Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-12-04
THE FIR TE ST.

l believe, it, sir--I do, indeed
There never was an evil that some
good did not spring from it. 1t is
hard to bclieve-it was
for Inc once-but it is truth. Shall
tell you why l changed my mind !?
l don't know rs ought to, for am
not much of -tcllcr-I can
balance an account, or scale load
of lumber bcttcr-but will try this
time. ALI, how | wish could have
felt it and saw it! But l don't be-
lievc anybody ever could do that, SO
III make the best Of it.
l am in the employ of a heavy
numbering company uoing business
on the lahe-shorc, and have been for
years. Most of the time there We're
two of us in the otiice-John Rich
ards, q son of one of the owners, and
myself, Jocobcd jackson. John
usually goes into the pincrics in the
winter.
Well, last winter was unfavorable
for logging--thnrc was no snow to
speak of-and our supply of logs
was SO much less than usual, that
we were obliged to shut down the
mill about the first OF September.
That left thirty or forty men idle.
You know these lumbermcn have to
eat sometimes, and wear clothes. and
the firm decided to put crew into
the woods, ii it was early. SO about
the 4th or 5tn of September, lot OF
men started.
John Richards went up to boss
them and to be frank, as ALWAYS
want to be, l was glad when john
was out of my SIGHT. There were
two or three reasons why l was glad.
FIRST, John richards was not very
agreeable person to have around.
He was naughty and everbearing to
the last degree, and many n wordy
tilt have We had. A.ain he was
paving attention to beautiful girl
whom l loved. No doubt | WAS Il
httle clish, but l really couldn't
help it. There was no open rivalry
between us. however, for | never
had insinuatcd even to my dearest
lrlcnd, my mother, That | cared
aught for Belle Royaitoa. But
loved her: and the idea that John
Richards-or anybody else, for that
matter would bear OF the prize, even
before | had entered the list is q
competitor, was repugnant TO my
feelings, to say the least. Lastly,
John Richards was my enemy.
Wherefore, | could not tathom, un.
less some act or look of mine had be.
traycd my love. But he was my
cucmy, and | was glad when he was
out of my sight.
John had been gone nearly 4
month, W hen the firm received let
ter from him, i'll which he stated
that he had found large tract oi
land for sale. The owner had just
! been burned out, and John advised
that | should come up with few
thousand dollars, for Il splendid bar
gain could be made.
The partners held consultation
and finally decided that L should &c
! I t,l rt
ter dinner, on horseback.
| | knew the road well. and was
somewhat acquainted with the few
people who had venturcd TO settle ii
chat wilderness, through which hat
to pass; therefore | apprcncndcd M
trouble. Not SO with INV mother
however. She took alarm ut til
first mention Of the journey.
II wish you were not going Joe,
she said, with a show of much anX
lcty.
"Why, mother?"
"Thc fires, Joe. They are burn
ing all over the woods, and YOU hav
to camp out one night
| laughed 1T her fears, for though
them grouudlcsS, and she did nU
press the subject further. The looi
Of anxiety remained OH her face how
ever, and i promised to be vcr
careful.
chose to use my own horse; Sc
after dinner, | went out to the St;
BILE and <ad,,lcd Jim, and rode dow
to the Office. They were not quit
ready, and Mr.. Richards said hu
better take q turn around, and see
there were any letters to the ihci
1t was only by son1,- such transicI
method that we had amy communici
ton with the pinrrirs, and l foun
many letters already written. Afte
had visited all " ho mad husband
/ in the woods, iIcIoc.. toward til
office again; but happened 10 thin
that perheps Belle had some wor
TO send to john Richards. IL wa
not pleasant TO thlnk Ol, aht sell
ishly decided that | would not b
the bearer of communications be
tween them. But my better Ia
turc prevailed, as hope it alwav
may. rode over to squire Royal
toms, aud asked for Belle. She wa
ut home; and l think trembled
little, while the servant was callin
her, tor l never had spoken with he
except i'll the presence of Others
much less visited her In her Ow
home. was even more agitate
when she entered the roonl, aud Il,
touch other haud thrilled mo ttroug
t aud through. It was only bY