Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-21
Joe Baekey's Earning.

Joe Baekey's Burning.
From the "QuickIedge Partners" in Old
and New.l
As the saloon was of unpainted
boards, and unplastercd, the flames
made rapid progress, SO that Jim
Slipson, the proprietor, had barely
time to save two or three armfuls of
bottles. With these he retired to the
opposite side of the street, where the
| spectators stood; and he was mourn
fully contemplating the effect of calOr-
ic upon alcohol, whe he suddenly
started and exclaimed:
"GoOd Godl Injin Mary's in the
loft over the saloonl"
"Who's that?" asked the deacon,
who had now joined the crowd.
"She's-well, not eXacly one of
your kind, deac'n," replied Jim.
''She came las night with young 'un
an wanted to sleep thar till mornin.. I"
"Some poor, dcpraved creature, I
'spose," sighed the deacon.
"Well," said Jim, prudently mass
ing on his front most of his outlying
bottles, al reckon Iniins in general
wero OIL huntin when religion was
give out, deac'n, an Mary amt no
beter'n the rest. But anybody's too
good to be roasted -leastWays, in
this world" continted Jim Slipson,
remembering. the deacon's ground
works of belief, and treating it with
polite Difference.
"She don't intend to risk it now, at
any rate" exclaimed the major, as a
dark figure dashed ont of the flames,
and rolling on the ground to extin-
guish its flaming clothing, disclosed
the eoppery, dull, heavy, impassive
features of Indian Mary.
"Hoorayl" shouted the crowd.
Mary had been seen very often at
Spurtip; but never before had Spurtip
felt itself called upon to exhibit any
respect for her.
1t was very evident that Mary had
been asleep or drunk, or both, for she
stood stupidity rubbing her eyes for
several moments.
Didn't you say she brought child
with her?" asked the professor OF Jim
Slipson.
"Good God, yes!' exclaimed jim,
seizing Mary by the shoulders and
shaking her violently.
"Mary, Maryi where's the young
'un!'
Mary stopped rubbed her eyes, and
stared vacantly at Jim for a moment;
then she uttered a piercing scream,
and attempted to enter the burning
building again. The intense heat,
however, drove her back; and she
stood in front of the crowd with a
fierce, hopeless glare in her eyes, while
every few seconds she uttered hor-
rible cry, half groan, half yell, which
made even the most whisky-hardened
men shiver and turn pale.
"a hundred dollars for whOever'll
get that babyr shouted the major.
Nobody stirred. There were plenty
of impecunious men at Spurtip, but
none seemed inclined to earn money
in exactly this manner.
1.-TWO hundred" cried the profess
or.
"Three!" roared the deacon. Its
a little heather, an it runs a double
risk"
'9Tain't no use tryin," remarked
SeYenteener, an eX-membcr of an Eas-
tern fire department mo feller cud
liv in that'ere fire more'n half minet.
He'd hev to breathe, an then 'twould
be all up with him"
"That you yelin' over yer loss,
Jim?" pleasantly asked Joe Backey,
edging into the crowd, and patting
the unfortunate bar-keeper on the
back.
"It's Iniin Mary; her baby's in the
loft. o, Lord, Just listen to the poor
deviII'' said Jim, as Mary uttered an
other cry.
Joe picked up a bucket of water, and
poured it over himself, and III an in
slant later dashed into the flames, and
up the blazing ladder which led to
the loft. Not q man spoke; it seemed
that no one breathed for q moment.
The deacon closed his eyes, and his
lips were seen to move rapidly; and
many men, though unused to such ex-
ercise, followed the deacon's example.
Suddenly a mighty roar broke from
the crowd as Joe Bsckey, hatless,
hairless, beardless, and almost black,
emerged from the blazing building
with a dirty bundle in his arms. He
had nearly crossed the street when
suddenly he stopped, screamed Catch
itr' threw the child, and dropped face
downwards on the ground.
The deacon was by his side in an
| instant, shouting for water and oil,
as he tenderly turned the insensible
form over.
''No CO." said Seventeener, giving
Joe's face a critical glance. Hes
breathed the fire; know it by his
/ lips an nose; he won't never breathe
nOthin' else"
Joe, Joer' cried the deacon, while
big tears fell from his rugged face,
] go Il - ,,,,~,1- On x-nF snrfl -
From beneath the cruelty singGd
eyebrows and lashes JOe's goOd-natur-
/ ed ewes opened; his cracked lips open
| cd and smiled, he tried to speak, but
| suddenly he gasPed, shivered, and
then the deacon knew by the way
Joes head hung over the kind old arm
/ that supported 1t that his partner had
drawn his last DIVIDEND
/ For some minutes the crowd stood
! in respectful silence; then Jim Slipson
I invited the crowd to open his few re-
naming bottles, and drink deep to
JOe's good luck in the next world.
A stretcher was then improvised, and
! Joe was carried TO the Office of the
/ Quickledge Company. There was no
/ formal laying in State; there was not
a single flower placed on the catafal-
que; but men Of all degrees crowded
/ to see what remained of the hero: and
many of them when they went away
showed the first indications of soul
/ that had ever been seen in their faces.
The three partners sat down to sup
per and gazed sadly at the empty chair.
The Major finally broke the silence.
"a Christian couldn't have died
more nobly," said he.
Christian" exclaimed the deacon.
'sThe publicans and harlots shall go
into the kingdom fore you-an' me.
We only offered our money, while he
gave his life.
BLESSED be the promises" " said the
professor. ''Give and it shall be CIV
en- unto YOU. Joe gave his life; can
we believe he will get anything less
III return?"
''Ef burnt of7rings'll make an atone
ment nowadays" said the deacon,