolling through the night.
lihgered behind the train, to cook some
tine birds that Hal Harson, the youngest
OF the trio, had shot at early dawn His
companions, gaunt and weathor-bronzed.
were veteran hunters, but Hal was a fine
looking fellow, rudy with health, and
having every pioneer attribute Every
one wondered he should have left good
parental farm In Tennessee. to be a hire
ling guard on Frier5ons train vet he
was the favorlte of the party
"Now for breakfast" said Hal. as he
approached the fire
"Well bird meat, replie Jim Long
who had just succeeded in resusclatiug
the fire. But here comes old Frierson
on his PAGER, biting the stem of his pipe
He be dogged What does he want2'
Tbe leader of the train, who now rode
up, had that cramped. heartless. cold ex-
preston OF countcnanee peculiar to those
who make Mammon their God La his
opinion, men were good or bad according
to their means, aud ne especially dislkcd
young men, regarding them as adventur-
ers, who sought to deprive capitalists of
wealth Perhaps, too, he feared that
! some one might WOO and win his niece
, whose property bad been of such essen
tial service in several speculations
Left au orphan at an early age, Mary
Frierson had been brought up on her uu-
cles farm, in wild independence. She
eau d shoot fish. aud hunt like Diana. vet
as she ripeued into woman-hood, her feel
ings became chastened An underlined
yearning took possession of her mind =
D She became acquainted with Hal Har-
son and soon discovered that he loved her
f and as the wagon train moved slowly
along, it was her delight to have him join
IN a merry group Of girls, for she felt
7 that she of all others, was first in his
thoughts. Aud he, although sensible that
there was great gulf between them
which nothing but a bridge of dollars
> could span lived in the intoxication OF
a Lar presence. To enjoy that, he felt that
he could face any privation or any .fieul-
ty-nay. even hear the insulting manners
Of her uncle
: Whats this ?" exclaimed Frierson in
y an insolent tone. who shot those
'f birds?"
: Il did" coolly replied Harson
,t You did. la Well. was fool enough
to think the Ipjuns would trouble US, and
g 50 hired you lazy fellows as a guard
ID Bat didn't buy powder for you too shoot
Sc birds with
e The birds were shot with nay own am
;. munition. purchased at Memphis, look p
And as Harson spoke, he exhibited {
IN small canister, of Dupont" with leath
Ter bag of shot Il have done my duty
sir" he continued, ''and if you think there
% are no Indians around, II
ed "Humbug !" interrupted Frierson.-
II y ou had better lock stricter after th,
cattle"
Look here" grumbled Bill Long
"a IF you think you can put on yer air
a here, old boss you're a cave in. We wa
hired to guard the camp at mighty we'v
n stood our guard-Hal here, more thai
ed we two-but we amt your slaves, n
e, STREE So keep civil, or dry up
n "What 2n exclaimed Frierson. turnin
purple with rage Bat never mind
week you can travel. But don't b
lettering here, or the wagons will get ou
Sirbt Ere Harson could renIy he ha