The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-07-25

L 1fCs NY Olo AfiOd0
"Why! old man from Tuolumne,
don't you remember me?"
"Can't say l do"
"Don't you remember our camp in
early days, and Sim, and Brannan, and
Bunyan, and me?"
A cloud of recollection seemed to
pass before his eyes, and at last he ex-
claimed
ais it possible that you're the little
un?"
eyes, am.'
"Well, this is master surprisin', to
say the least. l am glad to see yer
How's all the folks?'
"I'll talk to you tomorrow, old man;
it's too late to spin yarns now;" and we
rolled up in our blankets, and soon eve
ry thing was quiet.
Still dark and rainy was the morning,
when at an early hour we were aroused
by the sound of voices, and conquering
a disposition for one more nap, we arose
and made ready for the fragrant coffee
and biscuit, prepared by the busy hands
of Wacks, who sang at his toll.
Five silently swallowed his breakfast,
slipped quietly from the house, opened
his corral, and followed his sheep out to
pasture. Invent out, too, and soon came
up with Five.
cold man, | hardly expected to seq
you again, and here" vi
Yer may say that; it's funny to me
sometimes
"Where have you been all these
years?"
Shifting"
I" In this country all the timer"
"No. SEEM you made me kinder
trembly like about the gills and brought
back old times. I'll tell yer where I've
been. After you left the diggings l
struck it rich for while, and had good
lot of dust in the locker, and thought
I'd steer for home to see if that mother
in-law hadn't died, and how my babies
was. And went down to Frisco and
went home by steamer to Providence
but didn't find much Providence in it,
you bet. Nobody knew me there, where
onst [ knew every one. Isuppose had
| changed in them years [ was agone.
wouldn't break in upon my wife, so
went to hotel and cast anchor. Very
GURUS man they thought me, askin'
questions bout evrey body"
"Did you not find your family?"
81 found she was married to another
feller''
"Did they think you dead?'
81 suppose so, as hadn't sent any
dispatch while I was gone She was
rich and happy, they said, and had
rich husband; but the mother-in-law
hadn't yet pegged out. Icould not help
feelin' mean-like till I heard the last,
but when l found she was a ivin' with
em didn't make no more sighs."
"But your children-you surely made
yourself known to themp'
"Not as the roads are. There was
only one cared for my little Maggie,
my blue-eye darling-and l found
where she played in the park, and spoke
to her one day. knowed her by her
sunny hair, and she had little dog on
the end of spun yarn. She had the
same pretty ways, though she was
heap grown. Once l walked up to her
when she was alone, and says to her:
'Good-morning, little LADY, Good
morning, sir, says she, a little timid-
like, for suppose l did look mighty
rough. 'What is your name, little lady?'
Maggie says she, 'and this is my dog
Pug Bless her heart! did want to
clutch her to my heart, and ask her to
kiss me just once, and ask her if she
knew me-"
"Why didn't youp''
"Well, thought I'd better not. I
asked her where she lived. over in
that big house, 'asays she. is your ia
Their and mother there?' my father is
dead in California. Mother and Emily
have got new father, but 1 have not
1--we been to California, says I, swal-
lowing something like loaf of bread in
my throat. you havep' says she, sand
did you know my fatherp' 1 have been
in many tight box, young fellow, but
that was the hardest deal ever had
No, little lady, says I 'but are you
happy here?' yes, SIR SAYS she: .as
happy as can be till | get to heaven
and see my father. Do you think he's
waiting for me there?' 4 hope so, dar-
ling; any rate, he will be- Won't you
kiss me just onceP' The little thing
looked at me straight with her shiny
eyes, and gave me a kiss that can taste
yet. Your little girl may kiss some
body from California some day. Are
you going back there?' yes, little lady.
| shall go Tomorrow sWait here then
minute And she darted away over
to her house and disappeared in the gar
den. In second she was back, and in
her chubby hands were beautiful flow
ers-violets, pinks and mornin' glories.
'Will you take these with you and put
them on my fathers grave, if you can
find itP He may be lonely there Yes,
lassie, says l, almost broken, sI'll take