Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-12-04

TO tHheDEnf RefASD: O (

TT b1heBERt heEAfSD: 90
From the Lansing Republican.
1t is more than 20 years since l saw
him last. 49, S4S3s - s
He was one of the few friends of my
boyhood.
He was faithful and true, s'old John"
s. S DE wasfb5rdtxh den. r16fsi saw him.
That familiar cognon1en was his from
the first.
He was always ''old John" to me. &c
If it had not been for him l should not
now be writing these lines.
He saved my life once.
And where are the friends that we
s1ove an tlfetlass OF our life till death. if
il be not the friends Of our childhood?
When that childhood has the back
woods for its home, as mine had, isn't
thep}acesa large, warm one, thatSthefew
friends we had then fill in the halls of
memory?
Yea, verify. so long as the heart is a
very human heart.
"Old John" was one of my few back
woods friends % years ago.
He was'so good and so faithful that l
have been ashamed of myself these many
long years, because 1 made no public
record of his virtues.
VBut IlnSehfever forgotten him.
He has always had warm place in my
heart.
He was one of the best farm-hands my
father ever had. ...-ss.-f.-
He never complained of the tasks he
had to do.
He never asked for more pay.
He was the same, month in and month
sot,t SUMMER and winter alike z
No matter what he was asked to do,
s.old john would 60 right about it and
do it i'm his own intelligent way. ..--
He never got lost in the woods.
He would pick his way safely over the
worst lGAeK in The darkest night, AMI
lead all& safely through who tr6sted-to
his sagacity.
figion.
He had q. -hemely SORT of religion of
his own.
He always used those well who were
kind to him.
III l1e yditl not atall times observe the
cgolael ralct- il WIS hothis fault.
He lived up to it according to his con-
dition and capacity.
That is more than VIC can say OF many
passed in his checks.
He has been dead more than 20 years.
Gid not see linn die.
!, could not endure the thought of
losing my old friend; but death respects
none. "a 81
The old and the. ripe in gears die.
The grave and the gay go down to the
silent halls of death.
The infant and the innocent, the vile
and the criminal,-al die.
sleeves have their time to fall, ---;s
And flowers to wither in the north winds breath,
But thou, thou hast all seasons for thine OVID,
U DeathP'
''Old John" died.
And now, more than 20 years after his
deaths.his memory isas fresh AMI green
In, mY heart az was then. - 7 2& :
I remember all his kindness to me,
just as we'll as though it were only yes
terday.
/ am troubled with good memory.
/ always was. ---,.
We have travelled many miles togeth-
er, "old John" and L.
He often relieved me of weary burdens,
and helped me over many rough places.
How can Ieverforget the-day that he
savel my life? farg
.Nkdt1eakhew,tha that life would
ever be of any particular worth?
Yet he thought it worth saving, and
he saved it.
Wonder not, good reader, that, boy as
was, when rescued from the peril, i
flung my arms around his sturdy old neck
end kissed him again and again.
Dear s'old john
He didn't seem at all amazed.
He submitted to my caresses as mat
fer of course.
After that, ssold john never lacked for
any favors that i could grant him. liiT 3
He never had to ask for them.
He never would do that, but he was
always thankful for favors1 70
He never said so, butt knew he was,
just the same.
The day that he saved me from death
he was in the road near by field where
went to catch one Of my fathers horses.
i had an errand miles away, and took
the saddle along, caught the horse, put
the saddle upon him, led him into the
r0ad>up by tife fence land mounted. 2
Bogsywho are not tall enough, do the
same thing yet.
/ always like to go on the gallop.
I was a sort of a get-up-and-getter you
Ny father,s.hoEsss-sl sdsssto9a,s as
AS soon a was dSBf1u01duy VI tifciH
they were off like shot.
This time my little bare foot slipped
through the stirrup, and an unlucky leap,
threw me to the ground, on my back
under the horses feet.
was not much hurt, but / saw death
nhan fsf3ptif the horse should RUIZ -
aasEHFt!oa yhpA dear old below
Olo john Happened to be there, and
was rescued.
1 stole into the barn that NIGHT like
thief and gave that horse an extra neck
of oats. f
Father often wondered how II wos
that that horse kept so much fatter on
the same quantity of grain than his
mate.
. I knew h0w < was - o. 0as
may venture to tell now.
Ibid it with my little-hands.
s11e0 only fed HIM extra every day for
years, but 1 curried and rubbed and pet
ted hiusuntn that horsezfoved me with
an an1o1t amman affection. ! = y -
he knew my step.
He knew my voice