The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-02-14

"Thank you, Mr.. Small" said sMr
Signal; and then, after some pause
resuming audibly the thread of his
own thought, he asked: ''Mr. Small
do not you believe in the overruline
providence of God?"
(which God?"
"There is but God"
II don't see it, Parson. On this
yere Pacific Coast, gods is numerous
Chinee gods, Mormon gods, Injin
gods, Christian gods, an the Bank O
Californy.".
Perhaps so, Mr.. Small-it is writ
ten there be gods many; but there is
one only true God, Jesus Christ the
righteous"
"Don't see it, Parson."
The Reverend Mr.. Signal rose
quickly to his feet, and pulled down
his vest at the waistband, like a war;
rior unconsciously feeling for the
girding Of his armor.
"Do you deny the truth Of the
sacred Scriptures, Mr.. Small?"
Il don't deny nothin', 'cept what
kin come before me to be recognized
What I say is, I don't see it"
'You don't see it?"
mo, sirr'-emphasis on the sir.
perhaps not, with the natural eye
sight; but with the eye of faith, Mr..
Small, you can see it, if you humbly
and honestly make the effort"
II hain't got but two eyes-no
extra eye fer Sunday use. What |
can't see, nor year, nor taste, nor
smell, nor feel, nor make up out O.
recollection an hitch together, hain't
notbin' to me. That's my meanin'
when say, I don't see it.
Il am deeply griey,ed to hear you
speak so, Mr.. Small"
"Now, look yere, Parson," replied
Mr.. Small, as he got up to hustle
about his work, ''fellers like me,
livin' out O doors, has got God
what couldn't git into one of your
meetin' houses"
"Mr. Small-pardon me-there is
glimmer Of what seems to be meaning
in your remark, but really,I fail to
comprehend you"
''That's hit''-it will be observed as
a popularity in Mr.. Smalls language
IA peculiarity common to unlettered
western-born Americans) that he
sounds the emphatic form Of the pro-
noun 1T with the aspirate h" that's
hit! That's the high-larnt way to
say, L don't see it. Now, we're even,
Parson-only you've got a million O
meetin'- house bells to do the 'plaudin'
fer you, an l haint got nary one.
But these yere mountains, an them
bright stars, an yonder moon pullin'
bright over the summit, would plaud
me ef | knowd how to talk for what
made 'em. Hush-listen!'' said Small,
suddenly pausing and pointing under
the moonlight across the dim valley.
''That's coyote; wonder which of
US he's laughin' at"
"Yash; kiotee. He heap. Mebhe
so tabbit ketch um," said the Indian,
rising and gathering up his blanket to
retire. me heap sneep" (sleep).
"Throw down another stick O wood
off the wagon, Gov, before yer go to
bed"
"Yash; me heap shneepy," replied
the Indian, stretching and yawning
with uplifted hands, from one Of
which his red blanket draped down
for a moment over his shoulder, gor-
geous in the dancing campfire light.
While the Indian climbed the wag-
on=side for the stick of wood, Mr..
Signal remarked: "Mr. Small, before
we retire, may l not ask the privilege
Of few words Of audible prayer to
God for his preservation through the
night hours.
"Yes, sir. Yere, Gov, come yere.
want that Injin to year one prayer, eff
he never years another. I've paid
money when I was boy to hev In
iins prayed fer, an now I'm goin' to
see some of it done. Come yere
Gov"
The Indian came to the fire-side.
"Yere, Gov-you sabe? This away;
all same me"-and Mr.. Small drop
ped upon his own knees at the side of
his roll of bedding.
"Al.-a-same-Injin all-a-same-lit-
tie stand-up?" asked Gov, dropping
his blanket, and placing his hands up
on his knees.
"Yes! Little stand up-all same
me p
"Yash p assented Gov, on the op-
posite side of the roll, setting gradu-
ally upon his knees.
It happened that the parson kneel-
ed facing the Indian. so that the In
dian, had him in full view with the
freight shining on the parsons face,
and not being accustomed to the FAM
lily worship, nor having had the mat
ter fully explained to him, he conceiv-
ed the idea Of doing as others did; so
that when the parson turned his face
to the stars, and shut his eyes, the In
dian did so too, and began repeating
in very bad English, word for word,
the parsons prayer-which piece of
volunteer assistance not COMFORTING
with Mr.. Small's impression of do
mestic decorum, caused that stout
gentleman to place his hands upon
the Indians shoulders and jerk him
face down, upon the bedding, with the
fercely whispered ejaculation, DRY
up!
The Rev. Mr.. Signal prayed for the
persons present, in their various con-
ditions, and their safety through the
night; acknowledging that he knew
Gods hand was, in these vast soli-
tudes, guiding as of old the swoop of
the ravens wing and marking the
death-bed Of the sparrow. There was
much in the prayer that was fervent
fitting, but nothing that could be
fairly called original.
When the party arose to their feet,
Mr.. Signal sat down, burying his face
in his hands supported by his knees;
Mr.. Small changed an unbaked for a
baked loaf with the bake-kettle; and
Aho Indian tokinn IN h;n r1 hot