Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-01-05
JOE LAmBERr's FERRY.

JOE LAABEhI'S fkhHis
1t was thoroughly disagreeable
March morning. The wind blew in
sharp gusts from every quarter of the
compass by turns. 1t seemed 10 take
especial delight In rushing suddenly
around corners and taking away tho
breath of anybody it could catch there
coming from the opposite direction.
The dust. too, filed peoples eyes and
noses and mouths. while tho damp, raw
March air easily found its way through
the best clothing. and turned boys skins
into p'mply goose-fesh.
II was out as disagreeab'e . morn
ing for going out as can be imagined;
and yet everybody In the little western
river town who could get out went out
and stayed out
Men and women, boys and girls, and
even little children, ran TO the river
bank; and once there they stayed, with
no thought. It seemed. Of going back to
their homes or their work.
The people OF the town were wild with
excitement. and everybody told every
body else what had happened. although
everybody knew all about 1t already.
Every body. mean. except Joe LAM
bert. and he had been so busy ever
since daylight. saving wood in Squire
Grisard woodshed. that he had neither
seen nor heard anything ut all. Joe
was the poorest person In the town.
He was the only boy there who really
had no home and nobody to care for
him. Three or four years before this
March morning. Joe had been left an
orphan. and being utterly destitute. he
should have been sent 10 the poor
house, or - bound out" TO some person
rs q sort OF servant But jos Lambert
had refused TO go to the poor- house or
10 become bound boy. he had do
clared his ability 10 take care of him.
self, and by working hard at odd Jobs,
saving wood. rolling barrels on the
wharf. picking apples or wedding on
ions rs opportunity oiicrei. he had
managed to support himself later a
manner" as the village people said
That is to say. he generally got enough
10 eat, and some clothes TO wear. He
slept In q warehouse shed. the owner
having given him leave to do SO on
condition that he would act as q sort OF
.watchman on the premises.
Joe Lambert alone of all the villagers
knew nothing Of what had happened;
and Of course Joe Lambert did not
count for anything In the est nation Of
people who had houses {, live in. The
only reason ! have gone out Of the way
10 make an exception of SO unimpor-
tant q person Is that think Joe did
count for something ON that particular
Mnroh d.v n Ioaaf
When he finished the pile OF wood
that he had TO saw. and went to the
house TO get his money. he found no
body there. Going down the street no
found the town empty. and, looking
down cross street, he saw the crowds
that had gathered on the rivcr-bank,
thus learning at last that something un-
usual had occurred. OF course he ran
10 the river to learn what it was.
When he got there he learned that
Noah Martin. the fisherman who was
also the fcrryman between the village
its ncighbor on the other side Of the
river. had been drowned during the
early morning in foolish attempt 10
row his ferry-skif across the stream.
The ice which had blocked the river for
two months, had tcgua 20 move on the
day be ore. and Martin with ms vile
and baby-a child about q year old
were on the other side Of the river af
the time. Early on that morning there
had been Temporary gorging Of the
tce about mile above the town, and.
taking advantage OF the comparatively
free channe'. Martlp had tried to cross
with his wife and child. in his bat
The gorge had broken up almost i'm
mediately. - the river was rising rapid |
~. and Martins boat had been caught |
and crushed in the ice Martin hal |
been drowned. but his vile. with her |
child IN hcr arms. had clung 10 the |
wreck OF the skin, and had been carried
BY the current to . little low-lying |
Island just in front Of the town.
What had happened was Of less i'm
portsnce, however, than what people |
saw must happen. The poor woman |
end baby out thero On tho islnnd, |
drencbcd - t1cy Bad been IN the ~ /
water, must ooon d. With cold. ond. 1
noreover. ~ is'and Was now neor1y l
under winter: While The great stream was |
rising 1ptdIy- Il was evident that
within ~ hour or two the water would /
sweep over ne whole surface q ~
Island. ea4 ne GFenf ne1ds of ice w9uId
q coar.e carry ths wonan - cha -
. tsuib1e 4essh
9sry w'ld cgese'o.s xefe ~ -