Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-27


will get hurt if they don't look |
out.
Senator Jones Meets an Old Friend.
Virginia New Entsrprise.l
Not long since j. P. Jones was
crossing the Sierras by rail when
the train on which he was travelling
drew up at a station and the usual
announcement of "twenty minutes
for dinner" was made. AS the
Senator landed he noticed little
man rushing up and down the plat
form ringing a bell. The man was
but few inches over four feet in
hight, and was so built about the
neck and chest that his shoulders
appeared to stand above his head.
He was stoop-shouldered to such
a degree that his neck appeared
to project horizontally from his
breast. From his bare bullet-head
shock of black hair bristled.
in all directions. The bell he in
cessantly rang was of an unusual
size and weight. He grasped the
handle with both hands, and
doubled up like a figure four,
as though by the great weight
Of the bell he welded, marched to
and fro up and down the platform,
ringing as though deaf and blind
to all else on earth. The Senator
went in to dinner, but did not re-
main long. His appetite was not
sharp, and what was found on the
table was not tempting. Most
prominently and profusely display
ed was the mustard. There was
mustard, common, thin mustard,
everywhere. Then what mkt caught
the eye of the traveller was a few
scattering plates containing thin
slices Of very tough-loOking boiled
beef. There was besides a few
plates of bread, dishes of beans,
some boiled carrots, and plates OF
pickles. No comfort was to be
taken with either the tea or the
coffee, for both were thin and ol
bad flavor. The Senator was
soon out on the platform again
| where he found the curious spec
linen of humanity still ringing his
bell as vigorously as ever. AS he
shufhed sidewise back and fortl
| along the platform, swinging hi'
huge bell with both hands, ht
looked not unlike an overgrowl
chimpanzee. The Senator stood
and curiously regarded the bowed
yet active little man, who was al
, the time shutting to and fro anC
. creating no end of clangor. Sud
, denly the little mans eyes me
! those of the Senator. His fac,
lighted up and he ceased to ring
g his huge bell, allowing it to hanl
idly from his right hand. cha
g well, well! well, well, hap crie(
he, approaching and peering up a
: Mr.. Jones from under his Shaggy
l eyebrows. "Well, well, it must be
' Amt your name Jones? Didn't yol
once mine at Whiskey Flat, dow
s in old Toulumne?"
"My name is Jones, and 1 ono
1 mined at Whiskey Flat" said MI
q Jones.
e "Ha, well, well, | thought so
+ How are you doing? l am Bill
e Smith. You must remember me
g / used to work in the Badger mine
b with the Roger boys-Bill Smith
) not Extra Billy, but Bill, thoug
T the boys used to call me 'Stub-and
G Twist You must remember Stub
Twist, Mr.. Jones?"
d every well, very well indeed,
said Mr.. Jones. "What are 20
n doing here, Stubby-you seem to b
IS proprietor ?"
is " Yes, l own the place. l al
IS the proprietor"
/ "Then l need not ask you ho1
: you are doing. 1t is plain tina
d Won are doing Well-getting rich.
1T Getting rich, Mr.. Jonesl Oh
IS no, am not getting rich. Indeed
o | am making very little money"
y 81 can't see why you should nc
| be almost coming money! said Nj
Jones. "The trains stop here fc
a. dinner and you get dollar a mei
/ from the passengers. You 'ough
is to be coming money"
s "0h, NO, ! am not, Eyerythin
rs is so very high up here in tn
e. mountains. All kinds Of pr
ID visions are very dear up here"
le "Ihat may be-" said Mr.. Jone
1t "Still, | can't see that you are OIL
he anything except it may be the wei
is and tear of yuor dinner bell"
A "John Jones yelled the lit
is man, give seen the time when yc
a. did not turn up your nose at baco
e, and beans!"
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