Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-10-18
A BETTER COUNTRY.


passed over him. and night began tc
howl around, while he lay motionless
as mummy on the low bank of Ramp
run, under sycamore tree. Ali its
leaves quivered with the storms breath.
The storm came roaring over hills and
tramping through woods, blottIng out
twilight and drenching the ground. 1t
washed Joe Trestlc as he had not been
washed for years. Ramp run rose to
the storm as willing child springs 10
its mother.
Water, we know, is rum foe to ex-
termination. Water pursued rum
through Joe Trestle's Jaws, his boots,
his skull BY continued dashes and
shocks it brought him back to the
world. He sat up in broad glare,
and saw the world as it were on fire.
But instant darkness buried him. He
heard the long, whistling sound of fall
ling trees, the roar of air and water,
and also, he thought, a child's cry.
Joe suspected it might be the iudg-
ment, but, being stolid fellow, he
clutched the sand and made no re-
marks If it were the judgment, he
"didn't feel prepared" But he never
expected to ''feel prepared" like less
soaked sinners. He was altogether vile.
There was no spot in him whereon
character might be started, except a
faint desire, hid and aching somewhere
to be better than he was. Joe had
staggered past his best years. At this
period he was willing TO sell his ances-
tors tombstone, his own ears, or even
his wife's chignon-if he had wife
for a satisfactory drink. Boys patron
lied him on the streets, and played
tricks on him, when he tucked himself
up like a chrysalis under stairway or
fence.
Joe had married wife, and beaten
her with many stripes; when the poor
thing could stand it no longer she crept
from his side and died. The knowl-
edge that he had child, daughter,
somewhere, touched his brain, but as
she never crossed his way, it was jos
tied aside by the more pressing affairs of
his misunderstanding something to
drink
A young peoples temperance society
once took Joe in hand. He signed the
pledge faithfully every weeK and was
sure to get out Of the ditch to be rem
stated at lodge.
But even they, young and hopeful,
gave him up. Joe Trestle was wreck
that could net be reconstructed. No
religion nor responsibility could reach
him. He must go his own way, drink
his last drink-die like brute, and 90
where? Lord have mercy on Joe
Trestle's soul!
1t was Il child's cry. human and
reaching, so that 1t cut across the
winds
Joe stood up in the deluge, he didn't
know just what to do, but, bent on
doing something for md. he put both
fists TO his mouth and yelled like
gorilla.
Again the child's cry:
"Oh! Oh!'
"Whclo are YEP" hooted Joe.
But his voice. lacking the sharp tenor
of childhood, was drowned Wander
ing nearer him, came the pitiful wall
ing:
"Oh! OH"
maybe the Banshee," thought jog,
cor old FoX's ghost, what killed him.
self down in the crick holler!'
The sky burst and split a broad, aw-
full glare, in which Joe saw woods and
muddy eXpanse of waters, and shining
earth, forming background for little
girl, who, as she thus saw him, put
more terror and despair in her crying,
and flew bindly against bushes
&c me yer! bawled Joe; II won't
hurt We? I'm nobody but Joe Trestle!
Come yer and tell me what's the
matteri'
Strangely, as soon as she heard his
name, the child dropped her fears.
She CROPPED and called; Joe CROPPED and
called, till she got his hand and stood
with him under the tree.
Another flash revealed her a sad
faced child, with hair like rag weed
and dress of paupee homespun. Her
eyes were lifted to him. She must have
seen he was bloated unreliable. But
her hand clutched his; she staid her
faith and safety on his company.
WAS We skeert?" yelled Joe
Eyes, most to death. And | couldn't
get acrost, and she said if didn't git
back fore dark she'd put me in the
house whore the crazy folks IS.
"Who said?"
MISS onllu, ludt keeps IHe poor
house. She sent me on an errant. |
just run till couldn't breave, and it
turned black and commenced to storm.
| couldn't find the foot-bridge. Every
time | started out where it was I'd Git
into the water It's washed off, aud
now how'll | ever git over it, and she
agoing to put me in the crazy house if
| stayed till after dark p
Joe was so sober he began to think.
Come back here bit. Sec if there
amt holer in this tree. Is, too! And
it's torable sized trunk Crawl in
there, and it'll kind o. shield We from
the wet. Powerful watery spell! That's
conf table, hey?"
"It's wet in here; but faint so
chilly"
That's better. Now you just take
it easy, sissy; Miss Smith or mono o.
them poor-house red tapes is goin' to
lay finger on We. She never put ye
in the crazy-house, did she?"
eyes --oh--h-hr' shuddered the
child
''What for? And didu'tit skeer YEP"
She said it was sasSin' her. She was
tellin' man what my father was; and
| said he wasn't neither! and she--1
''What'S your fathers name?''
Joe Trestle.'
Joe gulped throat full of mir.
"And She ketched me by the arm
and put me right in their hail. Oh,
YOU don't know how awful It's! They IT
behind iron wiuders; but the look into
the hall and yell and make faces. anC
grab like they'd tear you to pieces!
got down in a corner with my dresi
over my head, and said over and Over
to myself what Grandma Lane teachet
me.
What was that9"
For we look for better country!
It's in a big book she cau the bible,
tell heap of things, bat she saws thai
over the most. So says L: We loot
for better country-we look for n bet
ter country And it made me think o
another kind OF place.
whats your namep' asked Joe
TREMENDOUSLY.
"Sylvie Trestle
I'm your father, Amt 10 put 81
Joe. humbly.
Yes, 1 knowed it.
The storm was at full height. Il wa
autumnai equinox and fall of fury. Tia
little girl shivered. Joe erouched neal
er and felt for her shaggy head II
got it against his shoulder and cooe
softly to his child
"Do you hate me?n
No" said sylvie, Il like YER eudd