The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-13

waves OF emerald ana SILVER In the noon
day sun, full blossome9 and wondrous
in their beauty, approached the Bar.
The place seemed changed. A few little
white cottages peeped out from among
che rich foliage, spots of ground were
under cultivation, and the hand of in
dustry had been busy. The clap
boarded saloon stood in the same old
place, just as / had first seen it, but its
dilapidated condition showed that the
institution was poorly patronized. A
crowd had gathered near it-not such a
crowd as in the olden time. but sober
and quiet one. Every one looked anx-
ious to tell me something, but no one
spoke till / found my friend Thorp.
Taking my hand kindly, he led me
aside, and for a moment was silent.
We'll, Cap" he said, earnestly,
"things is rough on the Bar; they
amt like they was when you left. She's
gone-that's Daisy-and things amt
gone right for some O. the boys ever
since. Yes, Cap, it is mighty rough !"
L asked where Daisy had removed to.
go no, Cap, you don't understand.
The old woman she went back to Sacra-
mento-broken-h hearted, they said but
Daisy, she's gone called for, taken up
among the stars where she belonged.
We miss Daisy, Cap. She got round
some o. the boys, and she made them
promise to knock at their grog hain't
touched it since, and I've saved little.
If she'd only staid, this thing wouldn't
a happened. You see, Cap" he con-
tinued, "here's how it was One o.
no Il Sc 1,..f
across the creek, and one mornin' Daisy
started over to take him somethin', and
it was a-runnin' bank-full, and the log
was slippery, and-well, we found Daisy
mile below with her brown hair all
tangled among the willows, and her blue
eyes kind o. pleadin' for help; and we
brought her back-poor thing There
want single drink taken on the Bar
that day, Cap; it seemed to go agin the
boys. And Oregon Sis-her that we all
thought so bad-she combed out the
tangled hair, and she knelt down and
kissed Daisy, and went two miles a-foot
up the meadows and got flowers and put
them in the little blue hands, and there's
where we laid her, Cap-up there where
you see them white pickets."
For some time the poor fellow could
say no more, but sat with his face buried
in his hands.
And Joe ?" / asked
HUSH" he said, pointing to the sa-
loon. "Joe's in there; his sands
about PANIED down-shot, night afore
last, IN a row. Joe's a-passin' in his
checks, sure You see Joe went to the
bad. He sat by the old foot-log, mel
ancholy-like, and wandered up and down
the creek, and no one could do anything
with him, and he took to drink again,
and the cussed temper came back, and
he got to quarrelin' with everybody.
Night afore last he got in a quarrel with
Portugee John, in poker game they
both drawed, but John was too quick
for him, and Joes bad hurt The doc
tor says he amt got no Twin show.
May be you'd like to see him, Cap ?"
We went together into the room where
the wounded man lay. The broken win
doTs were darkened with blankets, and
on a pallet we found the poor fellow,
breathing heavily, and two of the boys
tanning him tenderly as a mother. The
ashy face and heavy drops of sweat that
gathered on the forehead told the I'M
speakable agony of the sufferer, and
showed that, sure enough, Joes sand
was nearly run ont, and he beyond all
human leechcraft. We had not meant
to disturb him, but his ear, quickened
by pain, caught our stealthy footsteps,
and, turning round, he recognized me.
go, Cap" he said, "you have come
at last. / knew she would send some
one to talk to me, as she used to-to
tell me about that blessed land where
Christ lives--Him, that she just made
me understand little, when she left us.
And pray for me, Cap, and ask Daisy to
forgive me for letting the devil come
back, and forgetting all that she taught
me. She told me, if / would only be-
glorious land that was away beyond the
stars. She's gone there, Cap, and be-
heve every word of it now. O, can you
pray? She taught me, but I've most
forgot how"
If ever 1 felt like praying, it was then.
If ever felt able to ask forgiveness for
poor, hayward, shattered soul, trem-
bling on the brink of the Unknown,
about to be weighed in the balance of
the Eternal, it was ut that moment.
Soon there was silence unbroken, save
by few smothered sobs among the by
ISLANDERS but a quiet, peaceful light
rested on poor Joe's face. Come
close" he said, in low tone 1" L feel
better now l know that I'm goin' to
where she is, and somehow 1 don't feel
so much pain. Tell the boys to lay me
beside her there's room enough, and
then can find the way to where she is.
And Cap" he whispered, as he reached
his hand under the pillow and drew out
two pictures, put these on my heart,
for they belong there poor old mother
and her-the only two that ever knew
how to reach it. Write to mother how
it was, and that if / did forget her L
never will again. When I'm gone
whisper to Daisy that | believed il all,
every word of it; that found the road
at last, and am comm, Yes, Cap, I'm
goin' to Da-"
Poor Joe the blessed seeds of light
sown by the little Daisy had taken root
at last, and an unruly and turbulent
spirit at rest forever and forevcrmore.-
OUerland Monthly.
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