The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-05-05
BUCK FANsHAw,S FUNERAL.
BY MARK TWAIN,


There was q grand time over Buck
Fanshaw when he died. He was re-
preventative citizen of Virginia City,
Nevada. He had "killed his man mot
in his own quarrel, it is true, but in de-
fense of stranger unfairly beset by
numbers. He had kept sumptuous sa-
loon. He had been the proprietor of a
dashing helpmeet whom he could have
discarded without the formality of di-
vorce. He had held high position in
the fire department and been very War
wick in politics. When he died there
were great lamentations throughout the
town, but especially in the vast bottom
stratum of society.
After Buck Fanshaw's inquest, meet
ing of the short-haired brotherhood was
held, for nothing can be done on the Pa
cific coast without public meeting and
an expression of sentiment. Regretful
resolutions were passed, and various COM
mittees appointed among others, a COM
mittee of one was deputed to cau on the
minister, fragile, genteel, spiritual new
fledgeling from an Eastern theological
seminary, and as yet unacquainted with
the way of the mines. The committeeman,
"Scotty Briggs, made his visit and in
after days it was worth something 10 hear
the minister tell about it. Scotty was a
stalwart rough, whose customary suit,
when on weighty official business, like
committee work, was fire helmet, flaming
red flannel shirt, patent leather belt with
spanner and revolver attached, coat
hung over arm, and pants stuffed into
III 4
contrast to the pale theological student.
1t is fair to say of Scotty, however, in
passing, that he had wsrm heart, and
strong love for his friends, and never
entered into quarrel when he could
reasonably get out of it. Indeed, it was
commonly said that when one of Scotty's
fights was investigated, it always turned
out that it had originally been no affair
of his, but that out of native goodheart-
edness he had dropped in of his own ac-
cord to help the man who was getting
the worst of it. He and Buck Fanshaw
were bosom friends for years, and had
often taken adventurous "potluck to-
gether. On one occasion they had
thrown off their coats and taken the
weaker side in fight among strangers,
HQU hhtcT SuluiilR mlu-thfutQ NlCtOfy,
turned and found that the men they were
helping had deserted early, and not only
that. but had stolen their coats and made
off with them But to return to Scotty' g
visit to the minister. He was ON sor-
rowful mission now, and his face was the
picture Of woe. Being admitted to the
presence he sat down before the clergy
man, placed his fre-hat on an unfinished
manuscript sermon under the minister g
nose, took from it red handkerchief,
wiped his brow and heaved sigh of
dismal impressiveness, explanatory of
his business. He choked, and even shed
tears but with an effort he mastered his
voice and said in lugubrious tones:
care you the duck that runs the
pospel-mil next door 2"
"Am / the-pardon me, believe /
do not understand"
With another sigh and half-sob.
Scotty rejoined
Why you see we are in q bit o
trouble, and the boys thought m avb,
you would give us lift, if we'd tackl,
you-that is, If I've got the rigb "a of |;
and you are the head clerk of the dox
ology works next door,"
~ am the shepherd in cb Arpe Of IN,
flock whose fold is next doc r."