The Osceola times., 1881-01-15
AN ANGEL FROM PARADISE.
lie Demonstrates the superiority of Physi
cal Courage.
Virginia New Chronicle.


I'm roarin' ripsnorter from hoorah
camp, aud ! can't be stepped on re-
marked thick-set, white-eycd man,
with lower jaw like a cow-catcher of a
locomotive, as he staggered into {
street saloon and thumpcd the bar with
his fist until the glasses iingled.
The barkceper caught a whisky bottle
that was just tumbing Off the bar and
told the stranger that he needn't make
so much noise about it, as nobody wanted
to step on him.
"Y6u bet they don't, young fcller. I'm
an Angel from Paradise Valley, and a
bad one, too; and when flop my wings
there's tornado loose. Give me some
o your meanest whisky, and a whole lot
Of fit-somethin' that tastes like humble
bee slings picked in vitrol.'
While the barkeeper was hunting
around for some fusel oil, and rubbing a
glass with 4 red pepper, Il group around
the stove surveyed the stranger curiously.
4 thin gentleman with a bulging fore
head and 4 dyspeptic look said to the
others: "Now, there's an illustration Of
what | was saying. 4 bully is always a
coward That fellow would have no
moral courage whatever were lac put TO
the test If he were challenged to fight
without cause he could not attain the
sublime height Of moral heroism to re-
fuse. lie would be afraid of being called
coward; but, mind YOU. hc would never
hrag and bully unless he thought he had
the advantage You see hc is a stout
man and presumes upon his physical sll-
periority TO most men TO bully and black
guard them. Now, Bill, here is stronger
than that boWhard, but You never see
him in fight. He's quiet; but get him
started, and he would be lion aroused.
He's got moral courage"
The Bili' referred to was tall, pow
crfuliy built man, with steel gray eyes
and firmly set mouth. He said nothing
in reply to the compliment paid him.
but quietly watched the Angel from Par
adisc. The latter drank his whisky and
smashed the glass on the bar. "What in
- do yer mean by giving a gentleman
such stuff as that? Did ] ask yeh loi
rinsins, yeh ohickcn-livered whelp? I've
got graveyard full of roostcrs that play.
ed that racket on me. I've got mind
to fan the air with yer corpse"
"Now, get out Of this said the bar.
keeper becoming angry.
Get Out o. nothin', Gimme a'drink
and all you starved buns around the
stove come up here and have drink
with a thoroughbred high-stcpper for
once. just 10 say we've drank in decent
company, tn be an honor TO tell yer
children about it some day, if such an
ornory lot O cusses own any children
Now, waltz up lively and take yer medi-
cine"
Don't care for anything; thank you,
said the dyspcptic philosopher quietly
"leh don't? Wen, tell yeh to take
suthin. | hold the age in this game and
when chip everybody comes in. Ante
up to the bar, now, and look pleasant
Great Scott Ych need suthin' in yer
belly to balance that swcllcd head O.
yourn. Come up. the rest o you buns" ="
Nobody stirred, but all looked at the
dyspeptic, who quietly said; I'VE will not
drink with YOU
"No? lt'd be cheaper for yeh to crawl
into prospect hole and pull tomb
stone over yer head. | kin lick the
whole town from hell to breakfast, and |
believe I'll start in on this deadfall
Look out for a hurricane when | swoop.
Whoop I'm a.cominW
In about two minutes the beyel-headed
admirer Of moral courage was a dilapi-
dated piece Of bric-a-brac, the big man
called Bill was sopping cold water on his
eye in the back room, and the rest of the
crowd scattered about the place in va
rious stages Of discouragement, while the
Angel from Paradise was standing on a
billiard table and shouting: where's the
rest of yer population? Trot out yer co.
horts and fetch ON the mob. Pm an
Angel from Paradise, and holy terror
when | flop my wings. | swalered a
cyclone for breakfast and a powder mill
for lunch, and haven't begun to cough
yet Where's the populace Of this broken
down chicken ranch? I'm not myself
tonight and want exercise