New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-22

Will ever carefully shelter ard spare
Ny Observation-Disclosures vis-a-vis! NJ. b.
THE QUICKLE PART
NERS.
BY H. A. BERTON.
IL was certainly q very odd partnership
Deacons, scholars, men OF the world anG
rowdies may be found in many chimes, bu
it is not 80 easy to find q deacon, scholar
man of the world and rowdy associated
as business partners; etill harder is it Il
find such quartette living peaceably to
eether in one email house, and eating then
meals from the came table. Yet DeacOr
Purkise, Professor Bagg, Major Wynde anG
Joe Backsey we're the sole, joint and equa
owners Of the Quickledge claim, and re
sided together in q email hut az amicably-
blessed be the amenities infOrced by lucre
-ss if they had been lifelong acquaint
ances.
The deacon was man Of means, the
professor was metallurgist; the major wat
an excellent manager and general business.
man; while Joe, who originally discovered
the indications" at Quickledge, and dis
closed them to his partners, received one.
r fourth Of the profits of the concern for ser
vices already rendered.
The deacon was extremely religious, ae
rightly became deacon; the professor was
a church.member in good standing; the
major was a man of high moral tone; but
Joe was neither moral, religious, nor q
church-member. He was good.natured.
generous, honorable, brave, healthy, and
handsome; but his idea of propriety were
utterly at variance with those possessed by
his partners. He agreed perfectly with
them on general principles; but his
ideas of the application of said principles
were lamentable in the extreme. He de-
epised an indolent man as heartily as did
either the deacon, the major or the profes-
sOr; but Joe thought that poker-playing for
forty. hours on a stretch was industry Of the
most admirable sort. Joe considered theft
an abominable vice, but to help himself to
a horse which some other rowdy had stolen
somewhere was perfectly legitimate opera
ton. He agreed with the deacon that muir
der was most horrible crime; but the ear
nestness of his depreciation was rather
modified by his maintaining that to shoot a
man for cheating at cards was not only an
excusable act, but very necessary one.
Once a month the accounts of the Quick-
ledge claim were settled and division of
profits was made. Three of the partners
deposited their gains in the Spurtip National
Bank, but Joe's were always carried TO
Sorrel's pride of Spurtip' saloon, where
they disappeared under the influences of
cards and bottles. During the progress of
this funding operation, which usually con.
snmed from three days to q week, Joe's
place at the table remained untitled, and
the deaon's pious ears remained untortured
by Joe's gOod-natured misapplications of
scriptural language; but, when his money
was gone, Joe would return and lead such
an exemplary life that the deacon could
almost believe that Joe had met with
change. But, after several repetitions of
JOe's peculiar method of spending the
month, the deacon determined that q gen
uine change OF heart was what Joe needed.
The deacon spoke to the professor about
il. and the professor agreed with him. The
deacon spoke to the major, and the major
thought that reformation would work won
ders in Joe. Then the deacon and the pro-
fessor and the major discussed the matter
together over their corned beef and beans,
and Immediately there were discernible the
first GOODNESS that had ever existed between
the owners OF the Quickledge claim. Why |
men need display their worst passions in |
defense Of their purest ideals is impossible |
to explain. Certain grave authorities have |
declared that it il due to the unlimited !
presence Of the arch-enemy of souls, while |
there have been shrewd observers who |
maintained that an inherited essence, called |
"Old ADAM" 10 the real cause Be that as |
ii may, ii lie certain that the three partners |
ended the discussion barely in time to avoid |
bad feeling, and that each one understood |
that if Joe was to be turned from the error |
of his ways, it must be brought about by |
the understanding member itself, without |
anv assistance from the other two.
On the next morning. az Joe sat devour. |
ing pancakes and mOlasses long after his |
partners had finished their breaksfasts- |
Joe was always terribly hungry after his |
regular monthly spree-the deacon laid his |
heavy hand on Joe's shoulder, and solemnly |
asked: ..- u a.g
.'Joeeph, how do You Expect to escapes"
Joe hastily closed his mouth, dropped his |
fork and the segments Of cakes impaled |
thereon, and looked hastily about him.
mot from . mortal enemy, don't mean"
said the deacon. II think so much of you, |
Joseph, that Id knock such one down in |
the name Of the Lord, fore said anythin' |
boutit. Imean from the devil--the enemy |
Of your SOUL
"Oh!' said Joe, looking relieved, and re-
Stunning operations with knife and fork
90 The wicked shall be turned into hell |
says the good book, Joseph" continued the /
deacon.
Reckon I'd see most of my old 'qaiut-
ahces ct l went thar" remarked Joe, quite
as he poured the molasses on a
fresh plate Of cakes.
"Their worm dieth not. and the fire is not |
,uenched," said the deacon.
"That refer to the worm they use distillin'
whisky, pardners" inquired Joe, pushing
pack his empty plate. .-.-
The deacon grOaned. .rr
"'Tain't no use wastin' yer powder an I
,all, pardner,' continued Joe, in the best of
enper; ''for I don't skeer wuth a pol +
iurn. ~ And Joe put on his hat, and mean.
Tered down to the claim. al II ~ at~ST /
"Joe,' said the professor, hastily washing
lis hands, 81 want to speak with you mo-
nent. Come up this way: it's . little \
private. Ah-don't you think it would be
very 'desifsble In fact, 10 change
Iour mode of life somewhat n
wall, ! dunno replied Joe with great Il
Think Of movin' nearer the L
lAimf" .4r@l0 ~48EAe S4Gt& Z L
ALL don't refer to material matters 80
much - to, ah-spiritual Ones" said the
"All tho promises, you know,
re conditioned on walking IN right paths,
nd maintaining . proper fapeof mind"
Look here, professor said Joe, "ie it re- Il
gion yer a-dfivin' atp ls 1907 .0ka' ahfk Il
'Exactly," exciained the professor, raie- Il
V his glassea, and looking joe full IN the II
lce.. e.ise bsstt~Esg'sst sEsF - 4 ON
m. ~ Ss.sc.s ~, !. or1 Icy