The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-08-15
LITERARY
The OLD BRIDGE or DIARMID.

Diarmld is a narrow village walled in
by two lines of wooded hills. East street
and West street run for mile parallel.
Between them is the river and the sus-
pension beidge. There was an old tum-
BILE down wooded bridge there once,
whiah was held in high vcneratlon By the
oldest inhabitant. He could just remem-
Der its dedication.
AT the west end Of the bridge, up over
head among the beams and rafters, was
Thoff Shelton Eeireat; his den, the boys
called it. Here he had laid down few
boards, making rough sort of floor
tossed up pile of straw for bed, and
here he came when things were more than
commonly uncomfortable at home
Diarmid was a tidy village of white
houses and green blinds, and trim yards !;
but down at the foot Of West street, under
a sanu- bank, there WAS wretched build
ing going to ruin in the midst of "a litter
of rubbish. 1t looked as though all the
dust of the clean street had been swept
out there and lett tor the winds to blow
away. But the winds had failed thus far
to do it, and SO the Skeletons lived there
Jim Shelton, father of Thoff, had pc
culiarity which interiered with his rea-
tions as a parent, to wit, the habit of
drinkinga great deal too much of every
thing but cold water The consequence
was that Thtdf life had begun to be a
burden to him as soon as he could re-
member, and, In fact. some time before.
'Thercw he said to himself one night
He was quite out Of breath, for he had
run half Il mile, clambered Ike monkey
up the beams, and was now safe on the
straw of his den in the bridge. The old
chap won't get hold of me in hurrS
now. guess"
"Thc old chap" grieve to say, was
Thoff father. 1t was bad manner of
designating him, bat another result OF
the popularity aforesaid. A boy who
for no otfcnse whatever has been pur
sued by his parent armed with pitch
FORK, and who has just found his kittens
head two RODS away from her other be-
longings, such boy will not mention
the author of his being respectfully as l.
who tel this tale, could wish.
swell, say l think this is rather HARD
AAuSCS VII % iSflNi. A'A WCht OAi
II hant had anc supper, an breakfast
II bc nowhere. an | wish l was out O
this. do. Oh, If only had some
money!
l., had grown quite dark; an April
night, The air mild, and sort of patter
OF ram on the bridegroom. Thoif SAT
staring down at lamp which burned
dimiy Just below him, - dep-essed-look-
ing lamp. which spu,tered Grossly, as
though saying, lin supported by the
Town. and know It." Thotf understood
what i. was to have aid from the
town."
The evening train from Boston came
shrleking up the valley. passed the end
OF the bridge aud rushed into the dark.
ness and stiffness. Thotf 50, quiet along
time. He was getting drowsy when he
heard footsteps approaching from two
directions. There was quick greeting
on the bridge just below him, aud then
he caught the words
up in the pasture on Spruce Hill.
Lost he wallet with five hubdred dol.
lars in it"
Five hundred dollars! thought he
was smarter than to be carryin' around So
much money. Spruce Hill, too. Why.
it's AL slders and second growth up
there"
Yes, I know; an tbs bad job. You
see he Was coming down to the bank. and
stopped to look up . southoown that had
strayes away. When be got to til. village
he'd lost the wallet, and now want you n
me TO start OF with him tomorrow morn
ing n see it we can find it."
Find itF cried the man.
'Sh-hi not So loud,n whispered the
first p,aker, looking cautiously round.
"Don's you see we've got to keep stils
abou,ltl 1t some folks should get hold
of the story they mt come in ahead, find
the wallet, and then it never'd be heard
of again"
"what'll he pa. for fnding ita-
"Four dollars day." Was the slow
answer.
That Amt enough. If he wants the
s'iectmen o Diarmid, he's got to pay &C
corcin'. I'll 60 for six"