Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-09-25
":.iY'gLE !sLEIlNS."
lsI FRED. W. lf)itlNG.

81 have been trader on tho Palms,
said Mr.. English, for over twenty years.
Mr.. English, if his own statements were
to be credited, had known tho world thor
oughly. lie had been sailor in all foreign
parts Of tho world, Il trappcr in tho West,
and had ridden behind rcindcers in Lap.
land. In I'LL these places he had accumul;l-
ted gigantic fortunes, which owing to his
too generous disposition, he had squander.
| ed upon his friends, and now he was rcduc-
ed to the plcbcian position of packer.
When Mr.. English made the aforesaid
remark every one about him knew that a
story was to follow. Mr.. Englishs neigh.
bors in tho camp accordingly took these
words as the signal for moving toward him
or away from him,according to their personal
taste and opinion. For about Mr.. Enylisl,
opinion was divided in tho camp. That he
told good story or a bad one with IL MAN.
ner all his own was acknowledged but
some objected to that manner. For my
part did object to Mr.. English. suspect
cd him OF stealing some triling 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 few words, as if it were sort
Ut ccsura, becomes unpleasant after i; little
while, especially if the unwilling auditor is
trying to write down his ideas at tho 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 me in some secluded
mountain pass upon the first opportunity.
Mr.. English's fondness for LIQUOR was
not Objectionable to me, Us in the wild can.
yons of the Little Muddy, which our expe-
diti"n was then exploring, liquor could with
difficulty be obtained. So I frequently be.
came an auditor Of Mr.. Eng]ish's campfire
rccitals; always So it accidentally, because
feared what the effect of familiarity with
him might possibly be. On this occasion. as
Mr.. English began his customary formula,
l strolled near, and said carelcssly:
lish 2"
al was just going to relate, sir, a tritling
circumstance about Little Blcvius,'' replied
MIR. English sravely.
$50 ahead" said I, carelcssly, throwing
myself on the ground near him.
1t Was when first came out, sir" said
Mr.. English, {" that met little Blevins.
1lcvins, sir, was Il specimen of !. 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
blanket Oh the face of Natur' but they are
Blcvinses all the Same. Little Blcvins was
bright-cyed little chap-,lnite az pretty as
any girl, sir, with blue eyes and red checks
and brown hair, sir, which curled lightly
over his head. He was always smiling and
laughing, and almost every one that come
nigh him would putout his hand and pat
him on the 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 grow 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 Blcyins when
ever his back was turned, but the moment
they sec him they become very devoted. l
don't know how it was, sir, but it seems
to me took \ sort Of satisfaction in hear
ing them say what :: liar he was The great
advantage Of Blevins lay in two things
first, tho prcpossessinsness of his personal
appearance, and, second, that he never got
riled. The man who gcts riled in camp is
sure to come to all untimcly end if he can t
lay over his adversary. But when you'd
say to Little Blevins, Blcvins that's a
lie, he'd just kind OF laugh and say, well.
l knew it was; hut couldn't help it, o.,
words to that effect, aud tho answered seem
SO mighty soft that wlav was our wrath
And many and many's the time I'vc said to
him, 'Blevins, III burst your eye for that,
and he would reply: Burst, if ycr want
to, Bill English; but what's the use of it.
And, being naturally fond of argument
| them words would set nc to thinking. and
Blevins would always get off easy. Well
| you sec Blevins done Il little too much for hi.
own good. and the Vigilantes hunted him
out Of Sarah's Fetch. Sar,h's Fetch was
quite town then, though it's busted now
They cotchcd Blevins, and all his prctt,
ways wouldn't have saved him. was thccr
and ill OH 'cm looked up to nc, knowing
was bcneficent kind of person, and, sec
ing Blcvins in the midst of tho crowd. ]
says What does tits mcan?' says I.
| 1T means hanging says one Of tho bows
WHAT says I, hang Littlo Blcvias?'
'Yoa bot,' says the chairman.
We'll, now look here, buys, saya I, 'lct'
look ut this question argumentative.' Well
that interested thtm, for they ill knew IN,
ability in that lilac, and proceeded t,
continue:
'Blevi,la, you say is a rasIle and q liar
them two propositions will not here con
trovert. But the point which mostly cal
your attention is this: What arc yo,
going to hang Dlcvins for? To get rid O
him, amt it? Of course it is But VIII
don't you send him to another town in tina
case. Because, and the reason is obvious
there ain't no settlement near Well, II
take kim along with me, and now how :.r
yon!'
Well, the long and short Of it was tha
they concluded to give him another show
Well, they used to tell nc stories to tn
'!iscountcnancing Of Little Blcvina, anG
Though it always ticklcl me wonderful t
hear them, still I WAS mighty fond Of hin
ia give i'll to him, and know was II fec
for doing it., and was sure that he'd 20 ba,.
on III" eventually, and yet I'll give il
; There waA one story which Little Elcvir
, never denied (th"ugh Of course, it wouldn
, have made no difference to me il H.. hat
lh"uta New York girl who ca,no out t
'Frisc" years ago, all for love OF him, gain.
the will Ut her f;.thcr, and when shc got o.,
, there B!evins wouldn't have her Ho s;,i
he didn't go much OIL disoIc'licnt dau.,l
tors, ~ they war1't no account as nivr
: However it didn't matter much tn tn:
girl; for several of Blcvins' friends, hc.,ri,,
how she WAS discnvayc'l. applied to her ,
once, and she married Fortunate We'll,
me and Blcvins had retcrcd out on :,hp,
Y everything he'd undertook, and my fricn'
! demonstrated to me Il good deal but gene
| "sity was always my rcrv;,ding fault, b
t sides which knew they'd ill on 'cm be
!, their tcmpery wrath, for he w;1 just
pretty in his ways as any girl you CIV
y nee, and that's tho truth. SO mo u,