The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1879-10-04

chum, who is spending some days with
hims
''Yondcr," said Trctfy, pointing to a
thin thread Of smoke which rose from
| gaunt trees into the sullcn wlntry air,
"yonder is the housc-it, indeed, il de-
serves SO grand a name-thc hovcl, rather,
OF one whose case is the hardest Of all the
hard ones in my unhappy cure. This
man is Il mere hedger and ditcher, one
who works for any MASTER most often
for the railway, but who is never certain
OF Il JOB all the year round. He has a
swarm OF young children, and he has just
ost his wife. He IS absolutely prostrat-
| ed; aghast, probably at the future before
!. him and his utter incapacity to do his
! duty by his motherless little ones. Jack,'
! said the parson, stopping short suddenly,
and looking straight into his companions
! face, Il wonder whether you could rouse
him If you could only get him to make
a sign; to cry or laugh or take the small
est interest in common affairs. Jack, |
! believe you're the very man. You might
get at him through the children:-that
marvellous hanky-panky of yours, those
surprising tricks child takes to you
naturally at once. Try and make friends
with these. Perhaps, when the father
sees them interested and amused, he may
warm little, speak, perhaps, approve,
perhaps smile, in the end give in. Jack,
will you try?'
Jack Newbiggin was by profession a
conveyancer, but nature had intended
him for a new Houdin, or a Wizard Of
the North. lie was more than half a
professional by the time he was full
grown. In addition to the quick eve
and the tacilc wrist, hc had the rarcr gifts
OF suaye manner and the face Of brass
They entered the miserable dwelling
together. The childrcn-eight Of them
were skirmishing all over the floor.
They were quite unmanageablc, and be-
yond the control Of the eldest sister, who
the midday meal one other child, Of six
or seven, a bright-cyed, exceedingly beau
titul boy, the least-werc not natures va
garies well known-hkely to be born
among and belong to such surroundings.
stood between the legs of the man linn
self, who had his back turned TO the Wis
itors and was crouching over the scantv
fire.
The man turned his head for moment,
gave Il blank stare, than an impercepti
bic nod, and once more he 9Iowercd down
upon the fire.
Here, little ones, DO YOU see this gen
tlcman, he's 4 conjuror. Know what 4
conjuror is, Tommy cried the parson,
catching up mite Of four or five from
the floor. No. not you; nor you, Sarah;
nor you, Jacky y'-and h eran through all
their names.
They had now ceased their gambols,
and were staring hard at their visitors
the moment was propitious; Jack New
biggin began. lie had fortunately filled
his pockets Wlthnuts, oranges, and cakes
before leaving the parsonage. 50 Tie had
half his apparatus ready to hand.
The pretty boy had very soon lett the
father at the fire, and had come over to
Join III the fun, going back, however. 10
exhibit hls share Of the spoil and describe
yoluminously what had occurred. This
and the repeated shouts Of laughter SEEM
cd to produce some impression on him
Presently he looked over his shoulder
and said-but without animation
1t be very good Of you, sir, surely
very good for to take so kindly to the
little chicks. 1t does them good to laugh
a bit, and it amt much as they've had to
make EN- lately
1T is good for all Of us, now ana again,
| take i,,' said Jack, dcsistng. and going
toward him-the children gradually col
lcctlng III tar-of corner and comparing
notes.
You can't laugh, sir, if your hearts
heavy; if you do, it can be only sham.
While he was speaking he he'd taken
the Bible from the shelf, and rcsuming
his seat. began to turn the leaves slowly
over.
I'm an untaught, rough countryman.
sir. but I've heard tell that these strange
things you do are only tricks; amt il 50.
sir.
Here was, indeed, a hopeful symptom
He was reused then, to take some inter
est in what had occurred.
AL tricks Of course; it al comes from
long practice said Jack, as he proceed
ed to ocxplain some ofthc simple processes,
hoping to cnchain the mans attention.
That's what thought, sir, Or III have
given you a Job to do. I've been il want
Of d real conjuror many long dav, and
nothing less'll do. See here, sir he
said, as he took small, carefully folded
paper from between the leaves If the Bi-
bic; .'do you see this7'
It was half Of a Bank Of England note
for f10O
Nov, sir, could any corjuror help me
to find the other half!'
'How did you come BY it," asked
jack. at once.
I'll tell you, sir, short as can make