The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-02-22

'sepN NV ioi SVt tlut IL NOSt lily
arm, and you'd place big price on you,'
arm-Yes! upon little bit of your lit
tie finger! Mine was dear adventure,
therefore; but, through it, l got some-
thing can't sell !; nor can l buy that
which went for nothing. I've said that
if it hadn't been for England and Chi
cago should have what | have not,
and should not have what | have-a
dangling sleeve. To make this plain,
l must go back ten years or so, to show
how the whole thing happend.
My parents, buxom, hale, and
cheer couple, with heartiness of life
and living that sweetened their food
with wholesome flavor, were small far
mers in England. They were poor, and
had six children. Children are the teeth
of poverty, and bite hard. But my good
parents kept cheerful and worked hard,
and the teeth stopped biting after q
while. My mother used to say that her
children kept her alive; because so long
as they were they dependent upon her
she coutdn't give up; and when they be-
came Independent, she could not get out
of the old habits. Anyhow, they had
the children, of whom was the eldest.
When l was about twenty-five years
old, l came to the conclusion that had
milked the cows and held the plow and
trampled in its furrows about long
enough to prove that 1 couldn't succeed
in life in such way. It's the hardest
kind of an existence, this farm work
and I've always wondered how young
men of spirit could endure its dullness
when they were working for somebody
besides themselves. Shine and storm
brings no relief, and finally the boy
grows up to be man, with mighty lit
tie spirit, and whose thoughts are all for
plowing and sowing the ground and
getting out of it food enough to feed the
stomach of those belonging to him. /
thought it would be with Inc as with
my father and his father, and for gene
rations of fathers and sons.
Given now l cannot decide whether /
was right or wrong in going to another
country. At that time we had lots of
stories of how poor people thrived in
America; how they had little ease
and comfort and independence in that
country before they died. Here and
there l managed to save little money,
and / resolved to leave the home folks
and go to America, believing that
should not fail of success. The old peo-
pie had children to comfort and care for
them while 1 was gone. All! those
were grand hopea of mine! And you
see me now!
"It was all arranged among ourselves,
and father out Of his little savings, gave
me money which was to return to him
if got along finely in my new home.
But l did not intend to set out on this
long and lonesome journey without ta-
king with me, as my wife, little fair
haired lass-as modest and industrious
girl as could be found in the country
This lass was Bessie Tillot. One day
spoke out my love.
"'Bessie, dear, will you 60 to Ameri-
ca with me? Do you love me enough
for that?
"She put her arms about my neck and
looked up into my face with her great
hazel eyes.
"Robert,' she said, Il will 60 with
thee anywhere, and be glad all the time
Then she kissed me.
"But, Bessie, girl, Pm poor, you
know. And there's the great ocean to
be crossed. When that's betwiXt us
and the old folks, We'll be among stran-
gers, and have much to suffer. There's
hard work to be done, and, worst Of all,
there's fearful loneliness and home-sick-
ness. Eth! Bess, can you bear hunger
in many a way?'
"'Try me! I'll go with thee, Rob,
and help thee all l can, and be good
wife, l knew she was as true as steel.
"One night, going home from visit
to Bess, met Tom Brinton. He was
waiting for me at the big elm just by
the turn in the road. An idle fellow
given to beer drinking and low compan-
ions, he had more money than any one
in his station in life. Where he got his
money was uncertain. Learned in horses
and in jockeying, he had knack of
tickleing the pride of owners of nice
nags in the neighborhood. He was not
handsome fellow by any means but
his smart ways and speeches made him
favorite with many of both sexes.
The way come to know him was be-
cause we lived within mile of each
other and met on the highways and at
country fairs and frolics. had seen him
| too, a half-doZen times at Tillott's house
during previous years. l had never
liked, only endured him, knowing him
as very muscular fellow, a good wrest-
Ter and no mean player with his fists !;
in fact, bully, as you call that kind of
Il man in this country. He was sitting
on log by the roadside.
"'Good evening, Bob he said, as l
came opposite him. Going away soon,
| hear
"A fortnight hence ] replied, not
stopping in my walk. Seeing this, he
jumped up from the log and came after
me.
"Stop, Bob he commanded. stop!
I've something to say to you; and |
want to say it tonight, now, because
Pm going away in the morning.
"Well, what is it?' l said, stopping.
'I'm in hurry
AYES, yes! And your truly going to
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