The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

right into thesbroncho that war picket
ed out into the grass and I war jist
drunk enough to mount him an lite
ont. knew Fm going to swing for
itand I'll die game. too. ain't worth
cuss anyway and eff if it warn't' fur
my good old mother back in theStates
(here the tears began to roll down his
bronzed cheeks) who never closes her
eyes 'thout prayin' fur God to send me
back to her, ]. d laugh at death. and
help We toSx the rope, but when 1
think o. th.-f darling old soul l get
weaker'n swounded antelope. tell
We fellers I've bin D tuff cuss ever
sense l struck outfur these mountains,
and Ps'pose the world'll be better
'thout me in it. My old mother'll suf-
fer, know that, for I'm her only kid
an hev sent her every ounce O. dust
that l could spare an it's all she's he'd
to live on. She's bin good 'un to
me God bless her, an Tm sorry hev-
MT lived so's can camp with her up
thar (raising his fearful eyes toward
Heaven.) and, boys, won't some O. ye
write to her? Tom Kirk thar knows
whar she lives. and toll her got let
out by an Injun, or pegged cut natur-
ally. For Gods sake don't let her
know wur strangled. The news'u
kill her. But then I'll cheese this CAB
or ye'll think Pm weakening, an the
man don't live as can skeer Tiger Jim.
Elevate me, boys, jist as quick as We
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 1t sound
ed 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 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, ye wouldn't break an oath,
would YEP sshi
"No, Job Dawson, not for friend or
foe. Jim never went back on even his
given word. I'm rough 'un an do
sum mitey wicket things, but when l
say thing ye can gamble every dol
lar you've get Oh it bein' straight
"Well, Tige we have intended to
swing We, an ye deserve swingin', but
I can't get rid O. that mother chinin'
ye give US. 'spect the old lady's set
her heart on seein' ye agin, an tho l
hevn't sot eyes on her sence 40 her
picter's right hyar in my heart, an it's
. pleadin' for your 'oomsn, Tige. It's
ruff, Tige, ruff, an'-lemme see-yes.
darned af 1 don't do it. Jack, cut
them ar strings SOS he can GIT his
hams Loose. Thar, thet's it. Now,
rige, hold up yer right hand, and ef
ever yc swore strong do it now. Do
you swar by the great God, and yer
blessed old mother, that eff this court
ye'l lite right out for the
States, an go hum to the old lady an
comfort her as long as she stays out O.
heaven. Do you swar to this, Tige,
before Almighty God and this court p
"Then ye're released on them terms,
md the boys'll help ye git yer traps
lown to the station, but mind, I tell
re Tige, ef yer ever caught in the hills
Igin yell go up to tree. Fellers, the
courts over and the prisoners dis