The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-04
YIK KEE.

YIK KEE.
After father died some ten years ago,
found that for three years we had
been living on credit. | was eighteen,
strong and well, but did not kno how
to work. In the little back room of the
New York tenement house (by the way,
the landlady seized my clothes for our
rent) | considered my future. ] had
inherited a great faith in relatives, from
my father SO wrote to seven. / re-
ceived six polite notes, telling me to go
to work, and the following letter:
JoNEsBoRo, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES RANCH.
DEAR NELL.-Tm your cousin Jack. Your
fathet once give me money to come out West.
I've took up land, got a comfortable home, no
style or frills, but good folks to live with and
healthy grub. I've got the best wife you ever
see and seven fine youngsters. The city amt
no place for a friendless girl. Wife wants you
to COME She'll be a mother to you. Come
right off. I'll meet you at Denver. JACK.
Inclosed was check sufficient to de-
fray expenses; so l started. Denver
was then only large town and the de-
pot a barn-like structure. / got out of
the cars and stood bewildered among
all the emigrants and their bundles.
Some one touched me on the shoulder
roughly-dressed, broad-shouldered
man with long, blonde beard and big,
blue eyes.
"Are you NellP" he said.
Eyes and you're Cousin jack
II knew you, he said, as he led the
way, "by your black clothes an sorrer-
full look, an them big, blue eyes, like
yer fathers as two peas. Well pit the
shader outer 'em when we git home
Yer father was mighty good man.
Bless yer dear heart, don't let them
tears come. This ere IS dry country;
we don't waste no water"
Comforting me in his kind, rough
way, he reached his team, a big, green
wagon, drawn by two Withholding
steeds which I afterward knew to be
bronchos. A fat, blonde boy, about
twelve, held the reins.
THAT'S Ted" said Cousin Jack.
"Ted, this is Miss Nell, yer cousin; give
her q hug" The fat boy solemnly
obeyed.
After this he seemed to have a special
claim on my affections because he met
me first, Jacks wife was Jolly,
plump woman, with brown ewes and
curly hair. She always had a baby in
her arms and another at her HEELS She
Rdored Jack. / never knew them to
have quarrel. soon grew to love the
life at the ranch. L liked the big, half
finished house, its untidyness and COM
fort-its pleasant, healthy atmosphere.
loved the children, the household pets
--Shep, the sagacious dog; Thad, the
clever cat; the hens and sheep; the
horses Dolly, Dot and Daisy, that did
the blowing and the marketing at Dem
yer, twelve miles away, and were SO
gentle and kind we used to ride them
without saddle or bride. [ learned
that cattle grew fat on the dry-lookino.
grass and gave the best of milk. /
learned to love the broad plains and the
glorious sunsets, and to watch the dis
tant bands of Indians with half fear,
half interest. l helped Cousin Mary.
sewed and cooked, kept the house and
children neat and lifted many burdens
from her weary shoulders. We were so
happy. The children and took lone
walks over the plains, and Ted and /
took many rides on Dolly and Dot, and
In the long winter evenings l told the
children stories. Occasionally Harry
White came over to visit us from his
ranch five miles away. He lived with
)is old mother; he and Jack were dear
friends. Harry needed wife, Jack
used to say, winking at me.
One day Jack went to Denver for
supplies. He went alone, and COMING
home later than usual, Ted and / and
baby Name went out to meet him.
Jack looked sober and guilty, and
seemed i'll at ease. If he ever drank. |
should have thought him intoxicated.
In the wagon was queer-shaped heap
under a horse blanket. was sure #
moved. When we got behind the barn
Jack said, sheepishly, avoiding my eve:
"Well, Ted, calkerlate I've got
su thing in that there Vaughn that 'ul
astonish yer marin.
Little Name pulled the blanket off
the heap; she had been peeping under
it all the while she was in the back OF
The wagon. There lay human being.
Such an object; short and SQUAT,
dressed in queer blue blouse with
flowing sleeves, wide trousers and queer
wooden shoes. He had small, black
eyes, a shaven poll, from which de-
pended q long, thin queue. His counte-
nance was battered and bruised, his
clothes torn and bloody.
"There was row down to Denver
said Jack; ''the Christian folks stove in
these ere heathen's winders, tore their
houses down, an killed half on em.
cleared out soon as could. When ]
rot half way home | heard noise back
o me, and out crawled this thing.
was so dumbfounded | couldn't speak,
He thought was going ter send him
back, an he fell ter cryin' and jabber-
in in that zap of his, an clingin' onter
my ham an kissin' of it. 1t sorter
turned my stomach. told him ter SET
down, give him some crackers ter eat.
covered him up an told him he could
live with me. What do you spose
marm Ii sayp"
"Oh! Cousin jack" 1 said, cot
course, she will not care. Your home
is refuge for all the wretched and I'm.
fortunate"
''Now, don't Nell," he said, turning
as red as rose, and busying himself
about the harness. The Celestial
looked at us solemnly; Name toddled
up to him. He looked at her curiously,
but did not move.
Get out, john said Jack; esyou
needn't be scared no more; we're to
home
He got out stifiy, and, to my sur
prise, turned and lifted the baby down.
She caught his pig-tail and pulled it in
wild delight. He seemed grieyed when
took her away. When Jack told Mary.
ihe good soul found thousand reasons