Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-02-07
Our Selected Story.
The MOUNTAIN SHANTY.

''Iou are to carry the valse to the depo
Joe, and have it checked-or. no no; wal
until come; you'll be sure to make a mis-
take. wish" and Walter Ducliff turne
from the fOotman to his mOther-..I wis
the time had come when machines coul,
take the place of servants. One advantage
in machine is that you know its capacity
it doesn't make prctcnsions of being a ia
tional human being, and then fail at tin
critical moment
! Mrs. Ducliff, Il fair. delicate woman. VIII,
was drawn close to the open fire. with
velvet mantle wrapped about her. shool
her head gently, and when the man wa:
gone, said:
Waller. indeed you lave too little con
sidcration for your interiors. There is
no need to mortify the man in that man
ner."
BLESS yonr heart. mother, yon know
nothing about that kind of people. Joe
did not understand, and if he had. he
would not have cared. l pay him ligl
wages. and there's not day when he does
not have an odd half dollar, or fall heir te
some OF my boots or clothes. That's all
he needs for happiness"
''Joe's feelings Mt the bottom are the
same rs ours, my son.
Il beg your pardon,'' flushing hotly.
but that | cannot believe. The lower
classes. black and white, have been hard
encd by generations of need and hard
work. Now your tastes and emotions
have come to you through many lives OF
ease and culture; they lost them. if they
ever had them, in the fight for daily bread.
The music or noble thought that would
stir your soul to its depths, would fail of
from Joe as drop OF water from an alliga-
tors back
Walter had fallen into sort OF oratorical
twang. which lie had brought with him
from college. He was absolutely sure of
his opinion, as boys and girls of seventeen
usually are. and like to set them forth fifty
in plenty of words.
''Iou are too vain of your birth, my
DEAR said his mother quietly. '.YOu will
feel differently when you are older.''
''Motler, is it possible that you mean to
say that the material of a mans character
and life does not depend largely on his
birth. Why, look up here to the faces of
my ancestors; they have borne high,
honorable part in the history Of civiliza-
ton, in politics, art and literature. begin
every day feeling that their eyes are upon
me. l am glad and proud" picking up a
pen and flOulishing it over a blank book,
.'that the name L write is the name they
bore; that it is their very blood which
flows in my veins. What has Joe to re-
member beyond two nameless slaves, who
were his father and mOther?''
of one blood all the people on the earth,
and some of these days you will recognize
your kinsmen. think. 1t is nearly time
for the train, isn't it dear?''
''It's quite time" glancing at his watch.
He drew on his furred OvercOat. and un-
passed his fingers over the
waXed ends of his very small mOustache.
''GOod-by, mother darling. Ill write from
Harrisburg. do hope may manage the
business well and satisfy f:lther.''
No fear of that, Walty.''
She held him a moment, as he stopped
to kiss her, with her lands holding each
side of his face, looking fondly at his
delicate features, and clear, intelligent
eyes.
"God send you safely home. my son.
You'll try and be back by Christmas !?
There is Il ball at your cousins and-you
are all of my holiday, remember!''
"Oh. Ill be back; I'll not fail in that,
whatever cOmes." and then with another
hasty kiss he was gone, springing down
the sis.rs, trolling out some college catch.
Nature had given him clear, tenor
voice, of which he was not little proud.
Indeed. he thought sometimes, justly
that nature had given him her
best material. and that it would be his own
fault if he turned out failure, instead of one
OF the foremost class Of men. He had just
left college and had been taken into his
fathers counting-rOom as confidential
clerk. This was his first journey on the
business of the firm; he had a shrewd
suspicion it was meant to tess his capacity.
lie was quite sure Oft from the fact that
the old cashier, met him at the
depot and placed IN his hands the sealed
paper Of instruction, instead of sending it
by messenger.
don't you neglect any trife, Mr.. Wal