The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-08-05

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we dug her grave by tho lake side here
with our own hands; and with many
tear and sob, turned ourselves away from
the cabin where we'd been raised-the In
dams had killed our father long before
and we'd nothing to keep us-and so We
went out to seek our fortunes. My broth
er, he took down to st. Louis, and go1
married down there some where's; and
Just went where the wind bowed, and
when I'd scrsped money enough together
/ cum back and bought few acres Of
land round my mothers old cabin, 70,
the place where I'd lain her bones was
sacred, like. Well in the course of time
it turned up right in the middle of Chica-
ger. ] conldn't stand that, l loved my
old mother too well to let omnibusses rat
tie over her grave, 80 l cum back about
fifteen years ago, and quietly moved her
away to the burying ground; and then
went to Texas, and wrote to an agent ar
terward to sell my land. What cost a few
hundred to begin on, ! sold for over for
ty thousand-if I'd kept it till now,
''twould have been worth ten times that,
that's 80 but got enough fort. soon
turned that forty thousand to eighty
thousand, and that into twice as much,
and so on, 'still l don't know nor don't
care what Pm worth; that's SO. ! work
hard, am the same rough customer, re-
member every day of my life what my
mother taught me; never drink, gamble
nor fight; wish 1 didn't swear and chaw
but them's got to be kind g second natur'
like, and the only thing that troubles me
is my money-haven't got no wife nor
children, and I'm going now to hunt up
my brother and his folks. If his boy is
clever and industrious, amt ashamed of
my big boots and old fashioned ways,
and his gals is young women and not la
dies; if they help their mother, and don't
put on more'n two frocks a day, I'll mako
'em all rich, every one on 'em.
''Now gentlemen, faint often I'm led
to tell on myself after this fashion. But
these old places where trapped when l
was boy, made me feel like a child
again-and / just felt like telling these
Youngsters here about the changes and
chances teller may meet in life, if he on
ly tries to take the most of himself.
"But boys" said he, turning to party
Of young men, "there's something better
than money. Get education, why, boys,
i'll had as much learnin' as money, could
be President in 1860 just as e-a-s-y. Why
/ could buy up half the North, and not
miss it out of my pile. But get larnin' !;
don't chaw tobacco: don't take to liquor,
don't swear, and mind your mothers
{! a 8 the advice of a real live Sucker, and
if you mind what shy you will be men,
land it amt every Teller that wears goa
tee and breechcs that's q man by long
ways.) Follcr on her counsels; never do
a thing that will make you ashamed to
meet her in heaven. Why, boys, Inever
done bad thing but / heard my moth
cr's voice reprovin' me; and l never done
a good thing and made good move but
I've seemed to hear her say, "Thats right,
Jack" and s'rhat has been the best of all.
Nothing, like a mother, boys; nothin'
like mother-that's So"
All this had passed while waiting to
wood, Just out of Chicago. The great
man was swelling with emotious called up
from the dark shadows of the past; his
big rough frame heaved like great bill
low upon the ocean. Tears sprang to his
deep set and earnest eyes-they welled
up to the brim--and swarm round ask
ing to be let fall as tributes to his mothers
memory-tr tributes to the love of the past.
But he choked them down, and humming
snatch of an old balled, he thrust his
hands down into his pockets, walked back
to the end Of the car, pulled the gigantic
collar of his shaggy coat up around his
ears, buttoned it close, and leaned back
against the window in silence.
The cars ratified on. What mind
was there; what a giant intellect, sleeping
buried away from light and usefulness
by rubbish of prejudice, habit and GUS
tom-doing but half work, for want o.
culture.
A mute inglorious Milton, or rather
Webster, going about the world, strug
ling with his own soul, yet bound by
chains of ignorance, which precluded hi
doing but moiety of the good it lay in hi:
power to do.
All the way through our long, tedious
journey, he had been ever on the watch t.
do good. He gave up his seat by the fir
to an Irish woman and child, and took on
farther back; soon young girl seated
herself by his side-as the night hour
wore on, and she nodded YEARLY he rose
spread his beautiful leopard skin with it
soft, rich lining on the seat, made pill
low of his carpet-bag, and insisted that sh
should lie down and sleep.
"What will you do! she asked naive
ly.
"Never mind mel can stand up AM
sleep like buffalo; I'm used to it.
That's So"
A little boy, pulled up from soun'
nap to give place to incomers, was pac'ile
and made happy by q handful of chestnut
and glowing stick of candy ont of tn
bio mans pocket. When he left the car
for refreshment he brought back his hand
full Of pies, and distributed them anon
| a weary and wayworn looking group, !!
mother and seven little children, the cid
| est not twelve years old, whose husban
and father left the cars at every stoppln
place, and returned more stupid and beast
ly each time, scolding the Little, tiree