Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-03-11

vegs under 4 broad 2finakt kt1 felt nat,
which has sheltered his head from rain
and sun-for many . day; long locks,
which we're once raven, but ere now
| sprinkled With gKaYs euTlipg down over
| his colleF;-a follla8 black eye. whose
fires have kr0Wn IuklnE With age,
long wuscii8R. lnla hours and bibuloua
habits; ahan Meaa with furFowed
cheeks; \ nd short beard >
| little arix Aloned close around
his spare ISafiis. nefal appearance
more duMnA up4 ~ this world, ano
Is getting lille tired Of the battle oi
life iOok 81 eomical impecnniosity,
and q sort Of scent, not Of royal favor,
But Of respectable connections, clinging
to his persoH--and there you have Mr..
John L. Redette. otherwise known Is
Texas Jack. He Is a.genuine tramp
printer, surrounded with alI the roman
tic halo Of a rover, an adventnrer. a SOL
dier Of fortune. His sole object in min
Cling with men now appears to be 10 in
duce them to ''gIve mp" and be sum-
mons to his aid an eloquence which,
though his voice is husky, is quaint \ nd
irresistible. When the Capital man ran
against Jack be was pleading with a
young man who did not seem inclined
to respond literally 10 the demands
made upon him. "You are young
man" said Jack, posturing himself with
one hand bob5Ing up his coat tail, "of
fine ability, OF elegant accomplishments.
m the prime and vIgor Of your manhood,
surrounded with friends, receiving a
high salary, with your breeehes lined
with money. Look at me; used up phys
ically, morally and financially. Such
as you should rally to my rescue and
buoy me up, and al that sort of thing.
Won't you give ups" The young man
still seeming disinclined to ''giVe up, :"
Jack regarded him with smile which
expressed dlsdain and pity, while he
remarked as he turned away, Young
man, your face Is good. but your heart
is light. The warmest language OF the
Sunny South would not touch your
heart"
Jack next fell into the hands oil the
Capital man. who proceeded TO turn the
tables, and made Jack himself give up"
a little of his personal history.
"You are an old-timer, aren't you
Jack 20 inquired the Capital man.
81 should smile," replied Jack, and
he suited the action to the word, smil-
lag broad smile. which bowed all the
creases ia his cheeks into nooses.
"Where were you born
"Natchez, my bog, Nstcbez-on the
Hill-on the banks ofthe Father Of Wa
tiers, on the beautiful Mississippi. l
was born in 1920. | have been here
some time"
"How have you spent your days ?"
81 am aprinter. have been pub
Usher Of four of the finest newspapers
On thIs continent. | published the Al
bany Democrat, and also the Aspinwall
Courier. I am a printer, am; | am
no small-pica setter. Every dollar /
earned passed over the counter. In
the days Of my youth and prosperity
cast my money on the waters, and IL has
never returned to me. Thought money
grew on trees then. II never occurred
10 me that the days Of adversely, days
OF financial depression, days ofstagna-
ton Of labor and trade were coming, but
they came. Now I find myself in the
sere and yellow leaf, without a cent to
bless me, travelling around like big yell
low dog''-and Jack, who had sat down
during this recital, and thrown one leg
upon the table. looked long and earn
estIy at the toe Of his boot, which was
in about the same dilapidated condition
as himself, and seemed to be gazing
down the long aisle OF time TO the days
when he was a healthy young buck,
with his breeches Tired with money and
the world before bin.
"You have been around some, guess, .
suggested the Capital man, interruPting
this TeveTy. M
II have travelled a litIle," replied
Jack, rousing himself. IL was four
years in the gold regions OF California.
/ have been in France, Spain and Ger
many. Then ] was young aud had mo-
ney. What travelling / have done in
the past few years have done in slow
coaches"
"How are you on the walk -
VERY poor on the walk" replied
Jack, scarcely noticing the interruption.
~ am writing up story now-'The
White Chief Of the Cherokees; or, the
Scout Of the Valley In 80 ] was
known as the White Chief Of the Cher
okees. lived out there then"
"You have seen some thrilling times,
then ?"
"Yes; went on The expedition 20
Cuba IN 1850 on the Creole, and went
on the last expedition in 1851, under
General Lopez. They hunted Us down
like dogs then, and shot Iifiy-twO OF us.
I was sent to the chain gang ia Spain
for ten years, but | was pardOned Out in
two months because | was an American
citizen. Then I was nine months fight
ing the Incatete Indians in the revolt
against Mexico"
.Were YOU in the Mexicsu wsr?"
81 was there when the first gun was
fred"
"Did you serve in the late war 20
81 held the small rank Of Major in
the 18th Mississippi. ] fought for the
Lost Cause. We were in the most tear
ful charge that was made at Gettysburg,
when the ranks were moved down, the
men slaughtered like sheep. The mimic
balls cut my hair; but bear charmed
IiGe." Jack sadly bowed his bead a
rxnrnenf and then looked up remarked: