The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-19

IaH 10 cOnnect on heaven ven yer life
goes out, to the best o. yer understandin
as provided by law, s'help yer God,
eh p ..~
''That's jist wat I does, pardy."
snow Tige, yer under oath, an ey'ry
time yer speak yer want ter hir the bulls
eye. Did you nip tibet boss -
"Wall Uncle Job, there's no use o. lying
about it an I'll tell you Just how it war.
Last night you know thar war a ia,nbo.
rec over to Al. Wilkins rancho in Miller'a
gulch an war Their. AL. had been in to
Laramie City and got key O. good old
bulge, an we all got putty full. AFTER
the dancin' was over l pulled out fur
Bowles' rancho, whar I'm hangin' out
an as was staggerin' down round Noun
tain Cat Hill Iruns right into the bron-
cho that war pickcted out into the grass,
and l war jist drunk enough to mount
him an lite out. I know I'm goin' to
swing for it an I'll die game, too. I amt
worth cuss anyway an eff it warn't fur
my good old mother back in the States
there the tears began to roll down his
bronzed cheeks) who never closes her
eyes 'thout prayin' fur God to send me
bac:. to her, I'd laugh at death. en- help
ye to fix the rope, but when I think O.
that darling old soul get weaker a
wounded antelope. tell We, fellers I've
bin tuff cuss ever sense l struck out fur
these mountains, and s'pose the world'll
be better 'thout me in it. My old moth.
er'll suffer, know that, for I'm her only
kid, an hev sent her every ounce o. dust
that could spare an it's all she's he'd to
live on. She's pin good 'un to me God
bless her, an Fun sorry hevn' lived SOS
can camp with her up thar (raising his
fearful eyes torwrrd Heaven,) and, bows,
won't some O ye write to her? Tom
Kirk thar knows whar she lives, and tell
her l got let out by an Injun, or pegged
out naturally. For Gods sake don't let
her know ! wur stfanglcd. The news 'ud
kill her. But then l'll cheese this CAB
or yc'll think I'm weakening, an the man
don't live as can skeer Tiger Jim. Ele-
vate me, boys, jist as quick as ye please.
I'm ready when you are.''
During the recital Jim's eyes were filled
with tears. and close observer would
have detected silent weeping on all sides.
Men who could face death in any shape
without particle of feeling did not try to
hide their tears at the mention of that
sacred name, mother. How sweet it
sounded in their ears. 1t carried them
back to the happy days Of the past, when
they were blessed with the love Of
parents. before the Unsuitable love for
gold had led them into these mountain
wilds. Not a single word was spoken
for few seconds, and then old Jacob
drew his horny hand across his watery
eyes and said IN husky voice:
"Tige, we wouldn't break an oath,
would ye?'
''No. Job Dawson, not for friend or
foe. jim never went back on even his
given word. I'm a rough an an do sum
mitey wicket things, but when say
thing ye can gamble every dollar you've
got on it bcia' straight
"Well, Tige we have intended to swing
we, an ye deserve swingin', but can't
get rid O that mother chinin' ye give us.
| 'spect the old lady's set her heart on
SEEM ye agin. an tho hewitt sot eyes
on her sence 40 her picter's right hyar
in my heart, an it's pleadin' for your
'ooman, T1ge. It's ruff, Tige, ruff, an -
femme see--yes, darncd eff l don't do it.
Jack, cut them ar strings so he can cit
his hans loose. Thar, thet's it. Now,
Tige, hold up yer right hand, and eff ever
ye swore strong do it nov. Do you swar
by the great God, and yer blessed old
mother, that eff this court discharges We
yell lite right out for the States, an 20
hum to the old lady an love her an
comfort her as long as she stays out O.
heaven Do you swar to this, Tige, be-
fore Almighty God and this court g.
"Then ye're released on them terms,
and the boys'll help ye git yer traps
down to the station, but mind, tell ye'
Tige, eff yer ever caught in the hills agin
yell go up to tree. Feliers, the courts
over an the prisoners discharged