The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-10-06
PRrxrRR JOE.


die; no help for him. and We might
prepare to see bin drop of at any mo-
ment. Tie had been q hard case, bad
Printer Joe, but that didn't matter.
nov that he w.s q, the point cf death;
We thought Of nothing bat to make him
comfortable the few remaining hours
Of his life.
He vas q young fellow. not over q.
bat had tumbied about the wsrid .
good deal and experienced the ups and
dows Of a printers life from the begin
ming. He had not been very particular
in his contact with people, and it was
said that he was wanted in various
places, from New York TO San Fran
cisco. for delinquent expenses in the
matter OF board. washing. clothing, ci-
gsrs and whiskey. and it has often
been remarked that no could ask for
the loan Of q dollar with better grace
than any known membsr Of the craft.
And another thing; no oGe could hurt
Joc's feelings by refusing him; he
would run his fingers through his
blonde hair aud smile his satisfaction
with oil the simplicity Of child. But
he had come home now-his boy hoods
home-where he bad learned his trade,
and uow he was going 10 die!
What did he say, boys-the doctor ?
he asked. whispering huskily. i know
he can cure me; Of course ha can. 1t
.in't right that I should die yet. and.
II can help it. l won't How awfully
things have changed here since /
skipped the place eight pears ago, and
you boys have chsnged. too-wby.
you're menl A feiier's mind goes back
q long ways when he Is sick, you know
ans somehow, I've jas been dreaming
over old tines right along. How did /
come 10 learn the business p Well. it
was this way: / was in the orchard
With my little sister Annie-you know
her-pickin' apples. hen Col Bill Jones.
who runs the Argus. came to me and
says. says he. Joe. come and be b devil
Annie cried. for she did not know what
it meant. but I told her it was all right
and started of with Col Bill, an hev
been going ever since down hill, down
hillr
The bringing back Of old times
seemed TO smother him aud he choked
up. and pulled the sheet up over his
face. i can't talk much. boys he
said; Tn too weak; but it's
hard for you to stay here without
some Amusement. SO If you want little
game, there's q fresh deck Of cards 10
that old blouse of mine hanRin' agin
the wallP
The minutes few by. and Printer.
Joe slept-now breathing heavily. and
now scarcely breathing at all. Once
we thought he was dead. he seemed 80
still. but be awoke with a start and
family ssid:
Boys, you won't leave me. will you?
1t ain't in the nature of things that you
will. I've been dreamiog. / guess.
Listenl Can't vou hear the old press at
are running off the papers
for the morning edition. I've been in
the birthstone room all night setting
'em up with the boys. And some of
the worst tanglefoot copy You ever
sawl There was howlin' and swearin',
just - natural - life. aud cries for
copy. and the telegraph stuff coming
10, and oil the while kept putting 'em
up. when / heard the foreman yell
'Thirtyr and l quit. And now the
press is crashing away like mad
Once more Joe slept. and when, an
hour following, be swoke. be asked for
water. We gave it to him. 1t wss 4
o'clock in the morning, and the light
was breaking in the east. The sufferer
beckoned us to him. aud whispered
family:
i never felt 50 strange in all my life.
and am afraid-is cant be that Tm
dying. l wish Annie was here. or if l
only knew where she is. might be
willing 10 60. You see, that Was sll Of
US left. Annie and I. and | ran away.
and what became Of my poor. little
f1axen haired sister God only knows. l
hope ! may get well. IL for no other
r ason than to find her. and care for
her, a. / should have done oil these
years. l wonder where she isl seem
to see her now, oil in white. her yellow
hair floating in the wind; and. yes. she
is calling TO me, her voice ID like the
notes of bell. Thank Godl / have
found her-I am not alonsr
How strangely beautiful vas the
,aorn; how joyous the birds sang; how
softly shons the sun; how fragrant the
while over yonder in that
yellow house under the hill lay he Of
the taken hair. Printer Joe. the tramp,
deadl 3