The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-01-27
The Stuttefing Father.

low; but as he lay on . bed In Bellevue
Hospital his aspect was unpleasant. His
face was criss-crossed with adhesive
plaster, q clearing had been made in the
forest of hair ON his head and one leg
stuck out into sight bandaged. His feat
ures were immobile by reason of the
stiffening patchwork; his mouth would
only open halfway, and when he talked
the unvarying expression of his face was
very queer. The surgeon had slightly
drawn the muscles on one side Of his
mouth with the strips of plaster, so that,
viewed from one stand. point, he smiled
blandly; but on the other side the visage
was solemn and resentful. His name Is
John Garland.
"How are you feeling!" asked the
house surgeon. jest as If my head was
as big as barrel and almost all of the
barrel was head" replied John.
The reporter was standing ct John g
smiling side wondering ut his good
humor; but a change Of attitude showed
the other half of his face, which seemed
much more appropriate for the occasion.
He was induced to tell about the accident
which had injured him.
me and father was working up In
West Sixty second street" he said, blast.
ing out rock. We was to get q cellar
cleaned out by spring; 80 there wasn't nc
hurry about 1t. Us two kind o. worked
along easy. We'd get in blast every
two or three days and draw out the rock
and drill the rest Of the time. Well,
Sunday morning we thought we'd 60
round and put in an hour or &C, cause
we'd lost day for Christmas. l was up
on the rock piling stone and father was
down IN the hole. I hadn't no idea what
he was up to. You see he stammers so he
can't say much anyway, and go as gen
eral thing we don't talk very often. Some
times he begins to say something but a
word sticks and he has to give it up. Sc
l didn't think anything Of his keeping
still for q good while. What do you
'spose the old man was doing?"
liking blast, maybe?"
Blamed if he wasn't doin' jest that
thing. Notwithstanding twas Sunday
he'd took notion to let off blast; but
didn't dream of such thing. First off
see the old man a-climbin' up the otheI
side of the hole. He seemed as if he was
in an awful hurry. He begun to sa,
something, and got as far as 'John'-theI
the next word stuck. generally dom
expect any more when he gets that way
and so l went to work again. Then
happened to look up again, and he wa
strugglin' over that word worse'n I cvel
saw him struggle over any word before
He made up terrible faces, twisted hi!
mouth round and round, and swung hi
arms as if he was crazy.
"Never mind,' I said to him. Try
it again by'n by. faint no hurry, Is it?
"He nodded his head, meaning twas il
a hurry, and tried to start round to my
side Of the hole, but there was fence OF
one side and q high rock on the other
He made up faces worse thsn ever, ant
began with John again, but he couldn'
get no further to save his life. All h.
could say was kind of Um- UNI UNI.
You see he'd lit the fuse, and was tryin
to tell me to get out of the way. Just a!
he was gettin' purple in the face, and
guess he'd pretty near put his jaws ou
out of joint. she come"
1.-THE word?''
Moses! no-the blaste Blamed if i
didn't rise. me like rocket. They say
come down 'mongst the pieces of stone. >
N. ?. Sun.