The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-07-17

finally addressed one of the crowd near
the stove with
say, Jake, it's started in good.
You were in luck if you had been
day later you would have had to come
over on snow-shoes."
The answer came in voice singularly
low and sweet, for the person spoken to
as Jake was man of great size, and as
he stood with his back to the stove, his
heavy coat almost reaching the floor, he
looked like giant. There was an IN
describable air of refinement and grace
about the man, and face that looked
out from under the broad-brimmed hat
was one handsome and yet sad.
eyes, Mac was lucky, as you say (;
and if it keeps on in this way long, we
shall be blockaded for couple of
weeks"
One or two more of the crowd here
gave their opinion as to the chances for
a hard winter but their conversation
came to an abrupt termination as the
door of the saloon opened with rush,
and in came a figure which at first
| looked like a mass of snow, but by dint
of much shaking and stamping of feet,
| it finally assumed the shape of man,
who, as he pulled off his heavy coat,
disclosed to the crowd the well-known
features of the only doctor on Rabbit
creek.
A run of salutations greeted him from
all sides, for DIR. Holmes was a man re-
spected by old and young. He had a
gray eyes looking out from jet-black
eyebrows, and people said when the
Doctor got riled those gray eyes snapped
and glared, giving the person who met
his displeasure some insight into the
character of the man they had to deal
with.
After the Doctor had said, How are
you boys" he turned to Mckenzie and
called for drink, when his eye caught
sight of the tall figure by the stove, and
then came
"Why, Jake Morse, how are you ?"
The same low, sweet voice answered,
"First rate, Doc; how are you ?
Come get near the stove and put some
warmth into your bones. Who is sick
in town? It's bad night for even a
doctor to be out.
The doctor made his way to the stove,
and, as he did so, said
"Well, L will tell you something that
will surprise you and every one in Rab-
bit Greek.
The crowds which had been scattered
in different parts of the large room, en-
gagged in playing cards or talking over
the last news from Frisco, gathered
round the Doctor, or neglected their
occupation, to hear what he had TO say,
for surprise az Rabbit Greek was a
novelty. Mckenzie handed the Doctor
his drink, and as he stood with the
steaming glass in his hand he said, in a
low voice:
"Nancy Jones has got baby p
For moment everything was as quiet
as the grave-the only sound was the
click, click of the spoon as the Doctor
slowly stirred up the contents of the
glass. 1t was only for q moment, and
then up jumped Pat Moran, a little red
whiskered Irishman, who had face in
which humor and good nature were the
chief characteristics, and noted as being
the noisiest and smallest man in the
camp. Getting on one of the many
tables, he in a loud voice, called for
"Three cheers for Nancy Jones baby.
Then, as if every mans life depended
on it, they one and all gave three such
cheers as would have frightened a civil
lied being out of his wits. Then fol-
lowed a scene of confusion. All man.
ner of questions were poured in upon the
poor doctor. What is ia boy or a
girl ?" and Pat Moran says, I" If it is a
boy, docther, darlint, call him afther
me" The doctor stated that it was a
girl, and very fine one. At this infor-
nation, Pat Moran expressed his dis
gust to the effect that she had the
divil's own luck, and that he should
niver rest quiet i'll his grave till he
stud godfather to a baby, for sure
it's the next to being the father OF
one"
Then followed propositions to drink
the health of mother and child, which
were checked by the doctor, who, after
continued efforts, made himself heard.
Pat Moran, equal to the occasion, took
the top of his favorite table, and
yelled
" Whist ye devils and sure the Doc
wishes to address yees on the topic of
the day."
Then DIR, Holmes said
Boys, I am sorry to destroy all
your pleasure, but have seen tonight,
down at the Log House, that which has
made me, doctor as L am, and used to
sorrow and suffering, shed tears. It's
with great pain L tell you that Nancy
Jones and her baby must both die.
AS the doctor said this, low hum
passed around the room, and one could
see the gruff and rugged faces of those
men change color and grow pale, while
their hands clenched together to pre-
vent the feelings they wished to con-
ceal. Then Jake Morse said, in low
voice
"Doc, what's the matter Can't you
save one of them ; can we do anything ?
1 don't think there is man in the room
but would risk his life to do the poor
woman and her child service"
And from many a bearded mouth
came words which, if not elegant, were
forcible, of their will to do all and
everything to save the mother and her
child.
The doctor looked around for a mo-
ment, and then said
90 Rows Won know 90 wal1 DC / IN az