The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1885-08-27


~, a,rort ~ n. u,;Il and rasumed her
usual round NJ duties exccnt that much
~ hcr time WINS Of necessity given 10
the crinnled how. who Law in little cot
which had been made for him and
nlaced on wheels that he might be
moved about the house easily and out
into the ward ON pleasant DAYS.
Her husband now snent most of his
time In the house The winter rains.
which had sci in some weeks previously.
rendered outdoor work impossible for
days nj a time. and II thew had not done
90 John Parsons had lost all love for
work on the ranch. Resides. Johnny
claimed his almost undivided attention
nnw
The l;,,le fellow had taken 10 his
father from before the time when he
took his first .baby stems. and had never
been quite 40 we'll confronted as when
in b;s arms or nerched upon his
shoulders or following him about the
nIace. and now he could not bear TO
have him ont ~ his sight during his
waking moments
Often too in tho nipbt he would
waken and call in n weak. piping voice.
co different from what II had been in
health. and his father would arise and
IN Inv his side Tor hours moving his poor
wasted body this way or that to give
him a little moro ease or divert his
mind nv tales such as children love TO
hear until be fell asleep AGAIN or forgot
b;s ra;n
During tho dav he wheeled him about
the house. or. II IL was sunny, carried
him ont IN his arms To the poultry ward.
that bo might dron corn 10 his chickens
and dncks: or 10 the pasture lot, that he
| MIGHT mt ont his hand and pet the colt
that had been promised should be his
| when both were grown, upon which
promise no had built thousand castles
In the Air. of encounters with grizzly
hears and Indians. besides taking pre-
mi,Ims for speed Mt all the fairs in the
country.
II seemed that the man had but one
thought, one object in life ncw-that of
caring for the crippled boy.
Certain it is that he never laughed,
except when once in great while
something provoked the child TO laugh
ter; then the man always Joined in, but
at no other time did any member Of the
family see a smile upon his face; and
he never went from home any more,
not even TO neighbours
One day word came that there was to
be a meeting at the school-house to de-
wise means to save the settlers from the
overflow Of the mines, and that his
ncighbors were anxious for him to be
present, for by this time the danger was
apparent to all. The Hoods caused by
the rains had overlooked the valley TO a
much greater extent than usual, al
though the amount OF water which had
fallen was no more than common at
this season of the year.
The washings from the mines had
: filled the creek bed, ,and at places had
formed dams that checked the water
and caused ii to overflow fields never
before submerged. and to set back upon
little valleys which opened into the
larger one through which the creek
passed. Much damage TO vineyards-on
the lower lands had already been done
or must speedily occur, If the water was
not drawn IN.
| The water was thick with the clay q
the hills washed down by the mining
companies. and in places where the
dams had formed, and for long dis
tances on either side, sand and gravel,
brought down by Che swift, strong cur
rent was being deposited upon the tilla-
BILE lands in large quantities.
Evidently something must be done,
and the messenger who brought notice
of the meeting urged strongly that Mr..
Parsons be present and advise regard
| ing the action to be taken.
"Tain't no use" he said to his wife
when the neighbor was gone. Tain
no use, but I'll 60 Of you want should.
You'd better send Rastus, though, and
lot me stay home with Johnny"
The mans spirit was sadly broken.
He felt that it was useless to contend
with the company; that everything was
virtually lost already, and had dropped
into the habit of leaving everything ia
his wife and Erastus, doing without
questioning whatever they suggested.
but appearing unwilling even to advise
with them; as if he felt himself un
worthy, having failed so utterly, to give
advice upon which depended the vel
fare of others.
II think you had better go yourself