Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-06-18
7veopent Of Eastern Encouragement
BOHEMIAN, MONTANA TERRITORY, FRIDAY JUNE 49, 1875.

Joe did want, and was not long in fine
ing his way to the Office of the Canyo
/. Recorder and Miners Investigator. Bu
all his cheek was ''kaocked into pi'' whe
he opened the door, and saw not some oil
d ''battered-faced bum" as he expected, bu
mia young and handsome girl, working 9
!, the case and bumming merrily snatches G
!, quaint love song. She stopned work
}, came forward, and could not but laugh a
d the figure he presented. The laugh wa
contagious, and Inc telegraphed back il tn
e same manner, breaking the ice more ef
e fectualiy than many an hour of forma
intercourse could have done.
Now, Joe was naturally good looking
had dark, curling hair, bright eyes, whit
} and regular teeth, a slim figure and intelli
gent face. In fact, could the marks o
dissipation have been washed away. would
have been positively handsome. This gir
: saw this-saw his true situation, and kline
" asked if he was in want of employment
stating that her father had been sudd. My
taken i'll. and she was sadly in need Of
help.
An arrangement was soon made, and
Joe began work. But his hand was un
lsteady-his hair pulled-his throat was
like Goldfish that had been salted and
dried for century. The girl, who had
evidently seen such things before, kindly
intimated that he must be hungry, and
slipped some money-gold! actually gold.
Into his hand, and remarked that she
would make an arrangement to have him
boarded with them.
Her sympathy-as Joe said, seating was
too thin!"-did more for him than thous-
and temperance lectures. lis drinkins was
reduced to the mini,n un.--in few days
altogether ceased He cleaned up-got q
white shirt-invested in paper collars
stuck 10 his work, and at the end of a
couple Of weeks hal more money than
ever before in his life.
Old Flint continuing sick, Joe came to
take eutire charge of the paper, and devel-
!oped editorial faculties he had never dream
ed of-in short, made the paper thing to
be desired and to pay. And all this was
accomplished by kind words and sweet
smiles and pair Of bright eyes.
"That ar Prin.er Joe, sir" said Colonel
Smithers. ''ain't no slouch, sir. Shouldn't t
wonder ef he would lay over US all. per
llitercally, sir. l never saw man strike
pay dirt SO soon, sir. Gentlemen, drink
TO his success. No heel taps, SIR"
All! the power behind the throne tha,
created so great change innoccntly con-
,inued the good work, until one day Nellie
Flint actually found poem addressed to
her among the copy! Then she frownsr
blushed, and-wcll, she couldn't help low
ing the ''fe]lar," and they were not long
letting each other know the meaning OF
an ~.
In the spruce, cleanlv and busy editor it
would have been very difficult to have
found trace of Printer Joe. He was as
happy as love and success ever made a.
man. and, as Colonel Smithcrs eloqucntly
remarked, ''had struck it rich, and made
a home stake"
All in the little mining town knew that
Joe and Nellie were to be married on New
Years day. Every one was invited; and
billed shirts" were in great demand, espe
cial nuggets sought as presents, and the
Colonel said:
'a"Thar's goin' ter be er big lay out-no
limit, and er fair deal. It's got ter be
public. don't like them ar noterces that
end mo pools sold" [''No cards." he
ment.I And for my part, nothin' shall be
done ter mar ther inherent hlghlarity OF
ther hymenial occasion. Let's drink, gen.
tlemen, ter ther fair BRIDE"
Joe and Nellie were working hard, even
If it was the night before the wedding.
He had written New Year address, and
both were busy setting it-had it finished
at a late hour, and were going home, when
the Colonel entered, Nellie disappeared
she knew how rude his jests would be
and left her lover alone with the tcmpter.
..s;oe ;.:.' =: dear fellah," said the devil in
disguise. 1--WE s.e all happy with you; and
Ter commemorate ther auspicious event,
and lau.ch yer fair upon ther sea OF mat
rimony, have gotten up trifllng repast.
You must join US. OF course, you cah not
refuse, and speech is expected"
Fear of offense made Joe go. He dram
(how could he refuse?) the health OF Nellie,
and-got drunk! Fortunately. she was In
blissful ignorance of what vas going on,
or che wouli have charged upon the revel-
lers. and rescued her lover. But she was
dreaming virgin dreams. and Joe going to
the dogs.
4, Yet. he had. . sufficient glimmer OF sense
remaining to get home ard enter noiseless-
". Then stumbled, upset a lamp, and BE-
fore one could think the house was 10
aames and AL in danger of being burned.
but it was wonderful how soon he became
sobcred. The screams from the rosy lips
of Nellie did more towards it than all the
soda and bromide in the world. Herushed
to her room didn't stand upon ceremony
threw q blanket around and carried her
out. ieiT st
MY father! Oh, my father!" she sobbcd
wildly. !
II will save him, or-or perish!' ana
Joe rushed back. 3 4&A
It was . desperate undertaking. Hel
was seen upon the rocking floor, surround
ed by the tottering rafIers; then came .
crash, cloud of smoke, stream OF SPARKS
and all was darkness.
.'Ther boy! Oh, whar 10 bel" shouted
the Colonel, and he rushed to the nTst
saloon, overcome by his feelings.
But he was mistaken. Like wounded
dog, Joe crawled ont, dragging old Flint
with him. and gained the side OF Nellie.
..Nellie, berss tie old man."
"Joe!-Josephl You are hurt!-dyinG!
sSA - Eli xAa Aagn1in