The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-01-03

| and it was a-runnin' bank full, and the log
was slippery, and-well, we found Daisy a
mile below, with her brown hair all tan
glcd among the willows. and her blue eyes
kind o. pleadin' for help; and we brought
her back-poor thing! There want a
single drink taken on the Bar that day,
| Cap it seemed to be 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
sayn more, but sat with his face buried
in his hands,
s'And J0e?'' | asked.
''Hush," he said, pointing to the saloon,
"Joe's in there; his sands about panned
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
dered 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
row with Portegee John, in a poker
game; they both drew, but John was too
quick for him, and Joe's bad hurt. The
doctor says he amt got no liyin' show.
May be you'd like to see him, Cap"
We went together into the room where
the wounded man lay. The broken win
dows were darkened with blankets, and on
rough pallet we found the poor fellow,
breathing heavily, and two of the boys
tanning him tenderly as a mother would
have done. The ashy face and heavy
drops of sweat that had gathered on the
forehead, told the unmistakable agony of
the sufferer, and showed that, sure enough,
Joe's sand was nearly run out, and he was
beyond all human leeehcraft. Wehad not
meant TO disturb him, but his ear, quick
ened by pain, caught our Stealthy foot
steps, and, turning round he recognized
me.
90, cap.' he said, ''you have come at
last. | knew she would send some ore to
talk to me, as she used toto tell me about
that blessed land where Christ liyes-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 for forgetting all
that she taught me. She told me, if |
would only believe all she said, that /
would go to glorious land that was away
Ue1ODu Tic Suits. touG SOLC lIICIG, cap,
and / believe every word of it now. o,
can you pray? She taught me, but I've
most forgot how"
If ever felt like praying, it was then.
If ever felt able to ask forgiveness for a
poor. wayward, shattered soul, trembling
on the brink of the Unknown, about to be
weighed in the balance of the Eternal, it
| was at that moment. Soon there was si-
lence unbroken, save by a few smothered
sobs among the bystanders but quiet,
peaceful light rested on poor Joe's face.
Come close,a he said, in low tone, 81
| feel better, now; | know that I'm goin' to
where she is, and somehow don't feel so
much pain. Tell the boys to lay me be-
| hind her; there's room enough, and then
can find the way where she is. And, cap.''
| he whispered, as he reached his hand UNI
der 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, never will again. When I'm
gone, whisper to Daisy that | believed ii
all, every word of it; that / found the road
at last, and am comm. Yes, Cap, I'm
goin' to Da-."
Poor Joeli the blessed seeds of light
sown by the little Daisy had taken root al
last, and an unruly and turbulent spirit
was at rest forever and fOreyermOre.-
! Overland for December.