The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-15

are discovered too late, for we ha,
tried often enough to scrape an a
quaintance with him. Yon ba
better not take up on his side if vo
do not wish to incur the displeasur
OF the whole Office. Good night.n
l had some charity for the fellow
and had resolved TO see him righte,
should he get into a difficulty,
soon saw that he was very unpopl
lar, and that I, as l was rather di.
posed to make allowances for him
was considered his friend. Man
were the jokes cracked at our ex
pence. Whenever "Quaker corner
las the place occupied by us ha,
been dubbed" was mentioned, a uni
versal litter ran around the office
These little things irritated me some
but as l was not the principal oh
Ject at which these arrows wer,
aimed, l resolved to forbear and le
him be the first to speak.
81 say fellows" said rowdy.look
ing customer who went by the name
of Zeke, "do Quakers ever have
camp meetings? ?"
"Yes," answered another, "they
have camp meeting over there in
Quaker corner every night. That
fellow camps out on the floor every
nap he takes"
&. swell" said another, "I've heard
OF boarding at the market house
and sleeping on the bridge, but
never saw an illustration of it be.
fore"
"Wonder if they wouldn't take in
boarders p said the first speaker.
CPL see if they don't want the rules
and regulations of the house printed.
If they do, I'll board out the bill"
L glanced at my neighbor to see
how he bore this ridicule. His face
was flushed and his lips firmly COM
pressed, as if to choke down the
rising indignation. But he said not
a word. fancied, however, that
he picked up the type faster than
ever.
Things could not 60 on in this way
much longer, for as godlike quail
ty as forbearance is, it could not
hold out against everything. saw
that storm was gathering, and pre-
pared to act my part as a man when
it burst forth.
1t was Saturday afternoon the
hands were ranged around the stone,
with their bills in their hands wait.
ing to be paid off.
"Quaker" happened to be at one
side of the stone and Immediately
opposite him stood "Zeke." AS
usual "Quaker" was the observed of
all observers, and sly whispers,
which were answered with a litter,
or nudge of the elbow, passed
around the group. As the foreman
paid "Quaker" the amount due him,
he gave him a new quarter dollar
to make out the change. This did |
not escape "Zeke's" eye, and he
said in a tone loud enough to be
heard by all-"If that eagle on that
quarter had life and was States |
prison convict l wouldn't change
places with it for my confinement
would be far preferable to being
to DEATH"
This was the hair that broke the
camel's back. With the exclama-
ton "you scoundrel !" he made one
bound and with a stunning blow
brought "Zeke" to the floor. Then
Jerking. .off his coat and placing him
self in striking position he turned
to the astonished group with "come
on now, cowardly ruffians. If you
can not let me alone peaceably 1 will
make you do it by force. l have
borne your insults long enough, and
if you have any more to offer come
on with them"
This challenge was sufficient.
Coats came off and sleeves were
rolled up in moment. I saw that
my friend would be apt to get the
worst of the fight, and forcing him
into corner l exclaimed:
"Gentlemen, one word if YOU
please T! 1t would be cowardly for
you all to attack this man; l will
not see it done. And if you will at
tempt it l have something here that
tapping my breast significantly tha
will stop it. He is not to blame he
mas only resented an insult which
any of you would have done. You
have all insulted him because he has
9. nducted himself strangely; let him
explain his conduct, and perhaps we
IAN make up our quarrel. He owes
you an explanation-if not to you he
certainly does to me. And now
'ir," said l turning to him. 81 de.
nand it of you as right"
He hesitatei moment. "Come
ny friend," said I, "let US have it,
whatever it is, and at once put an
end to this quarrel"
"Well, gentlemen" he said, 81
am not disposed to lay my private
business open to public gaze, but
suppose / must do it for once. You
must know, then, that from my earn
lngs | must not only support my
self, but my mother, two sisters, and |
three small brothers, who reside in a |
distant State. l could earn enough |
at home to support them very we'll,
but my reason for coming here is
this. One of my sisters who is now
a beautiful girl of sixteen and a pet
of the family, has been blind from
birth. We had no hope of her ever
the faculty of sight, and
were content to abide by what we
thought a dispensation of Provi-
dence. But recently l have seen a
case similar to hers-a young man
who was restored to sight by an emf
nent physician of Paris. have cor
responded with that physician, and
he has high hopes that in my sisters
case he can effect cure. This, gen.
tlemen, is what have been laboring
for since have been here, to raise
fund sufficient to take her to Paris.
| love that sister as [ do my own
life ; have labored day and night
have deprived myself of many com.
forts, and borne your taunts and
jeers for her sake. But I c9n bear
it no longer. If you are men you
will desist; if you do not warn you
Of the consequences %
"Zeke" had arisen to his feet and
heard all my friend had said. As
he listened to the "Quaker," could
see the moisture coming into his
eyes and when he had finished, he
stepped forth and grasped the "Oua.