Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-09-25
<s!.lFyLE IsLEyINS.''
1IY FRED. W. i.OKING.

ed upon his friends, and now he was reduc-
ed to the plcbeian position of packer.
When Mr.. English made tho aforesaid
remark every one about him knew that a
story was to follow. Mr.. English's neigh
bors in the camp accordingly took these
words as the signal for moving toward him
or away from hin, according to their personal
taste and opinion. For about MIR, English
opinion was divided in the camp. That no
told good story or bad one with u man.
ner all his own was acknowledged but
some objected to that manner. For nv
part did object to Mr.. English. suspect
Cd him OF stealing some tritling articles of
my property, to be sure; and on one occa-
sion, indeed, had slight disagreement
with him about his profanity. Mr. English
was severely simple in his style of swear.
ing, using only the elementary oath, "By
Cd" This expression, repeated with in
tervals of a few words, as if it were a sort
Of c:csura, becomes unpleasant after IL little
while, especially if the unwilling auditor is
trying to write down his ideas at the time.
So that, on my requesting Mr.. English to
be quiet, he muttered something to himself,
and afterward confded to his companions
his intention of killing mo in some secluded
mountain pass upon the first opportunity.
Mr.. Euglish's fondness for liquor was
not Objectionable to me, as in the wild can.
yons of the Little Muddy, which our expe-
dition was then exploring, liquor could with
difficulty be obtained. So 1 frequently be-
came All auditor Of MIR. English's campfire
recitals; always ss if accidentally, because
l feared what tho effect of familiarity with
him might possibly be. On this occasion. az
MIR. English began his customary formula,
l strolled near, and said carelessly:
whats that you were saying, Eng
lish 2n
Il was just going to relate, sir, trining
circumstance about Little Blevius,0 replied
MIR. English gravely.
$50 ahead" said l, carelessly, throwing
myself on the ground near him.
1t Was when first came out, SIR said
Mr.. English, " that met little Blevins,
Blcvins, sir, was a specimen of a class you
often sees in these parts as we'll as else
where. They may be a-dwelling in aristo-
cratic mansions, or camping with a
blan kct OH the face of Natur' but they are
Blcvinses all the Same. Little Blevins was
bright'eyed little chap-qnite as pretty as
| any girl, sir, with blue eyes and red cheeks
over his head. lie was always smiling and
laughing, and almost every one that come
nigh him would putout his hand and pat
him on tho shoulder, or squeeze hold Of
him, or something of that sort Only when
Blevins had any work to do it was quite
astonishing how many would sec him look
discouraged and offer to help him. and
how much help he'd get out of them. They
always called him Little Blcvins then,
and kind Of regarded him as a baby. Our
shoulders grew bent and stopping with lift
ing and toiling: but Blevins' was neat and
soft. Oh! he was great chap, that Blevins
was-poor little mean rascal They told
mighty queer stories about Blcvins when.
ever his back was turned, but the moment
they sec him they become very devoted.
don't know how it was, sir, but it seems
to me took a sort Of satisfaction in hear.
ing them say what Il liar he was. The erca,
advantage Of Blevins lay in two things
first, the prepossessingness of his personal
appearance, and, second, that he mover col
riled. The man who gets riled in camp is
sure to come to an untimcly end if no can
lay over his adversary. But when you'd
say to Little Blevins, 'Blevins that's q
lie, he'd just kind Of laugh and say, well
knew it was; but couldn't help it, @,
words to that effect, and the answered seen
SO mighty soft that wh;.r was our wrath
. And many and many's the time I'yo said Il
him, 'Blovins, I'll burst your eye for that,
and he would reply: Burst, if ycr wan
to, Bill English; but what's the use of it.
And, being naturally fond of argument
them words would set me to thinkiuy. ant
Blevins would always get off easy. Well
you sec Blevins done a little too much for hi
own good, and the Vigilantes hunted hin
out Of Sarah's Fetch. Sarah's Fetch wa
quite town then, though it's busted now
They cotchcd Blevins, and all his prett,
ways wouldn't have saved him. ] was theei
and NIL on 'cm looked up to me, knowing
was a bene6cent kind Of person, and, sec
ing Blevins in the midst of the crowd.
says What docs this ~ saysI
1t means hanging says one Of tho bows
what says I, 'hang Little Blcyins p
'Yoa bot,' says the chairman.
'Wcl', now look here, boys says I, 'lct'
look ut this question argumentative.' Well
that Interested them, for they all knew m
ability in that liae, and / proceeded t
continue:
'Blevins, you say is a rasklo and liar
e them two propositions will not here CO,
: trovert. But the point which l mostly ca
t your attention is this: What arc yo
9 going to hang Dlevins for? To get rid c
+ him, amt it? Of course it is But VIII
G don't You send him to another town in tina
n case. Because, and tho reason is obviou.
h there amt no settlement near Well, r.
/ take him along with me, and now how III
- yonT
We'll, the long end short Of it was thu
. they concluded to give him another shoy
Well, they used to tell me stories to tt
~ notwithstanding Of Little Blcyina, an,
J though it always ticklcd INC wonderful I
hear them, still l was mighty fond Of hin
r "a give i'll to him, and know was Il fo
Il Tor doing it, and was sure that he'd 20 bac
= on mo eventually, and yot I'd give ii
{ There was one story which Little Blew,
Q never denied (thongh Of course, it wouldn
g have made no difference to me if n. hi,
h abouta New York girl who cnno ont
r. Frisco years ago, all for love of him, h vain
I the will Of her father, and when sl,o rot O,
~ there Bievins wouldn't have her. He NJ,
~ no didn't 10 much OH disobctlient dau.,
70 tors, rs they warn't no account rs wiz,
u However it didn't matter much to tn
girl; for several of Blcvins' friends, hcrri,
IS how she WAS disengagctl, applied to her
= once, and she married fortunate. Well,
+. me and Blcvins had petcrcd out on aho,
y everything he'd undertook, and my frien,
demonstrated to me good deal; but gene
Il osity was always my pcrvaaing f;,llt, h
st sides which knew they'd ill On 'om DO
II their tempery wrath, for he w;.s just
k, pretty in his ways as any girl you CIV
" sco, and that's tho truth So mo al
~ Blcvins was together, with lots Of cattl
o. and Blcvina was protesting his gratitude
% mo daily, when we come on an einigr;.
n train.
e. Eicvins was a-sayinS to me, with tn
of loving expression of countcnance, how
he had saved his lifo,and how he'd always sti
~ by me; and was replying, though I no,
!, took much stock in what he said, m how
~ wts welcome to what I'll done for him. n
-" while had crust he should share it, WI,
10 W" ace that eHi.,rant train coming w,
ny | always had an eye to business, and p
NJ posed to Blcvins to divide the stock IA
III come upon 'cm AZ two distinct conccr