The Red Cloud chief., 1881-01-06
OLD BILLINGS.

No ONE called him anything else; not
MIR. nor 30, though that WAS his name,
nor anything but just on billings.
And ye; he was not 80 very old. No
Adcr than Squire Ersaine or Parson
Dale, whom 10 one would have thought
of calling Old Erskine or Old Dale.
" - was il, then, that made the differ
Perhaps it vas partly that these lat
. ter gentlemen wore fine broadcioih and
immaculate linen, while the hero OF this
sketch o trowseTS of tow ba@ging,
and no linen To speak of; but still more,
doubtless, it wa because of that indie
Unable something which makes us
couple the prefix oLd with tramp or
NEl~pnd, meaning thereby any MAJ
wlrNas no fixed relations to society,
andIannot give Il satisfactory account
of himself.
His first appearance in Dalton was
after this wise; in the dress which |
have described, he one day made his
WAY through The crowd of loungerS in
Mr.. Barnabec store, and asked for cod
fxh aud crackers. MIR. Barnabee looked
sSsnim sharply, not to cay supegcilious-
ly, and said:
rIou can pay, | SUPPOSE"
For answer, the strange man threw a
half-dollar on the counter. Mr.. Barna-
bee tossed il UP once or twice, and find
ing il rang like genuine coin. furnished
him the desired articles, remarkingthat
it X1s a pleasant day.
$40, YOU call it pleasant because the
sun shines, but suppose IT never ralned;
Vhat then? All DAYS are alike To the
wise And with this singular answer.
MIR. Barnabee's customer turned and
went out. Notwithstanding there were
those who would fain have detained him
With questions.
~ the ommon We're some boys play
inSk ball; Sec that old trampIn said
one. throwing tie ball and hitting the
unoffending man between the shoulders.
He turned and said, For a less otfense
than this the prophet Elisha cursed the
children of Jericho. and called two rag
inc bears out of the woods TO deyour
them."
f.Why don't you?' asked a boy.
I"Rccause I'm not the Prophet Eli
sha." said the man.
What a queer old fellow! Who is
he" said the boys, watching his re-
trcannr figure, but offering no further
molestatlon.
But the question "Who is hep" was
sxon answered, for u dav or two after
,A,rds the stranger called At the post,
office. which occupied six square feet
in y corner OF Mr.. Barnabee's store, and
asked for a letter for Joseph Billings;
and what is more, he got one.
II had the name of a NOw York bank
nr;nted on the envelope, and contained
4 check. which he Immediately got
nd sSimilar letters continued Ia
live at intervals. the TO which
xrcre directed in a bold, daShing hand.
He also took n daily paper, and dis
onsscJ the atlairs of the country with
;n~,eIlicence. 1t was plain he had not
been brought up in ignorance.
N one day n still more surprising
,4;nw happened. Passing the academy
Tard, be saw Fred Loring sitting on the
fepce. under the butternut tree, with a
hook in his hand.
..Copfound the old Latin!" said Fred.
slapping the book against his knee i'm
nn,irntiy. as if it were 10 blame for
30 printed in a dead language,
"Conround ftp" said Old Billings.
N,.y not so. my boy. We read that
m tnnrues we're confounded at the
Tau-nr of Babel, but we have ever since
benn studying TO make them plain Let
tho old man see your book. Ctcer0-ah,
YES; an old friend.
And. TO the surprise of Fred, nouns,
verbs and adject.ves were quickly mar
shaled into their places, with a u re-
SyNto number. person anu decienSlon,
- order was evolved from chaos.
Soo;np this. other boys gathered
- and Leo Kirk came running up
I'll his Greek Reader, crying. "Say,
an O help me with my lesson
..y,auhtless; and also with that wind
mill Issw you whiting just now.
I'bis raised a shout of laughter al
neu and the ragged phi!oso-
- Continued, THE leSson-firSt,
Us nat your work before your wind,
Lis and You'll be sure to prosper.
IA not: nine iLG idchrymG.
.*Wbat does that mean?" asked Leo
;teraIly. hence these tears; freely
Stated II means. hence Joseph BIZ
inns i = poor vagabond instead OF
Hills -
useful citizen.
The academy at Dalton was one o.
;nstitutions, sprinkled so plerti-
f tuH among New EN-, England ind d sSSn,
WIZ 1t the same time receive ali the
anu u Of country air and living.
0e Most of its students boarded in pr.
tn,n;Iies. and many had homes III
TIaIponr Mir. Rounce, the preceptor,
p w ! a ssaid family man. who sometimes time
sook the students under r, his s, own do sn,
ano, MISTY. so that, on the whole, hi
ane was thought to combine vari
acs and uncommon advantages. he
Gus s,b aha has nc spot 50 secluded or 50 IA
ea arod t that evil and temptation may no
aotor and Dalton was 10 exception q
this this rule. as you viii ,w presently a9yeI sss; on,
uae ~ night in early autumn tina