Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

goin' round dom a powerful sight O.
harm by loosenin' folkses ideas of right
and wrong. Straight is the road an
narrow's the way says the book but
to hear these fellers talk, you'd think
every trail led straight up to heaven.
Eff this preacher up the creek is that
kind, [ don't want to hear him, an he
won't do the rest of you any good.
cav he that S not against us is Oh
our part, you know suggested Hox-
ford.
oman is 'gainst us that goes round
belittlin' his Maker" exclaimed the
squire, bringing down his long-handled
shovel with a savage chop, as II the Of
Tending doctrine had taken on material
form, and lay helpless at his feet.
"The world s. full of sinners, and they
oughtn't to be coddled-they ought to
be taught that God is just, an holy an
immutable, an
Aw-loving, and merciful, and long
suffering - said Hoxford, coming quick
ly to the assistance of the squire, as
that good man hesitated whilehe racked
his memory for some more divine attri-
butes which were to his own taste.
"They don't need to be told that sins
wrong" continued the squire, shrewdly,
regardless of Hoxford's untimely aid,
"but they need to feel that they've in
suited the dignity of Gods law-that
they're in awful danger-that God is
angry with the wicked every day."
"Aw-and that L will have mercy
and not sacrifice, you know" said Hox-
ford, nudging the squire uggestively
with his elbow. The squire dropped
his eyes for a moment, upon seeing
which, goddess youth implored Peel
to tell him if the squire was giving in !;
''Briar had bet three to one on the
squire, an he'd like to get the hang of
the dod goaned thing" But the squire
quickly treasured Briar by exclaim-
ing
"God looks not upon sin with the
least degree of allowance"
"Aw-'keeping mercy for thou
sands,-'
Hoxford was not allowed to finish his
rejoinder, for some one interrupted him
by loudly shouting
"Thar comes Pete y
That man is the noblest work of God,
and that mule is, despite certain
eccentricities, very useful animal, are
fair expressions of current opinion !;
but even after allowing all consideration
due both beings, stranger at Pitts
Gulch would have been at loss to
understand why a whole camp full of
able bodied men should become absorb
ed in the contemplation of a man and a
mule descending the trail which crossed
the hill from Green Flat. Such was the
action of the Pitts G,llchites, however !;
and as Pete and his animal approached
the whole crowd gathered at the foot of
the trail and exhibited many symptoms
of anxiety. Finally, Topsen the sailor,
who had the strongest voice in the
camp, roared-
"Got him ?"
"You~ bet screamed Pete. The
miners glanced at each other with
countenances full of satisfaction, not
without spice of Indignation Then
Topsell roared: we -
"What did they do with him?"
"Sendin' him back here-think its
where he belongs" screamed Pete, in
reply:
''P'raps you're goin' in for mercy for
him?' said the squire, looking keenly
yet humorously at Hoxford from beneath
his heavy brows, Here's Moonlight
a-comin back here-he stole Bill
Browns pile, busted in the store door,
an helped himself; put hole through
a sick man when the poor chap tried to
save his last liquor (strictly medicaD,
an knocked lame man off mule, SOS
to steal the animal. He's prime sub
50, ,oo,.I,,,, x II 4 g.,
ideas, but [ spose we think mercy's the
thing for him-eh?''' .........-.. .--.-.- s,.-
The ,squire's eyes, as well as all other
eyes in the crowd, rested steadily on
Hoxford, and the wrangler seemed SO
Disconnected that the men, who had
backed him fastened to ''hedge." His
countenance finally frightened as he
took advantage of stale saw. -'s :'+
Aw-'takes an exception to prove
the rule, you know. said he. "Just
put me on the jury that tries him
''Jury that tries him!'' echoed Briar,
with an oath which made the squire
shudder. Hes been tried, he hez.
Mebbe We ken guard him till he's want
ed, but that won't be long"
The squire hastily turned on Brian a
look which made the professor of knife
and pistol involuntarily retreat a step
or. two. .-. :
'sJestice is bad enough for him, said
the old man earnestly. Nobody med
dies with him until he gets fair trial !;
if they do, I may hev to fire my first
shot" -...... ...',.e
A thousand men like Briar, acknowl-
edged ruler of Pitts Gulch though he
was, could not have collected, between
them, grace enough to habilitate an or
binary church member; but the rowdy
enthusiastically admired the mans
pluck, so he replied, with laugh and
an oath:
Cali right, squire. You an Hoxford
must guard him till then, though, to
punish you for gittin' up so much jaw
in camp, an keeping men from work.
He's comm, too"
Again all eyes were turned toward
the trail, and they saw, just crossing
the hill, a man walking with his head