Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-03-08

UMWA, WAPELLOeC
Rip Van Wrinkle. Occasionally an
Iobscrving parent would notice that
while Sam could have the society oi
children he never asked for liquor
but no parent ever thought of making
practical use of his observation.
All the ministers tried their hands
Oh ram, and he cordially agreed with
every proposition they advanced.
Once, in the midst of an earnest SER
mon by the Methodist pastor, the
subject being "Our Home in Heaven :
poor Sam burst out crying, and his
conversion, which took place soon
after, was the precursor Of a mighty
revival. but the brethren we're so
busy in rejoicing over the reclaiming
Of Sans soul, that they forgot all
about the needs Of his body, until
one of that peculiar class of bencyo-
lent people, who must be Satan's cs-
pccial darlings offered him his
board in return for steady job OF
wood-chopping. The new doctor
took it upon himself to visit some OF
the faithful, and say that Sans sys-
tenn could not meet the demands
made upon it, and that he must re-
turn TO his cups il something were
not done for him: but the new doc
tor, besides being a sort of an inter-
lopcr, was not n religious man, and
could not be expected TO understand
the things of the spirit. So his
prophecy was permitted to be fnl-
| filled.
| After this relapse, Sam went TO The
dogs. To be sure, New Rochester
dogs never lacked food. Sam hung
about sngar-camps, loggers hnts,
soap-boilings, and other places, where
small services would earn a full meal
and a bed Of leaves. Sam appeared
at every temperance meeting, and
always signed the pledge and no one
who looked into his eyes " hen he did
it conld ever accuse him Of insinceri-
ty. A curious citizen once gave Sam
quarter to publicly put himself un-
der the fingers Of a lecturing phrenol.
ogist, and the lecturer said something
about congenital lack Of vitality and
imperfect nourishment in early years.
For a few moments all good people
in the audience thought that some.
thing should be done for Sam; thln
they wondered what it should be,and
they never reached the end Of their
wondcrings.
And yet there was good blood in
Sam. 1t was not until he was very
far gone that they began to boast of
such virtues as he had remaining,
and then the inhabitants discovered
to their astonishment that Sam said
what was true when he claimed that
he never lied, stole, or was uhchaste.
To be sure, he did not always pay
his board bills as promised, and TO
accept credit when he was not cer-
tain of paying was an oflense which
some honest people class with theft /;
but these faults were, at New Roches-
ter as well as elsewhere, practiced
rather as business virtues than as
misdeeds. Sam hoasted, too, that he
wasn't a coward, and, in the absence
Of any proof 10 the contrary, people
believed him but they agreed among
themselves that he might with pro-
priety exchange his courage for some
more useful virtue,
The only busines to which Sam de-
voted himself with any earnestness
was that of catching saW-logs. About
twice year White river would he
suddenly filed by frcahet, and then
with the drift-wood, fence rails. and
other wood which the waters found
on the bank, would he an occasional
fine log, which had been cut for the
saw-mill, but which the cutter had
been unable to get to his raft. These
were claimed by whoever could find
them adrift, and they brought II each
at any mill on the river. The catch
ing Of these logs was work which ex-
actly suited Sam; it consisted in sit-
ting in skiff behind n point where
there was dead water, and looking up
the surface Of the stream. When a
log appeared in sight he rOwed into
the stream, drove into the lOg.a spike
fastened by rope to the stern of the
boat, and towed it to shore. The
active exertion required per diem to
catch several logs did not consume
an hour the time thus left for smok-
ing, drinking and reflection was con-
siderable. Then the same treshets
were the signal (and the only means)
for the start of many fathoats for the
/, South, and ii was poor boat which,
on being boarded, could not supply
comfort TO thirsty man.
As Sam was log-catching during a
| Spring freshet, he saw coming down
the river very quecr-lnoking little
craft, which seemed to he manned by
only single very small person. The
rapid current soon brought the craft
near enough for him to sec that it was
a small bridge, made Of two logs and
several planks. and that the occupant
was little girl. who was crying pit
eously, and when she saw Sam she
held ont her hands appeaiingly. Sam
had her in an instant. and exclaimed
! "Whcre did you come from, little
dear?'
way OH to Raysv!lie." she sobbcd,
"and want to go back to mamma.
"Well. don't cry said Sam. "Rays-
VILE is only two miles up the river
and III take you home in the skifi
right away, after I've towed the
bridge ashore. How did you get
afloat y
| "Why, papa caught the bridge,
said she, land twas tied near to tho
fence where the river was over
flowed, and was playing house or
it, and then the next thing ! knew il
was broken loose and floating of
again. And papa'll be awful sorry
to loose the bridge. too, 'canse ht
said il was worth six hits
+ ANnlI ha chan hara fha het "A rrf
again if he'll come after it, said Sam
"but he shall have his little girl first.
Sam had hardly noticed where hi
heavy prize was causing him to drift
to, and when he looked ahead he saw
he was half-mile below his lnokou
place, and opposite portion Of th'
bank which was oyerflowed. To TOW
the bridge against the current wonlt
be an impossihility, so Sam pulled to
ward the shore with all his might, de
sirous of tying the bridge to som'
one of the trees on the bank. But th'
trees, when he had reached them
proved to be all large sycamores o.
cottonwoods, about which Sam conlt
not easily put his arms and rope.
Suddenly, while making violen
effort to throw the end OF rop,
around one OF the trees, his boat ca
reened so much that both the Occn
pants were thrown into the water
The child screamed, but Sam seize.
her in an instant, and was delighted
to find the water only waist.dcep
: But in the meantime the bridge an,
! boat were both moving away will
! the current, and, as is ALWAYS the cas-