The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-02-21
tFrom Dio Lewis Monthly.1
BIG JACK SMALL.

BIG JACK SMALL.
"Parson," slowly queried Mr.. Small
''do yer think Jesus Christ made the
Canyon O. the Colol ado, an the world
hit runs through, an the sky hi
opens under, an the ocean at takes
hits waters?"
II do"
"Well, l don't know! Seems to me
thar was never nothin' born in Judeal
that he'd hands that kin lay over
Ameriky-an' nothin' was ever born
in America that he'd hands that kin
build ID ten-cent side-show to that al
canyon! Parson, them's things that
can't be wiped out, nor wrong-printed
in no book nor no new light cam t
make 'em more'n they jest are! What
ever made such things as them, an
these yer mountains, that's my God.
But He haint got no hands in the i'm
age these yere!'' extending his horny,
blackened palms, and adding as eli
max, yer kin bet yer sweet life on
that.
"Oh, Mr.. Small" cried Mr.. Signal,
rising to his feet. "My dear sir, do
you wish to deny, and throw away as
naught, all that the good Lord Jesus
our Divine Savior, has taught, and
fall back into heathenism
Il don't want to deny nothin' nor
fall back nowhar. Ef Jesus Christ
teaches men to do honest an fair, one
to another, that's all right, an I'm
with him, in my style, sech as it is;
but when your, or anybody else, asks
me to jump from that pint into the
idea that he made an rolls creation
that lets me out. Thar now, Parson
kinder understood you, be-
cause you was parson; but you was
MT likely to understand me, because
I'm bull-puncher. Now we under
stand each other. I've he'd my say,
an I'll listen to anything you've got
to say on the whole trip, as well as |
know how"
"Well, Mr.. Small said the Rever-
end Mr.. Signal, taking Big Jacks ex-
tended hand, whatever may be my
regrets, | can but respect the opinions
Of man who respectfully states them.
And | shall only pray to God to give
you clearer light"
"That's all right, Parson! An now,
as I've got your oatmeal cake baked
an everything done up brown, what
do yer say ef we roll out the blankets,
go to sleep, an forgit it all till NOR
MIN? ?"
81 shall be pleased to retire at any
time"
"Well, hits fine night" said Jack,
proceeding to unite the roll of his
bedding, IAN we needn't go under the
wagon, but jest spread down in the
evenest places we kin find"
The Reverend Mr.. Signal made his
first bed in the wilderness, and, as the
mountain phrase goes, "crawled in. :"
"Parson," said Mr.. Small, as he sat
in his bed Strengthening the blankets
about his feet, got plenty blankets? !?
| kin spare We pair"
Plenty, thank you.
'Good-night, parson."
Goodnight, and God bless you,
Mr.. Small -
The bright moon and SEARS moved
on in their long appointed courses
through the wide and cloudless sky,
the sage-hrush Of the valley stretched
far away, the mountain rose ragged
to the serrated summit, the cattle
browsed along the slope, the shadows
of the great wagons fell square and
dark upon the dry desert earth, and
natures old, old silence closed down
upon the wilderness.
In the morning, Mr.. Signal awak-
ened early, after sweet and refresh
ing sleep, his lungs and whole inner
man toned up with the dry, dewless
air, to find Mr.. Small far forward in
the preparation Of breakfast.
"Good-mornin', Parson! Didn't any
body disturb yer last night, walkin'
on the upstairs floor, did thar?"
'Good-morning, Mr.. Small! No;
I've had fine sleep''-drawing on his
wearing apparel.
when We sleep out nights yere,
whar thar's no dew fallin', hits bet
tern any hotel
Eyes, sir; the air is very refreshing
and inFigorating," said Mr.. Sighal,
stamping his feet into his boots, and
shaking the creases out Of his panta-
looks.
"Thar's soap an sort O. towel on
the wheel-hub, an ye kin take 'em an
go right over thar to them willer
bushes an hev wash, an then hash
IL be ready"
While Mr.. Signal and Mr.. Small
were taking breakfast after the Gus
tomary petition for grace, the first
gold rim Of the sun, with the distant
trees painted in its halo, rose into
view ON the top of the far-off eastern
mountains, and Gov Nye, with his red
blanket about his shoulders, came
softly across the nearer hills, the scat
tered cattle moving zigzag through
the sage-brush in front of him.
"Now, Parson," said Mr.. Small
when they had finished breakfast
well roll up, tie up, an hist up oul
beddin', then hitch up the bulls while
Gov eats his grub, an roll out
n