The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-21

it war. Las night you know thar war a
jamboree over to AL Wilkins rancho III
Miller's gulch an L war thar. Al had
been to Laramie City and got keg o.
good old bulge, an we all got purity
full. Arter the dancin war over pulled
out fur Bowles' rancho, whar I'm hang
in out, an as L was staggerin' down
round Mountain Cat Hill runs right
onto the broncho that war picketed out
in the grass, an war jist drunk enough
TO mount him an lite out. L know I'm
goin' TO swing fur it an I'll die game,
too. L amt woth cuss anyway, an if
it warm fur my good old mother back
in tho States (here the tears began to
roll down his bronzed cheeks) who never
closes her eyes 'thout prayin' for God to
send me back to her, I'd laugh at death,
an help ye to fix the rope; but when L
think o. that darling Old soul l git
weaker ma wounded antelope. J tell
ye fellers I've bin tutf cuss ever
sence | struck out fur these mountins,
and s'pose the world'll be better 'thout
me in it. NV old motheru suffer, L
know that, fur I'm her only kid, an hev
sent her every ounce o dust thet L could
spare, an it's all she's he'd to live or.
She's been a good 'un to me, God bless
her, an I'm sorry hevn't lived SOS |
can camp with Der up thar (raisirg his
fearful eyes toward Heaven), and, boys,
won't some O ye write to her. Tom
Kirk thar knows whar she lives, an tell
her l got let out by All Injun, or pegged
out nat rally. For Gods sake don't let
her know L war strangled. The news
'ud kill her. But then I'll cheese this
gab or yen think I'm weakening, an
the man don't live as can skeer Tiger
jim. Elevate me, boys, list as quick as
ye please. I'm ready when you are"
During this recital Jim's eyes were
filed with tears, and close observer
would have detected silent weeping on
all sides. That magic word "mother
had awakened tender recOllections in
the breasts of every one of those hardy
mountaineers. 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 in
the past, when they were blessed with
the love of parents before the Unsuitable
thirst for gold had led them into these
mountain wilds. Not word was spoken
for few seconds, and then ola Job
drew his horny hand across his watery
eyes and said in husky voice.
"Tige, ye w'udn't break an oath,
w'ud ye?
"No, Job Dawson, not for friend or
foe. Thar amt a boy in the hills as can
a.,
given word. I'm a rough 'un an do
sum mitey wicked things, but when /
say a thing ye can gamble every dollar
you've got on it bein' straight"
"Well, Hge, we had intended TO swing
ye, an We deserve swingin' but / can't
get rid O that mother chinin' We give
us. 1 'spect the old lady's set her heart
on seein' we agin, an is wearin her old
eyes out lookin' for We. I've got an old
mother myself, an tho 1 hevn sot eyes
on her sence '49 her picter's right hyar
in my heart, an it's a pleadin' for your
old 'ooman, Tige. It's ruff, Tige, ruff,
an'-lemme see--yes, darned eff 1 don't
do it. Jack, cut them ar strings SOS he
can git his hans loose. Thar, thet's it.
Now, Tige, hold up yer right hand, and
ei ever ye SWOre SIrOnB 90 III now. 40
you swar by the great God, and yor
blessed old mother, that eff this Court
discharges ye yen lite right out for the
States, an go hum to the old lady an
love her an comfort her as long rs she
stays out o. heaven. Doye swar TO this,
Tige, before Almighty God and this
court?'
"I do, Job, an thar's my fist on it.
Put 'er thar. swar it anil pull stakes
rite of.
"Then ye're released on them terms,
an the boys'll help ye git yer traps down
to the station, but mind, ] tell ye, Tige,
ef yer ever caught in the hills agin yen
go up tree. Fellers, the courts over
an the prisoners discharged. III.
quad.