The Osceola times., 1875-10-02
He Couldn't Linger.

about the country they passed
through. One of them limped INTO
the office on Tuesday and propound-
ed the old, old question
How's work !?
First rate, sad ono of the pro-
pretors never was better
1 'pd like to set in enough to get
me something to eat, said the prln-
ter, as he pulled his coat down over
one shoulder.
More work here than we know
what to do with, continued .hc pro-
pretor.
We'll, that's what Pm after, said
the tramp, and he threw the other
shoulder in view.
But and the tones of the boss
were as sad and plaintive as the
moan of lost child, there is--no.-
money
Like a startled mud-turtle iuk-
ing" into its shell, that printer shot
back into his coat, and a sigh-part-
Iy Of regret, somewhat Of relief
/ escaped him. lie was sorry to be
disappointed, and glad that he had
been made acquainted with the sit
uatIon before be bad wasted any
ofhis energies in unreeompcnsative
labor.
you amt got any money, how
do you pay your hands p he asked,
glancing around at the boys, who
were pulling out with as much en-
crgy as If they were working IN a
silver nine.
We pay them IN real estato and
town lots, sir, replied tho boss, who
happened to be II a communicative
humor. MY partner and | run
this apor, not as a monay-maklng
institution, but medium through
which to dispose of quantity Of
land which We could not get OF our
hands in any other manner. When
we find IL printer who is willing to
work and takv his pay in the free
soll Of Missouri, we employ him
otherwise, no!sOever.
The tramp looked puzzled end
distressed, but he SAID
i don't care about settling down
Just now and becoming a landed
proprietor. In poor enough al.
ready. | don't want any more Of
this country than ! can convenient
Iy carry around with me. I'm too
feeble to grow up with any consid-
cradle amount of it. Good day,
sir. Hold on, said the proprietor.
: Don't tear yourself away from a
bonanza before you are acquainted
with tho nature of its resourses.-
There Is an opportunity offered You
to acquire distinction, f not wealth.
You see that young follow over
there by the window p
The one with the far-away, va
cant look in his mild blue eyes ?
yes. Well, that young man has
Just about completed h>s apprentices
ship, and I've made him out a deed
to 100 town lots in consideration of
his services. You can see them
from the window. Half OF them are
sn the bar, and the other halt in the
river but they will be very valua
BILE in century or two. Oh, sir
all the boys here are heavy proper
ty holdsrs. The pressman owns
halt that bar, and the jours can each
point with prido to the mighty Mis-
souri, and say it rolls and surges
over their possessions, guarding and
enrichlng them. You see that man
over IN the corner?
That long, sad, consumptiye-
looking being?
'Yes. Speak low. | gave him a
deed for 1000 acres of land, IN pay
meut for three years work. 1t was
swamp land in Linn County, and he
has Just returned from visit to it.
lie is working this week for lot in
the cemetery. His place will soon
be vacant, and you may have it on
the same term, II you ike
Tne tramp moved uncasiIy about
and finally went TO the window
and gazed out over the town. Pres
emily Ee called the proprietor to
HIM and said!
i havn gotlong to tarry. Some.
thing seems t. call and beckon me
away. But | don't mlrd working
a couple OF hours for that corner lot
over there-the one with the saloon
on IT.
'l'm truly sorry, said the boss,
: but decided that lot last week to
the boy who carries papers. There's
a lot right back OF it, with II nice
cellar on wouldn't that suit you ?
mo, / believe not. | guess |
cant linger with you, however
much | might desire to. | have a
prcsentiment that | nm not long for
this world, and l taln would lay my