The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-04
Sim BacISscy's Burning.

enactators stood, and he was moarh-
f1llv contemplating the effect oil ca
loric upon alcohol, when he suddenly
started. and exclaimed
Good God. Injin Mary's in the
loft over the saloon.'
~Wbo's that" asked the deacon
who had Joined the crowd. .
"Sbe's-wel, not exacly one oi
vopr kind deae'n," replied jim
aSbe come las night with her young
mn an wanted to sleep thar TIL
some poor. depraved creature, L
s'pose. ." sighed the deacon
"Well." said jim, prudently mass
inc on his front most of his outlying
bottles Il reckon Injins, in general,
Was off huntin' when religion was
Give out. deac'n; an Mary amt no
bettcr'n the rest. But any body's too
good to be roasted,-leastways, In
His world continued Jim Sllpson'
remembering the deacon's ground
works of belief, and treating 1t with
polite Difference.
"She don't intend TO risk 1t noic, at
anv rate. exclaimed the major, as a
dark figure dashed out of the flames,
and rolling on the ground to extin-
guisb IFS flaming clothing, disclosed
Inc copperv. dull, heavy, impassive
features of Indian Mary.
"Hoorav.." shouted the crowd.
Mary had been seen very often at
Spurtip: but never before had Spurtip
felt itself called upon to exhibit any
respect for her.
Ii was very evident that Mary
had been asleep or drunk; or both
for she stood stupidity rubbing hel
ewes for several moments.
Didn't YOU say she brought chil(
with herr" asked the professor of jim
Slipson
Good God, yes!' exclaimed jim
seizing Mary by the shoulder, an'
shaking her violently.
Mary, Mary. where's the young
un?"
Mary stopped rubbing her eyes
and stared vacantly at Jim for {
moment: then she uttered a pierceini
scream, and attempted to enter th
burning building again. The intens
heat. however, drove her back; ant
she stood in front Of the crowd witt
ferce, hopeless glare in her eyes
while every few seconds she uttere'
n horrible cry, half groan, half vel
which made even the most vhiskey
hardened men shiver and turn pale
"A hundred dollars for whoever
Ct that baby. shouted the major.
Nobody stirred. There were pleu
tv af impecunious men at Spurtl
but none seemed inclined to earn mon
ev in exactly this manner.
Two hundred.' cried the profe,
sor.
Three" roared the deacon. at
q little heather an truns a dOubl
risk"
"Taint no use trying" remarke
Seventeener. ex-member ofan easter
fre-department. "No feller cud live i
that there fire more'n half n mint
He'd hev no breath, an the
'twould be all up with him"
That you a-yellin' over yer loss
Jim?n pleasantly asked Joe Backsey
edging into the crowd, and pattin!
the unfortunate bar-koeper on th'
back.
It's Injin Mary: her baby's in th'
loft o Lord, Just listen to the poo
devil." said Jim, as Mary uttere'
another ery.
Joe picked up bucket of water
aad poured it over himself, and a
instant later dashed into the flame:
and up the blazing ladder which le'
- the loft. Not a man spoke: !
seemed that no one breathed for ;
moment. The deacon closed hi'
ewes; and his lips were seen TO move
rapidly; and many men, though un
used to such exercise, followed the
dcacon's example.
Suddenly a mighty roar broke
rom the crowd as Joe Backsey, hat
less, hairless, beardless, and almos
black. emerged from the blazing build
ing with a dirty bundle in his arms
lie had nearly crossed the street
when suddenly be stopped, screamed
Catch it," threw the child, anC
dropped face downwards, on the
ground.
The deacon was by his side in al
instant, shouting for water and oil
rs he tenderly turned the insensiblt
form over.
No 60" said Seventeen, giving
Joe's face a critical glance. He.
hrcathed the fire: | know it by his
lips an nose: he won't never breathe
nothin' else"
Joe, joel" cried the deacon, while
big tears fell from his rugged face
God hev mercy on yer soul"
From beneath the cruelly-singed
eyebrows and lashes, Joe's good-na.
tured eyes opened; his cracked lips
parted and smiled; he tried to speak;
but suddenly he gasped, shivered;
and then the deacon knew by the
way Joe's head hung over the kind
old arm that supported it, that his
partner had drawn his last divi-
dcnd.
For some moments the crowd stood
in respectful silence; then Jim Slipsen
invited the crowd TO open his few re-
naming bottles. and drink deep to
Joe's good luck in the next world.
A slretcher was then,improvised; and
Joe was carried to the Office of the
Quickledge Company. There was no
formal lying in-state; there was not q
single flower placed on the rude
catafalque: but men of all degrees
crowded TO see what remained of the
hero, and many of them when they
went away showed the first indica-
lion Of soul that had never been seen
in their faces
The three partners sat down to
supper, and gazed sadly at the empty
chair. The major finally broke the
silence.
a Christian couldn't have died
more nobly," said he.
"Christian,r exclaimed the deacon.
The publicans and harlots shall go
INTO the kingdom fore you-an, me;
We only offered our money; while he