Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-12-22
OLD BLUNDERBUSS.

surveyor-now lengthened,I believe
into u civil engineer. His employ
ment was to me mysterious and de
ligh,ful. While | and my brothers
were cooped up at home, learning
our lessons, getting into scrapes,and
being whipped, he rode gaily off to
"the office" i'll town. How pleasant
it was to be Il man! No learning OF
lessons, no whippings or tears, no
getting INTO scrapes-nothing to do
but to please ones self; and yet,
strangely enough, father often seem
ed to me rs pale and careworn and
weary, as if he had just finished
getting off - fifty verses, and was
afraid the strap would be his reward.
AS l grew older, the desire to
know more of the great town, lying
so near and yet SO far, became so
strong that l was ever DINING in my
fathers ears, why could l not go 20
town as he did? Why could | not
at least 90 with him once or twice?
If he would only let me go | would
be SO good. Iwould give him no
trouble of any kind. l could ride
behind him Oh the pony, and would
not bother him so much rs even to
see that | sat safely. | would at
tend to all that myself.
Great WAS the joy when he at last
consented to my wish. Yes, rather
than be worried by me any longer, l
might accompany him to town. And
us he had given in, the sooner the
job was over with the better. SO to-
morrow, the market day, the one
chief day of all the seven, was to be
the day in which | was to make my
entry into the world of which | had
dreamed such wondrous dreams.
Though longing SO much for the
great world, | WAS yet child enough
to leap upon my fathers knee aud
kiss him with delight at the glorious
news. Then ran off to bed, there
to lie awake half the night pic,uring
to myself the wonders | should be-
hold on the morrow, i'll the other
half dreaming that was an actor in
the enchanting scenes that mnst ever
be passing before the eyes of the
dwellers in great cities.
By eight uext morning Nick
O'llara was standing with the pony
at the front door, and father was Just
about to mount. But long before
that time l had gulped down my
breakfast and was walking inpatient
ly up and down the gravel path.
When Mick and the pony appear
ed glanced at him reproachtully,
for what seemed his long delay. But
when ne hoistcd me up behind my
father, and | felt we were at last
moving OH the long-looked-tor jour
ney, my vcXatlon vanished, and |
sang out checrily:
"Good-bye, old Mick! I'll bring
you something home from town."
"Good-bye, an thank We, Master
Dick, an the Lord SEN You home
agin safe an soun'm
"Not much fear of that" replied
my father, as he touched the pony,
and we began to cantcr over the
lawn toward the gate.
II hope not, sir-I hope not, sir"
replied Mick, while he ran alongside.
"But these is tlcklish times, sir, an,
many adjacent, 'sponsible gentleman's
been bate about the roads of late
There was Mr.. Purcell last week, an
Mr.. Doran the week aforc. Aye, an
last night there was
"Nonsensc, Nick" laughed my
father, as he quickened the pony's
pace. "They'd enemies, but I've none.
There isn't man in all Sligo coun-
ty would hurt i HAIR on my head"
And next minute we were out on
the road, and Mick was turning
slowly up again towards the house.
Whether or not l enjoyed the town
after reaching there, cannot say
My chief feeling was, | believe, one
of bewilderment. The houses were
so high, the streets so narrow and
crowded, that | felt chokcd, as it
were. l was delighted and full of
wonder, of course; but when, just at
dusk, the pony was brought to the
Office door, | was almost as ready to
return home as | had been to leave q
few hours before.
The day had been a long one at
the office, and looking in my fathers
face | could see that he was not in a
humor to talk, SO / scrambled up be-
hind him in silence, and we were
about to start, when a voice of en-
treaty little behind stayed us.
"IIold hard, sir, sir-hold hard,
sir" came the cry. "IIere's the in
strument, sir"
Looking back, saw a little man
hurrying along the centre of the
road towards US, and holding in his
hand and waving up and down a
something that shone bright in the
fast departing light
"Oh, ah, the blunderbuss," said
my father. 81 had forgotten it
Thank you, Connolly; you needn't
have followed me with it. / could
have had it on Monday"
81 promised it fur to-day, sir"
pantingly replied the old man, as he
reached the pony'G side. and held up
the weapon, FAN l always like to
keep my word. Here it is, sir.''
"Thank you, Connolly. Goodbye"
returned my father; ''good-bye, boys
all. Get along Dolly"
Next moment we were gathering
away down the street that looked
towards home at great rate.
When we were well clear of the
town we slackened somewhat, for
the road had grown dark. Then my
father turned to me little.
"Well, Dick" he said, show have
you enjoyed yourself, and how did
you like the town?"
ooh, papa,lt was lovely" l replied
as l squeezed his arm; "and you're
so good tor letting me come with
you"
"Lovely, was it?" he murmured,
with laugh which was half a sigh.
"I'm afraid one day you'll see as lit
tie beauty in it as do, and be as
tired of it rs | am"
-rNbop n n. rnlonuoJ into ,;I,,oo hat