The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-10-23

| kihuest tolu me that my leg must be Ia
ken off, or / should lose my life.
"And what am to do in the world
with one leg, sirl' | asked.
"He told me to leave all to the wisdom
OF God; but didn't kno. much religion
then, and found no comfort in It. That
night they gave me something, and |
lost my senses. Wnlle | was in that
state my leg was taken off, and shant
forget the feeling when came round
and found 1t gone.
And yet 1t wasn't exactly the feeling
in the leg that told me So for at first |
tancled ii was there and what is more, |
feel it now, and very curious thing 1t
is. But I'll get back to the hospital,
where, after my leg was taken off, nv
poor wife used to come and CRY over me
Ne II had been the best Of husbands in.
stead Of one Of the worst; but women,
speaking in meadletor, are augels on
earth, they are.
"Wlth my wife, gentlen an used to
come. He was grave and quiet and good,
and | recognized him through having of
ten seen him down our streets visiting
the llck and poor. | wouldn't have moth
ing TO do with him in the old days; bat
lying there manned and helpless, | was
glad enough to listen to him, and | am
thankful to this day thatI did so tor there
| first really understood what salvation
| through the Saviour meant for me and
other sinners, and learnt to see the bless
lngs OF sober life.
II VAS q long time getting well, for
ft,,tI ,tn ~
was supposed that | could not live; but
prayer and faith saved me, and | got
about a. last, full Ct good resolve and
hope for the future.
Being Only laborer, | wasn't fit for
much with a wooden leg; so after casting
about thought I'd tar e this crossing
the man who had it atore having just
died Of drlnk-and try to get q little
public messengering. The yaupg gen
tIemen inside the bank have their little
Joke. and call me Dot and carry one,
| but / don't mind that shall not o.
iect to my leg SO long as it keeps on
saving don and the other leg may say
drink as often as It hk ss-Don't drink
I've told lots Of people what my legs
say, aud some as do drink thinks is
tuahs, So cali me the man with the talk
lHg leg
And tins wooden lee has done some
GOOD to otuers. When | come out Of
the hospital ana stnnped around 70 my
mates. aud told EN- what I'd suffered,
and that d signed the pledge, tive OF
'em did the same, and thrae have kept It
, 70 this day The other two Went back,
and one is dead, and t.other noboay
knows where He lefta wife and three
children behind mm.
, When | first took my stand here, got
hardly any messages. | had bad name
and ueoplc misunderstood my leg; but
when they got 10 kao. that It was lee
that wouldn't 90 into public house,
work began to roll IN. On Saturday, IN
, running about all day, and | lose lot
t at the crossing, no doubt; but the mes
senger money is fairly earned, Whiie
! shilling a day at the crossing IS very
J fair pay. | sweeps i IN the morning
, about seven then again at nine, ana s.
on, every two hours, II am here' anp
i if you put it altogether you won maze
; more than an hours fair work OF 1t.
/ like the messcngcring, as it's honest Ia
bor. and I'm trusted, and 1t fits IN witt
1 other, 50 that m hardly ever ldie.
r aAnd what do YOU make per week
I asked.
}. zone way and another about as muci
as I did As q laborer,' Bob replied; 'anf
t the misses does bit OF washing ah'
A clear starching, Dob himself was re
a nnwned for the linen he wore) ana VI
+ oot three children, and little picture Q
4 home. Mr.. Sawyer the photograp 1er
e he took me here one morning, ana nc p
u lot Of my pictures IN his WinaoW. : !.
4 got one at home he gave ne, out y ~
| nnite right He ought to have done th
Jacket red, and it came out "hl'e, pu
Ii the leo is took splendid, and that IS III
n chief point They do tell line that IN
nublicans hate the very sound OF my leg
r ~ the very noise it makes Is sort oi az
4 ensation against en-, and do know tha
: !, : oftcn cast into their teeth by angf
o customers. !.
/ go vou ace. SIR said Bob, in conclu
le sion. .that | walk better IN every 70
k aimee I had this wooden leG' anu ! -
,e content TO travel SO until It snail pieas
i. Gnd to call me away to the Kingdom
ID Heaven where Jesus will perfect thihss
er and where He will reign forever. ).
TO 4 voice from house on the opFosi'
/, a;ar called Bob from me, and ! ~a'he
: sway. s,ra musipg upon what had hear
"a The story was not without prona - -, -
Il ana | trust It will be os beneht y :, =
IS reader who has vet to realize the aean
= ..a n,ar.. dr;nk IS everywhere dong IN tn
b, fair land Of our5.-4he Bftft"9 'o'""S'
ns -, re-. EvrRnAs. a bank burglar, le
ye s., 600 1t his death, - nnirrl'i ,,,'.al pai,