, 1874-03-01

"NaQ, dunno" replied Joe with great delit
GRAFTON. Think Of movin' nearer the claim !;
" ALL don't refer to material matters 8
much as to, ah-.epi1ituI ones." said the PIT
fessor. "Au the promises, You know, are cor
ditioned On walking in night paths, and mniu
tanning proper frame of min1.'
Look here, Professor" said Joe, is it IL
ngion yor a-driTin' at2"
| Exactly" exclaimed the Professor, raisinI
his glasses, and looking Joo full in the face.
"THEy 1Ts NO 90"
said Joe confidently. "Tho Deacon's been a-try
| In it on"
| "Indcsdl" exclaimed the Professor, hastu
putting on very reserved air.
Yos,'' eald Joe. 't Put in reg'1er twenty
| keg blast but it only fzzled~ Reckon tll<
rocks purity tough, Professor, an not much indi
! cations, no how" And Joe laughed in 1ii
sleeve, and started to find tha Major mud beg g
cigar.
Tho Major gare Joo an excellent cigar
promised larger monthly dividend than
the claim had ever declared before, and
a tolq l., Joe nt IT,. 5ssats stoFy And whe1
mencod moving skillfully Oh Joe's outworks.
I" GOT MUCH LAID Up, JOE 7"
inquired the Minor with bland hypocrisy.
Nary!" replied Joe With emphasis, ana then
loud laugh At the utter abBurdity OF such m
idea.
"1ime yen commenced, old fellow" eaid the
it the CHIN Keeps doing a. we'll 81 now
No good OF nc saYin' money!" replied Joe,
with an oath rs generous AZ it was UNNECESSARY.
SomebodY'd steal it."
:" Nonaense!" cried the Major, you'll want s
wife and 8 house to live in one Of these days /;
and then you'll find money very handy, no mat
ter how much you have"
der an pickases, Major! No woman 'ud have
Guch galoot as me-
"rIenty Of them would. quick enough" re-
piled tho Major. YOU'RE young, md good
looking. and good-natu-ed, and have plenty Of
ing, gambling, fighting, swearing -
Major" interrupted joe blowing smoke
from both corners Of Ills mouth until his faco
was anectually clouded,
"ruAr's TIE IDENTICAL aAIE
that two other chaps hea bon a-pleyin' On me
this uornin'."
''Not the Deacon and the Profcsaor?" queried
the Major quickly, and hiding lis lips entirely
aWay under his mustache.
"Jus 80, replied Joe. "Onu Of 'em piled on
the birthstone; and t'other tried sugar. But
'tain't no 50, Mn{or. Fact is. I've thought
hoap about it an I've made up my mind thet
what ther's SO much fghtin' about il too much.
ey 3 long ehot, fur me to git through MY head.
l' ds yss 1e d. yer ysf een ff 09 tsys sGy
which, Joe sauntercd OF to S5rrcl's saloon. and
waited patientlT about until he could full in with
some ona whose conversation shoull rua in a
different strain from TINT ho had heard during
the morning.
At tho dinner-table that day, tho partners did
not exhibit their usual cordially. Joe, to bo
sure, atc with good appetite, aud told good
thing or two he had heard at tho ealoon; but his
three partners regarded each other somawhat
after tho manner OF
THREE wELI-DnED DOGS
having designs on the scIne bone. The
Deacon and tho Professor felt aggrioyed;
aud tho Major seemed considerably an
noyed; but, all were too good-mannered to
nj, Tcaf fru u9,.1 II;
departed in search Of more cheerful company.
Al ho departed, tie Deacon uttered long sigh,
and exclaimed:
sob, tho deprayity Of the h1man hearth"
" All, think y eaid the Professor, emptying
member thet tie hur1an mind is more amcnable
to persuasiop than to force. Our friend ia
than most men; but
ho despisea the sentiment OF fesr,
and in likely to be indignant whom any oue
attempts to awaken it III him.
'HIhe law was mado fer sinners" replied the
Deacon, witk Eayaee kick as tho cooks dog !:
" that's what tie APOSTLE fays; and its terrors
ought to be talked to 'cm till they're awakened |
Srath to como" |
"suppoao re approach the matter in
coulos-sEssE MANsEn,"
suggested the Major. s'u So arc ali !
hles gong to attack Joa ut once,
,ralnsIy ra ,, oa,pp prudence dictates as that We
cans We had, who fought about 8 mule that
;ome scamp stole while they squabblod ?" !
The Deacon was Us reasonable as men gcner-
lily; but, when ho heard the human soul CON-
Jared, oven d1stAntly, with = Mexcan's mule To
ndulged in What would have bcen called a de-
ided snin had the Deacon been lady. But
either insulting comparisons, nor heterodox |
oosoness as to means OF grace, we're sulicientto
aako the Deacon sworTo from his clearly-com-
rehsnded duty; SO ha exclaimed in . very de-
ided tone:
"6trsit is tho path, an narrer is tie way;
n nobody amt got tho rish. to mako it any
roader."
~ don't want to mako it so," said tho Major,
,ther testify; "b1t isn't it better to Eak ia
ny road than to wander carelessly shout all the
atawaya of hell ?"
The Deacon did not darc answer in tho Affirm
i've, Jet he had too much heart to say no; so
o compromised. and remained silent. |
II tllink," " said the Professor, Turing trouble
'tne hy under lumber By mesns OF frag-
ent OF steHep dried-apple. and thoa quickly
topping the tunabler, :" that
THE PERSUASIVE a1E7HoD
ould be - all - By far the best. Show him the
flights OF virtue, ana how great they are in ! !
'mpa: ison NTH his einfnl pleasures, and then
II lis attention to the many precious promises
at are contained IN the Good Baok -
- And some Of these which a1en't in it. but :
hich God has w1itten just as plainly" inter
pted the MAJOR.
I" Well, I wouldn't be - ah - too sure shout
at, :" said the Professor abh:rsetcdIy, putting r
s hand before his eyes. =
" Nor nutbor," said the Descon, closing his
's as tightly rs II thoy we're the doors to tho r
fe which contained all the company's refined :
etsL
Tho Major aroso abruptly; and 80 did his part r
rs. Instead OF the three partners walking to- a
ther to tho claim, Us WAS their usual custom, |
. Professor became absorbed in . book; and | I
Q Major consumed m unusual amount OF time :
lighting cigar. After the Deacon had been |
ne long enough to preclude the possibility Of ! !
) being oyertaken, tho Major started. Tho
ofessor fingered over his book few moments
,ger, when he also started, but was suddenly 1
'pped by tho Go1ann cock, who ran against !
n, e1claming:
Is Dat saloon, de Pride Of Sphurip,' q
IS ALL 4EIRE !" 4
The Professor took lively double-quick in
> direction OF the fire; for the saloon was very
ar the claim, and the works Of tho claim we're o
wood only. Fortunately. however, tha wind II
8 in a favorable direction; 30 the Professor
'pped aud gazed At tie contlagration with con- =
cradle satisfaction; for although tho Profess "
#as very quiet man hia opinion OF the
uor-trade was very decided. 9
Is the saloon was ct unpainted
h..Je !. |