Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-02-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
CENTREPOLE BILL.
BYE. BRET HART.

BY F. BRET HART.
1T drizzled unmistakably that night
not in straightforward rain, but in sneak
ing gusts that glanced down the neck and
up the sleeve. pulled on my coat and
splashed out to the gate, to see if it were
last against wandering cattle. The lights
IN the house cleaned dimly through the
MIST as II the wet had reached them, too
Even old Don, who followed me gingerly
out from the porch, shook his shaggy coat
and shifted his disgust at the weather,
satisfied that all was right, was about
returning to shelter, when from around
the corner of the fence came the sound of
horses feet, and heavy wagon sucking
ana groaning up the incline. A low, pro-
longed growl from the dog greeted the
coming team, and l waited for a moment
to see who could be travelling at such q
time and in such sorry storm. There
soon came abreast of the gate huge
wagon, drawn by six mules which I could
barely see through the fog Attracted by
the fire in my pipe, which had succeeded
in keeping alight, and the increased growl-
ing OF the dog, it stopped, and after the
brake ratified down, hoarse voice issued
Whoa there, June l say, stranger,
how far is it to town?'
"To Los Angeles? Ten miles"
That's purity outlook for me. Ten
miles Is this tavern?"
"No."
"Ten miles to town! WAL, stranger,
guess l IL stake out here tonight. Them
animules is too beat to do that. Where's
yer water?"
It's all around you tonight! but YOU
can turn your mules into the corral, and
bring your blankets before the fire. It's
too wet to stay out here"
IT,
Waal, I've seen wus nights nor this,
and I'm eenmost water proof; but since
you're pressln' I'll turn out these critters
and Jine ye. in a shake. Git up, here, you
Old cantankerous guvment mule That
ar Black Bess is the ornarest animule l
ever see."
1t required but little time to unhitch his
team, and opened the gate, and in the
Jagged creatures came-gaunt and worn,
with moth-eate tails, dripping with wet,
and generally cast down, as mules are
when their kicking days are past. Though
there was a prospect for them of fodder
and corn, not the ghost of trot appeared,
but they meandered slowly into the yard,
where our own horses crowded together
under the shed and gazed inhospitably at
the newcomers.
"Have you had any supper?" inquired
of the teamster, as he came into the house
with his blankets.
Waal, now you mention it, I raytheI
think not, and 1 do feel heap hungry" +"
l managed to get him cold bite and q
glass OF toddy, and as he whipped out his
short, black pipe, and moved up to the
fire, he began to thaw mentally, as saw
from the gladness in his eye, and physi
cally, as the steam from his clothes at
tested. was alone that night, and glat
to have company. | had good view o.
my guest now; short, thick-set man
with shock of beard, bronzed face
where 1t could be seen, and sharp, gray
eyes, A soldiers coat, much too large fol
him, was his upper garment, the only an
parent additional vesture being pair o.
immense boots.
81 like that liquor o. yours" he sale
after time. 1t ketches as it goes down
How long mout you have lived here ?"
"Only year." answered
Between the wreaths of curling smok
he scanned me closely, and again inquired
Where mout we hail from?"
Maine" =
"From Maine? You don't say so In
from them parts myself 1t seems kind ;
good to meet fellow-nationer in furri
land. How's ali the folks down in Maine {?
About as usual, fancy. But how di
you get out mere z!
1--WE made long trip of it, you be-
If you don't want to turn in, I'll tell yo
all about it. It kind o drops the tailboar
out of feller's feelins to strike a ma
from the same deestrlct."
Assuring him that l should enjoy hi
confidence and his story-having nike
"anOther stiff 'un to take out that las
patch of cold"-he related as follows:
"The first Of it was, me and the old ma
had scrimmage-nOt tghtin' one, min
ye, fur l wouldn't have hurt hair of tn
old mans head, not for gold; but
was pesky tired of farmin' and plowir
and hog.killin' and such like, and was
bound for to go to sea. It's Gurus, fellol
never knows the right side of his mello
till it's too late but that's the way wit
all on us; and knockin' about in the worl
just pulls the husks off the cob, and show
ye what's what. Howsomdever, seein' q
how l was hankerin to go away, and a
'Melia Pritchard had married that cit
chap, and as the old man said shouldn
CO. l was more determineder than eveI
There was circus coming alon
to our town, and me and the other boy
was kinder handy-helpin' water tn
horses and doin' chores for the men-an
we got into the show. 1t was the fust tim
ever see circus, and the band, and tn
riders and the beautiful woman on Gallo
horse, was too much for me, partickly a
ter was let in to the Livin' Skeleton an
the Fat Lady. So made up my mind
run off with this show, and marches u
to the boss and asked him if he woul
take me. What can you dor says h,
'Anythin,' says Ii mostly drive well
says he, = ]. want a boy to drive the WACO
with the centrepole, and I'll try you
And left the old house and all ten yeal
ago, and I've never seen 'em sence."
The thinking man paused a momen
and then proceeded; ..,
"It was Dan Rice's Clrcus-and yo
know it was a good show-but it wa
hard lines for me, and the beautifl
woman didn't look so beautiful every tin
see her aflerward, and we roug ghed II a
the while, and shouldn't have stuck |
it, if we hadn't been travelin' West.
thought if went fur enough might g,
to Californy, where the gold was CROWN
How abolt that gohl' tH
A grim, peculiar smile fitted ecross
quarter,section of his face and ending
q sneer lost itself in his shaggy beard.
~ did leave the business for q Will
and was some wears In CAnGdAy and Wi