The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-28
Little lke.0

IL VIC CorIei OF CROSSROADS grave yard,
IN Iowa, there is a small white head stone
on which is carved Little Ike" never
knew the boy this stone commentaries,
but know his father. l got acquainted
IN this wise: We (frlend and self were in
Iowa in the chicken season of '72.
The shooting III those days was excellent.
we had left Noah Springs III the early
morning, with tho intention of beating the
fields on both sides of tho road as far as
the next village, distance from Noah
Springs, some eight or ten miles. 1t was
hot August day, and the fun of shooting
was somewhat tempered by the fact that
we must carry our own game. A sports
man with few dozen chickens sccretcd
about his person may be quite proud of
his trophies, but he is not quite comfort
able.
The set of shooting coat well loaded is
not agreeable. AT twilight, tired with the
tramp in tangled grass, and the jar Of got
ting over fences, we whistled to the dogs,
and took the road for the village. We had
chickens in our pockets and chickens on
ings.
The evening was still aud hot, and we
plodded silently On toward supper and
bed.
Family ahead of as in the road we could
hear wagon moving slowly. We hailed
it, and 1t stopped and waited for us. 1t
proved to be wagon loaded with. wheat,
and drawn by oxen, going to market. We
asked permission to ride.
The old man who was driving told us
to f.get on" We did so, taking seats at
his side on the bugs Of grain. We did
not feel like conversing, and nothing was
said for some time, until finally the man
remarked:
Il didn't used to drive oxen"
Then, after an interval of some minutes
he continued:
81 used to have the best pair Of horses
in the country"
Feeling that something ought to be said,
encouraged him by asking how the change
came about.
lie whacked the near OK, and gave q
brief word of eXhortution to the of one.
and continued:
Little Ike had something tho matter
with his eye something seemed to be
growing on the inside and crowdng lis
eye out; and so mother and me allowed
that he must be took to Chicago to see the
doctor. 1t was right in hayjng, and har-
vest coming on, and labor scarce but
took little Ike and started. Put up at the
Eagle tavern, right opposite the depot.
Ever been in Chicago z" g
We nodded assent and he resumed:
''fOund the doctor in the morning and
he looked at Little ike a long time and ask ed
him and me questions. Asked me if was
farmer, and did own my farm He
said he did not know whether it was best
to do anything.
Took me into his back Office, away from
Little Ike, and said if nothing was done
- I----'H i!'' !" Loco th"" q yaar and
If something was done ho ,,.iesh. a. So.
then. l understood him 10 say there was
one chance in ten of his living. l asked
him what he would Charge, and then l
took Little Ike and went back to the tav-
orn.
i could not tell him what the doctor
said, couldn't bear to think of his diving,
and l couldn't bear to think of his beng
hurt. We took the traiD and came home.
l wanted TO see what mother would say
Wheat was ready to cut and help was
| talked it over after Little Ike went to
sleep, and tho next day 1 sold my team,
got little girl to come and tend to things,
and Littlo Ike, me and mother started for
Chicago.
don't blame the doctor, he done tho
| best he could, and tried to comfort mother.
That was on Tuesday, year ago. If Ike
had lived he'd bee ten years old. Next
| day after we started for home, me and
Little"
Here the sad man coughed, and made a
side remark to the oxen, and resumed:
"We had to put his coffin forrard in
the car with the trunks. have to drop
you OF here. 60 this way down to the
MILL"
We shook hands with the old man, said
clumsy word or two, AND turned up the
village street.