The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-12-04
BACKBONE AND GRIT.

kThe stage has gone, sir, Out there
idder lives here, and she got a boy
he'll drive you over. He's a nice
L fellow, and Deacon Ball lets him
u his team for trife, and we like to
= him little job when we can
Il was hot day in July. Away up
6ng the hills that make the lower
e of the Mondanock mountain,
nd lay very i'll. In order 10 reach his
porarv home one must take an early
b to the nearest station, and trust to
lumbering, old, dusty coach, that
DC a daily trip to k-n. The train
late; the stage. after waiting some
I, was gone. The landlord of the llt-
white hotel appeared in his SHIRT
YES, and leaning his elbow on the
rony rail-, dropped down on the hot
thirsty traveller what comfort could
expected from the opening sentence
hy sketch.
Mould we not come in and have
he dlnner!' Yes "Would he send
the deacon's team2' Yes And
boyn "Yes.'
Ind the dinner was eaten and the
saua came round-an open buggy and
lold white horse, and Just as we were
ated the door Of little brown house
4 the way opened and out rushed the
fdder's boy
Hn his mouth was the last morsel OF
dinner, he had evidently learned how
Feat and rum HIS feet were clad in
y winters much worn boots whose
fnkled legs refused to stay within the
pits Of his narrow and faded trousers.
his legs flew forward his arms flew
ekward in an Intellectual struggle to
himself inside of a Jacket much too
PIT IN the sleeves.
TIhere he is, said the hostier, "that's
Wldder Beebe's boy. l told him I'd
"a the deacon's horse while he went
ne to get BITE
Il ne horse did not look to me as If he
eded to be held, but the hostler got his
IEe' and the boy approached in time to
|leve my mind as to wether he would
tquer the jacket or the jacket would
h4uer him and turn him wrong side
|ne was sunburned and freckled, large
pu1hed and red haired-a homely, plain
\ EEched little Yankee boy, and yet,as we
y along through the deep summer
IOm and fragrance Of the shaded road
'aalng up the long hills in the glow Of
AFTERNOON sun, learned such a lessor
pm m the little fellow at my side as ]
sli ~ not soon forget.
ne ae DID not look much like preacher
ls sa. STOPPING forward little, ,whisk
'he illes from the deacon's horse, bu'
sermon was one which | wish might
'e Deen heard by the boys in the land
\ was, | had to spur him on now anc
eh " questions to get him to tell al
'otl himself.
I, NY iather died, you see, and left my
o'aef the little brown house opposit,
\ 'alVen. You saw it. didn't you, sir =
4 ahe With the lilac bushes under tht
= aoWs Father was sick long while
e. Nhen ne could not work he had t
1, H. :. money on the house. Deacon Bal
IT, mn = nave It, little at a time, ane
Ias w. la1her was gone mother found tn
M NY owed was almost three hundre,
80 aals At first she thought she woul'
M ia ~ ~ give UP the house, but the. deacol
' M LEI It wait awhile and he turne'
n b. patled me on the head and saio
,ma.h: ! a.h Johnny gets big enough to ear
W. o'illng, ! shall expect him to pay II.
H.. "as only nine years old then, but II
~, ,aseen now; / remember it, and ! re
W. Soef how mother cried, and said
~ =, !, ueacon, Johnny is my only hop
lhn, ha,, ana ! wondered and wondere
Ias ! work | cou.d do. / really felt i
mia ,dught to begin ut once, and yet
'u1u uW1, not think of anything to do
,icL.1. hell' . what did you do?' | aske
= aohiy, tor | was afraid he would sto
= au, wanted to hear the rest.
, nai, at first I did very funny thinl
BOY Mother used to knit socks t