Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-11-04
Col Bob Jarvis.
from the Argonaut.l

tyzonan The bit OF whey ard surround
ing our whitewasbed cabin was an emer
old set in the dull golden brown plain
Before the door an srtesisn We'll giiuered
In ahe sun like an inverted crVslal bowl,
EscQ!apius called the spot F,zzan, AID
gradually | came TO think the well
Toantain, and the sunburnt waste about
zls stretch Of yellow sard.
when | had walked to the field OF whis
pering corn behind the house, and through
Ihe struggling vines TO the edge OF The
vineyard in front, came back 10 where
my invalid sat beneath the feathery
as.cias, dreaming in happy lonesomeness.
"Did you ever see such placid, bright,
ethereal stillness?' | asked.
Eucalyptus took mis- cigar from his lips,
sad looked at me pensivey.
aft may bs my misfortune, hope 1t is
not my fault, but do not remember 10
have seen stiffness OF any sort"
Escuapius has but one shortening.
lie 10 not poet, | never wound him by
appearing to notice this defect; 80 | sat
down on the dry burr. clover, anC made no
reply. , .,,r, ,.,. :, i .
Eaannish, instructive way, but, In TACT,
there are a thousand sounds. AT night
when il is really quiet you viii hear the
rosr of the ocean ten miles away. Hsrk y
Our host was singing far down in the
corn. He WAS a preacher, deep.toned
Methodist, Drumming over with vocal
Riety.
"Nearer the great white throne,
Nearer the Jasper sea-
came 10 US in slow, rich cadences.
The fern.like branches above us stirred
softly against the blue. Little aromatic
whifis came from the grove Of pale Ell.
Gslyptus trees near the house Esculapius
diluted the intoxicating air with tobacco
smoke and remained sane, but as Tor me
&be sunshine went to my head, and whirl.
ed and eddied there like some eastern
drag.
MY love" | said, wildly, "if we stay
here very long and nothing happens, |
shall 90 something rash"
The next morning huge derrick irown-
I'D in the doOrway, and a picturesque
Qroupe of workmen lounged under the
acacias. The well had ceased to flow
Esculaplus called me to q corner OF the
piazza, and spoke in low, hurried tones:
Something has happened" he said;
a'the vel has stopped thought itmighi
relieve your feelings to get off the quota
sion about the golden bowl and the wheel,
and the pitcher and the fountain, etc. /;
Qhen, if it is safe to leave you, would
Alike to 90 hunting"
looked at him with profound com.
passion.
II have forgotten the quotation" |
said, "but think 1t begins The grind
4ers shsll cease because they are few
perta you had better take core OF your
shotgun, and don't forget your light over
coat. Good bye"
Then | took pitcher and went down
abe walk to the disglorified well. The
musical drip on the pebbles was hushed;
she charm of our oasis had departed, In
its place stood length of rusty pipe full
of standing water Some bits Of msiden's-
hair | had placed in reach OF the cool
rspray Yesterday were already withereG in
qhe sun. | sadly took the gourd from its
notch in the Willows Some one had
Deen before me and carved &" Ichahod
on its handle. | filed my pitcher and
Gurned 10 go. A tall form separated itself
from the group OF workmen and came
gallsutlv forward.
"Madsme," said rich hearty voice,
a~df you'll Just allow me, III tackle that
Eitcher, and tote IL in to you. JARVIS IS
any name, Col Bob jarvis, well orer.
We struck a 10-inch flow down at Scrsn.
sons last week, and rather knocked the
Bottom out Of things around here"
"But the pitcher isn't at all heavy,
Col Jarvis"
"Oh, never mind that; anything's too
heavy for lady; that's my sentiments.
You see, I'm a ladies' man-born and
brought up 70 it. Nursed my mother snd
two auuts and a grandmother through
consumption, end never let one OF 'em liit
a finger. Robert my mother used to
saw. in her thin. sickly voice, Robert, be
Erue 10 I'd and the women and, by god
grey, mean to beW
relinqushed the pitcher instantly.
Esculapius was right; something had
happened. The well WAS gone, but in its
place had found something one thous-
and times more refreshing. When my
husband returned he found me sitting
breathless and absorbed under the AGA
cias.
Hushl" said, with upr,ised finger;
"listenl"
our host and the Colonel were talking
rs they worked at he well.
We've had glorious meetings this
week, over at Gospel SWAMP, JARVIS"
the minister was saying. g look Tor
YOU every night II you could just come
over and hear the singing, and have some
OF the good brothers and sisters pray
with you, don't you think ~
"Whv. God bless your soul man." In
corrupted the Colonel, don't you know
that I'm religiouss I'm with you right
along, as to the first principles, thst Is;
but you see can't quite go to the Aetho.