The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-06-09

to himself. Whistler! my beauty! my
finest and harnsomest feller that ever I
druv! l do hope and pray he'll hev
the strength to stand it out till mornin'!
What's t?'-and with held breath
he listened to sudden sound; go! it's
nothin' but a stone Ireckon! pray that
ar hoss'l Ii stand it. Pray! why shouldn't
prayP" he cried, jumping up sudden
ly. "Don't the Lord like his creeters
as well as his folks? I've heerd tell as
how he don't let no single swallow fall
ter the ground without a-noticin' of it!
Why shouldn't he be a-watchin' Whis-
tier now! Why can't l ask Him to put
pluck into the splendid feller's heart
and sinners of steel inter his legs-but
fer that matter He did it when he made
'em! will arsk Him anyhow. 'Twon't
do no harm. Nobody'll hear mer-
and Dick. going away from the others.
knelt down in the dust and said,
Lord, I'm an ignorant man and bad
'un. l drink an l cuss an l don't
never pray, not since rs boy! but o
Lord, if you'll only just get Whistler
outen this ye'er awful bad box, I'll try
ter do my level best for yer all the rest
of my days, so help me God. Amen"
/ just as he got through and rose with
a half blush in the darkness, the soft,
questioning whinny came up again, and
he shouted, "Hang on, Whistler, the
Lords agoin' to help yer-I asked himr'
Morning dawned, bright and beauti-
full. The moment it was light, Dick
woke up all the men and prepared for
business" Being securely fastened in
a hoop himself, he had ropes and the
leather band and blankets to carry down
with him, and soon was hanging beside
Whistler, who stood as quiet as if he
were cast out of bronze. Long and
patiently the man worked, in that dam
gerous and inconvenient position; but
finally he had his favorite rugged SO,
that he was sure he could be drawn up
in safety. And with last caress on the
velvet nose and last encouraging word
to the wise and plucky horse, he began
to be swung up again to the top. 1t was
then that Whistler showed signs of dis
couragement The beautiful eyes which
had glowed SO deeply and clearly began
to be strained and blurred, the delicate
nostriis expanded and showed the red,
the tracery of veins came out big, all
over the fine expressive face and made
network over the clean-cut body!
Whistler could stand it but few mo-
ments longer. But in few moments
he was relieved! Gently, slowly, with
sure and certain movement he was
lifted Oft his feet. Wonderful as this
must have been to him, not struggle
did he make. Up, up, in mid-air he was
raised, higher and higher! The Jagged
rocks cut him a little, the scrubby bushes
pricked him-but Whistler knew that
life, life. depended upon his caution!
Not a kick or struggle he gave-and at
last he was pulled, sideways, up on to
the road, and lay in safety at the feet of
his master.
0! what hurrah arose! What long,
long, echoing cry of delight burst from
Dick Swinley's lips! How the poor suf-
ferer was rubbed and fed and petted
and caressed by every man in turn! And
when he was strong enough to be led
into the town what an evening they
made of it, telling :" the boys of this
miraculous escape! Dick and Whistler
| were the lions of the place. Nothing
was too good for either man or horse;
but when all his friends begged Dick
to drink, and toasted both him and
| Whistler in the whisky which he had
| never before disdained Dick cried,
- No, boys, once for all, no! Pm a-goin'
| to leave off drinkin' and all my bad
| habits just as fur as ken! promised
| it if only Whistler was saved! And you
were saved, weren't you, Whistlerp and
mebbe now you'll save me, my heartyr'
caressing Whistler's silky neck. "Yis,
I'm agoin' to keep my promise, be,
no marter what yer say. I've given
my word o honor and sticks to It if
dier'
The others, seeing Dick thoroughly
in earnest, grouped around him with
astonished but respectful countenances,
until one in rather scornful voice said,
Sc say Dick, who aOas't yer promised?''
"The Lord" said Dick, doffing his
hat and reverently bowling his head
Cora Lima Daniels, IN Examiner and