The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-07-09

ming 70 fall whea the wagon halted NJ
the place called Packers Roost. on the
Fuba
Here We rest, sighed Armstrong.
Just above his breath. IS he looked Al
the stream No, you don't. " answered
the head OF the firm. - You buck your
money away at mcnte, and talk about
resting Now, ARMSTRONG, go right
down the bank, sir. into that river. -
As the command was peremptory, and
spirit OF obedience was thought the
Safest Armstrong obsyed without par
ley; and down he went. over head and
ears, store-eiothes. and al, into the cold
mountain stream. It was a long time
that he remained IN the water. and nm
der the water. he woald come to the
surface every little while 20 talk. Won
understand Is was impossible for
Armstrong to forbeaF talking. go.
yes, he would say, as he came M and
snu1fed the water from his nose, you'll
buck your money away at three-card
monte, viii you2 How do you like
vater-cure q His words we're. Of
course, duly punctuated by irregular
piuEglnga and catching of the breath.
II 50 happened that the man who
keot the shauty hotel st the Packers
Roost, had q woman for 3 wife. She. be-
heF lord 70 go down and . help the
peor crazy man out Of the water. .
Pshswf said the ax-driver, she
amt crazy man he's a fool. he
walked behind my wagon and talked 20
himself al the way FROM Scrabble
ThereupoD rose a lengthy discussion
about the difference between a crazy
man and fool. But, after while, the
landlord and the ox-driver vent down
to the bank and agreed to 60 Arm
strong's security against bucking ct
monte in the future, il he would come
out OF the water. So he came out snG
went up 20 house,
g VIII you have a cup of tea or eof-
fee ?" said the woman kindly.
$ Yes, madam, said Armstrong, :"
viii take both, /"
He is crazy, sure as can be-" said
the woman. But she brought the two
cups as ordered. milk and sugar p
she inquiI ed kindly, as before.
No, madam, mustard and red pep
per, answered Armstrong.
/" / do believe he is q fool, " said the
woman, as she went for the pepper and
mustard.
Armstrong, with deliberate coolness.
put q spoonful of red pepper into the !
tea and q spoonful Of mustard into the
coffee. Then he poured the two to-
getheE into large tin cup. Then the
old conflict ragged again, and, high above |
the din OF rattling tin cups and pewter |
spoons, sounded the stern command, /
=" Armstrong, drink it, sir-drink il I
down A momentary hesitation and a
few desperate gulps, and It was down. |
" Oh, yes, said our hero, as his throat
burned and the tears ran from his eyes,
I" you buck your money away at three
card monte, do you ?"
Now, the Thomsonian dose above de-
scrlbed very nearly ended the battle
with poor Armstrong. He was silent
for quite q time, and everybody else
vas silent. After q while the landlord
ventured TO suggest that bed eould be
provided Il It was desired. "No," said
Armstrong, "I'ii sleep on the floor.
You see, stranger, said he, cycling the
landlord with peculiar expression,
$ this fool has been squandering geld
dust at monte-three-card monte-and
does not deserve to sleep in bed"
So Armstrong ended the days battle
came the dreamE. He first dreamed
that he was sleeping with his feet on
the North Pole aud his head iE the
tropics, while All the miners OF Iuba
were ground -sluicing IN hia stomach. |
Next, he dreamed that he had swallow
ed Mount Shasta for supper, and thai |
the old mountain had suddenly become |
an active volcano, and vas vomiting
acres and acres Of hot lava.
Then the scenes shifted, and he /
seemed 70 have found his fnal abode IN /
q plaes of vile smells and fierce flames.
poetically called the antipodes of heav- !
en-. And while he Writhed and groaned |
in sleepless agony, Sork-tailed fend, !
with his thumb as bis nose, was saying 1
to him IN a mocking voice You /
buck your money away at three-card /
monte, do you-hey p But even thia |
troubled sleep had an end st last, and |
Armstrong arose. When he looked at |
himself in the broken looling-glass that |
hung on the wall. he thought his face |
bore traces of wisdom that had never /
been there before. So he said: 81 think /
you have learned lesson, Armstrong. /
You can go back 70 your mining now,
sir, and leave monte alone" Time 4
showed that he was right. His lesson /
was well learned. The miners looked Il
a little curious when he reappeared at /
the camp, and still called him crazy. /