The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-01-04

Ir0uQmA was carrying an 1lIuIut 81
ccdar-bonghs. She threw them on the
ground and turning 70 me said. with .
smile which lighted up her whole face !;
"fiow dye do. marmP That's .
place I've always wanted 70 see. I've
always thought I should like TO live TO
the Springs ever since I've been In this
country"
"Ycs.r said. 1T is pleasant
town; but do you like il here?H
She glanced at her shanty and its
surroundings, and l felt guilty At hav-
I ing asked my question. but she replied ::
.tOh yes, l like it very well here.
When we Get our house built well be
comfortable. It's only for Tommy I'm
here. II 1t WANT for him / shouldn't
stay in this country He's all I've got.
We're all alone here-thaf Is so far as
connections goes; but we've got plenty
o. friends and Gods here, jest the
same's everywhere.
She spoke this last sentiment in as
natural and easy tone as all the rest !;
there was no more trace of cant or at
I fectation in her mention of the name Of
God than in her mention of Tommy's.
They seemed equally familiarand equally
dear. Then she went to the fire and
turned the clothes over in the water with
a long stick, and prepared to resume her
work.
"How long have you been here9" !
asked.
"Only about a week. she said.
Tommy, he's working s hard = ever
he can to get me house built. 1t wor-
ries him to see me living this way; he's
got il three logs high, already, proudly
pointing to it only a few rods farther up
the hill, but Tommy's only a boy yet;
he Amt l6; but he's learning; he's
learning to do for hisself; he's real
good boy, an he's getting strong every
day; he's getting his health real firm,
'n'that's all want. 'Tain't any matter
what becomes Of me, II can only get
Tommy started all right
WAS he i'll when you brought him
hereP- asked.
"Oh dear, yes. He was jest low;
he had to lie on the bottom of the wagon
all the way. l traded off my house for
wagon and two horses, an one on 'em
few times; jest that wagon and horses
was all we had when started TO bring
him to Colorado. Id heard how
the air here ID cure consump-
ton, m l Jest took him m started
m it's saved his life; m that's all /
care for. He's all I've got"
"Where was your homer" said
.sWas it a long Journey"
Way down in Missouri; down in
Sullivan County, she replied. ssThat's
where l was raised. faint healthy
there. There want none o. my chill
dren healthy Tommy's all I've got
left-at least expect so. | oughter
have daughter living; but the last let
ter had from her, she said she didn't
suppose she'd live many weeks; she's
had the consumption, too; she's mar
ried. don't know whether she's live
or dead now. Tommy's all I've got"
"Were these two your only chill
drcn?" ventured TO say.
"Oh no. I've had six; two o. my
sons was grown men. They was both
killed in the war; then there was one
died when he was nine months old, and
another when he was jest growd--jest
fourteen: and then there's the daughter
told We On, an Tommy. He's the
youngest. He's all I've got.
He's good boy, Tommy il: real
steady. He's always been raised to 90
TO Sunday-school. He's all I've got.
The abject poverty Of this woman's
surroundings, the constant refrain Of
he's all I've got,'' and the calm cheer
fulness Of her face began to bring tears
into my eyes.
Grandma" said I, "you have had
good deal OF trouble in your life; yet
you look happier than most people do
"Oh no, / amt never suffered = she
said. "I've always had plenty I've
always been took care Of. Gods al
ways taken care Of me-
That must be a great comfort TO
you TO think that. ! said.
Think itir exclaimed the grand old
woman, with fire i'm her eye. = Think
\ ii, / don't think any thing about it,
Jest know it, Why, Tommy IN me,
we was showed up in canyon here, us
and old man Nolan, m Miss Nolan, m
Miss Smith, IN Miss Smiths two chill
dren; showed up in that canyon two
weeks lacking two days, m Id like TO
know ef any thing but God ID ha' KEEP
a. alive then! No, hain't never suffer
ed I've always had plenty. Gods al
ways took care Of me-" and serene
smile spread over her face.
"Oh, will you not tell me about that
time P- / exclaimed. III it will not
hinder you too much, would be very
glad 10 hear all about it,
Well, you Jest set right down in
that chair" she said, pointing to the
flag-bottomed chair, EN- III tell you
Twas in that very chair Miss Nolan she
sat all the first night. Them two chair.
(pointing to another in the shanty)
brought all the way from Missouri witt
me. We had them n the wagon. Miss