Connecticut western news., 1874-10-23

pitcher, an then they started the stor. that he tried to pizen the family. guess folks is sorry now, for the ol( man tux on SO that he left, an hain ben seen since-I Tow it hurt him SC that it killed hhii1Tl1. hhii1Tl1 D
 "The family all lived, then ?"
 "Of course they did," replied tho young man, very quickly and indig nantly.
 "Parson," said the gentleman in the red shirt, handing the reverend sil yer dinde, "take Slim t1p for glass o1 whiskey he needs 8 bracer-Ead."
 "Don't yer spose anybody else's got money2" growled the parson, giving the extended hand 8 vicious blow which sent the coin flying forward to the boil. CTS then he led the youth up to the bar-room.
 The gentleman in red mumb1ed great oaths and rubbed his hand until tine couple were out of hearing, then he spoke up hurriedly and said: .,
 Boys, that miserable little cuss mustn't be tormented he haint more'n half -witted, and what senses he hez is pretty much shook to pieces with the sger." tr. ..- -.,
 "That's so, Baker" " remarked 8 very hirsute individual, ''and don't believe anybody but the Parson Il poster him he'll worry him to death, if he's got a chance"
 "He shant git chance" said Forkey, the hatless one. (" I know the Parsons mean ways about as well as any one, an I'll appint myself an Orphan 'Sylum Committee to watch the old l scoundre1 bIeeve-"
 "Sh- here they come now," whis- pered Mir. Baker, and at once the dozen or more roustabouts tried to look and act as if they had not been talking about anything in particular. r~.
 "Whar's the new fellow to bunk, Baker? ?" asked Forkey. Mir. Baker seemed the acknowledged leader and referee of the roustabouts, and to him were referred for adjustment all questions affecting the general welfare.
 "That's a fact P exclaimed MT. Baker, looking around. "Who's got a
 "I have," shouted the Parson, quickly. ~-..- -. . /,
 "Who else ?" asked MT. Baker. No one answered. "Your hunks a top one, Parson," remarked MT. Baker, with hypocritical deference. "It's ruther rough to make a sickly feller climb so high-don't you think so !? S'pose you take in somebody from down below, an give Slim chance to save his breath r at...
 "I reckon" said the Parson, looking as much aggrieved as possible to man who looked habitually sullen, "I know the rules aboard boats. A mans got to take his luck. When there's only one bunk open, he's got to take it, no mat ter where 'tis." '........
 MT. Baker commenced playing with his wristbands, which action indicated Mir. Bakers desire to forcibly alter the Parsons opinion, but the tall Forkey whispered in his ear: -r
 II got top bunk right opposite I'll watch him." Just then all hands were called forward to put off some freight at landing the boat was ap- preaching, and the discussion ended without harm to any one. The watch full Forkey, however, contrived to help the new hand with heavy box, and to whisper
 "Look out for the Parsonl It'll be the first of the month before we reach Cairo, and we'll get our pay. Parson of it."
 Then MT. Baker trotted up the gang plank beside Slim, and said in hurried undertone:
 "Keep yer eye skinned That old cuss don't mean any good. We'll all stand by yer. Give him one between the eyes the minute he cuts up nasty" ]"
 The new hand seemed considerably disturbed in mind, and his pertur ba- tion was none the less when he realized how completely the Parson had taken him under his wing. He seated Slim beside him at the mess-table, and even helped him to food. It rather aston ished MT. Baker to see the Parson, after extracting the best cut of meat Gas he usually did) pass his plate to Master Slim, and content himself with the next best piece he could find. He even sweetened Sims coffee for him, which operation 50 impressed Forkey that after supper he whispered to the young man:
 "Ef yer feel bad about the stomach any time after eatin', go right to the clerk an git an emetic. Don't do no loafin' about it, neither-pizen some- times gets into coffee."
 The young man shuddered, but just then Parson, who looked suspiciously at any one who even looked at his new bunkmate, took Sims arm and lel him away with the apparent excuse of show ing him the whereabouts of the wash room.
 Forkey climbed that night to his bunk with the self-sacri6cing resolu- tien to lie awake all night, and, with I k1ool 4~ l. n1A Ao watch every movement of the suspected individual in the opposite bunk. His valiant resolution went to form @ DOT tion of certain dangerous but popular roadway, famed in. proverb as being mentally in the midst of brilliant but and expose the villainy of the Parson, MT. Forkey fell into @ sweet slumber. In the middle of the night, awaking from dream in which the Parson was seductively offering him cup of poi he was rifing his pockets, he sprang opposite bunk. To his great surprise lantern which hung between the berths. the Parson, who usually complained of the cold drafts which swept through the boiler-deck at night, folding his own blanket double and piling it over his bunkmate, after which he stretched himself in the bunk with no covering whatever. Forkey lay awake for the remainder of the night, determined to be ready to testify against the Parson the moment he awoke and accused Slim Gas Forkey felt sure he would) of stealing the blanket. The couple arose without quarreling. however, and the Parson was as kind to the green hand as if his own ungraceful form had all l ,ns~l,k .nn,nnoI l,ounnAI