Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-10-25
JOHNS PROMISE.

| that cut through the western bluffs of the
/ Missouri. In a thicket of oak saplines,
high up on the side Of one of these bluffs,
stood a hastily built house, sided with
rough upright, cottonwood boards-a rus
ty stovepipe sticking through the roof ;
small window, curtained by scallop-
edge newspaper, and white door taken
from sunken steamboat, whose nicely
finished panels coGtrasted strangely with
its surroundings, completing the exterior
One pleasant May evening, just MS the
shril whistle of steamboat echoed
among the hills, this door was opened by
a pleasant young woman, who was fol-
lowed by crying child.
ooh, Sammy, quit your noise /; that's
pappy's little man. See the great big
boat, way yonder :" lifting him up,
don't you see ? look right sharp now,
close ag'in the bank. Does Sammy want
to go down town and see the big boat and
see pappy ?' The willing feet toddled
down the path, but the mother called,
"wait bit, and nanny III pack Sam
N.Y." and tying on pink sun bonnet, she
took him in her arms and started down
the steep crooked path.
1t was picturesque scene which lay
before her. The sunlight, sitting through
the trees that covered the western hills,
.~linted the windows here and there and
reached, like golden bar, just across the
ton ,,f the forest on the low eastern shore.
Scattered through the hollow and up the
sides of the L,utfs were divers houses,
from the pretentous Gothic dwelling on
the northern hill, and the brick business
houses down the street, to log cabins and
cottonwood shantes while the road that
wound up the bed Of the ravine was lined
with q long white train of Denver bound
freight wagons.
She reached the steep main street to
find it filed with wagons that had been
turned crosswise of the street to rest The
teams. But edging her way close to the
clay bank, she reached the river just as
the steamer was leaving the wharf. The
snorting of the engine and the shouting of
the deck hands, together with the putting
Of the mill near by, was too much for ba
by-bravery, and Sammy's lip began to
quiver. Catching him in her arms, the
mother sat down on q saw-log, saying:
" There, there, honey; don't be afeard
be pappy's man, now"
The tide-wavcs Of the receding boat
sunk lower and lower on the sand the
gay crowd that leaned over the guards
grew more indistinct, and she peered
more and more eagerly in among the tall
cottonwood trees on the opposite shore
AT length four men came out of the
woods, and entering a skiff started across
the river. She watched the skilf anx-
iousy, for it frequently disappeared be-
tween the waves which were raised by
the strong South wind-such winds be-
longing as proverbially to Kansas springs
ms whooping-cough to children, or gapes
to chickens.
-Four rough looking men in red wooden
shirts-for lumbermen did not pretend to
wear coats except in the coolest weather,
jumped out of the slill, and with bolster
Gus laughter and rude jests entered the
mill. Presently one of them spied her
and came toward her, saying " Hoorah
for you, Nancy. Whatever brought
'uns down 'ere, this time of evening"
Mighty fine doin's, when you oughtcr be
at home, gettin' your old man bite of
supper! Reckon you'd as we'll get back,
right quick, now !" He snatched the
baby from her, and tossed him on his
shoulder, shouting: "Hoorah for pap
py's man Peertest boy in this 'ere
town Mighty proud to see his pap r'-
Poor Nancy Her husband was drunk
again.
She hurried up the street, pinning her
deep sunbonnet moro closely about her
face, that the passers might not see the
tears that would come. He had kept So
Der so long that she had hoped he would
come home sober again. She had antici-
pated so much pleasure in meeting him
after his weeks absence. How often she
had thought Of it in the long lonely nights,
when she had only her child and her
thoughts for company.
1t took but few minutes to put sup
per on the table. Then she sat down on
the doorstep to watch for her husbands
return, worrying all the time lest he let
something happen to Sammy. When, at
last, he came, the effects Of the liquor
were wearing off, and he ate his supper
in sulen silence. She could not cat
mouthful, but she dared not let the tears
come, for she knew that it would make |
him angry. So she fed Sammy, laying
her face on his little head, once in while,
to force back the choking lump that kept
rising in her throat. Then she hastened |
to rock him to sleep, lest his fretfulness
disturb his father.
The first peep of dawn found her busy
breakfast, for she knew that
John wanted an early start. The sound |
of the coffee mill woke him from his
heavy sleep, and he lay quietly watching
her, by the light Of the dim. grease lamp,
as she moved quickly back and forth
from table to stove; from thence to the
little row Of shelves, in lieu of q cup
board, setting on the dishes, watching |
the bacon, and taking crisp corn-dodg-
er from the oven. "She is dear good
wife," thought he, what scoundrel l
was to make hor feel so badly" He
know that he had been rough to her the
night before. He wished that he could
remember what he said. OF course he