The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-03-21

when he sprang to his feet; but the
big teamster was to quick for him,
and so he quickly settled back in his
chair. At last one on the men, ex-
cited with liquor, struck the youth
under the shoulder. and said rudely:
'Come pale-face, a song, story, or
treat.
The young man rose to his feet, and
said quickly:
Il can not sing, can not tell stories
and do not drink"
The deuce you cant and won't,
said the miner. "What kind of a
white-livered monkey are you, any
way e. and turning to the crowd con-
tinued: 81 say, boys, what do you
think of this rooster? He can't sing,
can't spin yarn, and don't drink"
A general howl followed this out
burst, and the crowd gathered
menacingly around the youth.
Curly, the stage-driver, here in
terfered and said: "Young man,
better consider; the boys don't like it.;
try a story, or try song, or order the
poison.
''But don't drink said the youth;
II can not sing. and can not tell
stories,' and as he spoke. he turned a
full, fearless face upon the excited
crowd.
A murmur of disapprobation began,
and one rusty miner was calling at
tention to 'city chap as was too
proud to 90 chats with common
miners and transfers" when the big
teamster Posey, with wave of the
hand stopped him, and marching up to
the youth said: Il think there's a
misunderstanding here. If you don't
sing, nor tell stories, nor drink, your
education has been badly neglected
for some kinds of business. sure; but
think it over minute, you might do
something else, perhaps.
The young man looked down for
moment, and then looking up, said:
Il might read you something which.
perhaps, would answer in lieu Of song
or story.
Il knowed it, said Posey. Il
knowed there was game in him when
he jumped out of his chair, a little
while ago, when the loafer commenced
to insult the Lily Room here, and
light for the boy to read by -
The crowd fell back, half morose
and half respectful. A candle was
brought, which POsey claimed the
responsibility of holding. The boy
drew little volume from his pocket,
looked over the crowd for Il moment,
then opening the book, examined it
for moment, as ii to find the place,
and commenced:
"When the great and wise king
Solomon dispatched his fleets to Ophir
to gather gold. and gems, and rare
wood for the temple which he was
building, he sent with them seer to
mark the conduct of his men. that
each might be rewarded according to
his merits. When the land Of Ophir
was reached, some of the men went
at once to the mines to dig gold, some
where employed with trains of camels
to freight merchandise and food to
the mines; some with swift dromeda-
ries carried the express and gold dust
between the mines and the sea shore.
Some kept Inns and gathered many
shekels by disposing of bad food and
poor beds to the miners"
That means you, landlord" said
POSey, interrupting.
The boy continued: And the seer
watched all these men in their daily
and nightly employments, and took
notes of their lives. Almost every
one had left father, or mother, or
sweetheart in Jerusalem. and amid
the tears and anguish Of parting, had
promised to be faithful to the end.
But some had forgotten their promises
when far away. Some would spend
whole evenings in discussing the
merits of their respective dromedaries
and would do this night after night.
until they did not have an idea above
the brute over which they had con-
troll.
That means you Jack Farren, and
you, old Grimes, you miserable mule
beating intidels," said Posey.
The young man had delightful
voice, was beautiful reader. and as
he proceeded, the interest in his mar
rative increased. He read on:
! "Some who were miners would work
all day and at night SPEND their las
shekel in 4 game which, in Judea.
was known as ''cinch.
| Hat YOU. MINI NldltN anu Dtil
McNaughton. said Posev, 'you dis
reputable poker playing frauds.
Again the reader proceeded: "Some
desired to be considered dangerous
men fighters. and would seek diff
culties with men their interiors,
physically. that it might be told in
the different mining camps of Ophir
that they were desperate men, with
whom none might tritle.'
That's you. Sam Brown. you
cowardly buffer" interposed Posey.
And some" continued the boy.
grew vain of foolish exploits. and
learned to expect praise for only doing
their duty.
Il guess that's me- said Posev:
You are given to such thoughts.
sometimes. You know you are. You big
unthinhing rufiian."
Almost all learned 10 drink of the
juice ofthe upas tree. and when under
its influence they were guilty of
humanity and disgraceful acts.
which would have grieved their
friends in Jerusalem sorely. had they
deemed such a thing possible.
ssThleS n