Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-06-12
RaymOnd's Temperance Talk.
a 50 Of the aLLehIean PlnerL...

"A blUEy OF the lllCLlHtL4 ElueElEa.
There were four Of us college boys
and Raymond, the engineer Of a single
mill at OntOnagon. We had been board
ing at his house. The mill had shut
down for a few weeks, and he had gladly
joined IN our train, eager as a boy for
the free life OF the woods.
We had found an old lumber camp
for our camping place. Before it our
fire was burning. Raymond was the
only smoker in the party. He filed his
pipe and leaned back upon the pile Of
hemlOcE bOughs to watch the moon
come climbing over the tops OF the trees.
at was nearly twenty years ago,
boys" began Raymond, '.just after the
war, that 1 went to work in a lumber
camp on the hIuskegon river, 1 was a
young fellow then, too light for an ak,
and they put me to driving the tote
team. 1t was a tiresOme, lonely life, I
can tell you. A fellow had to be out In
all kinds Of weather with no company
but his horses. Many a time have I
spent The night on the road with the
wagon stuck fast in the mud, or with a
big tree blown down across the road.
There was only one house on the road
between the town and the camp That
was a little log cabin where old man
Billings lived with his wife and daugh-
ter. 1 got so L couldn't get by that
place without stopping for a drink Of
water or to ask tue old man some ques-
ton I made up on the road. The horses
got SO they'd stop right in front Of the
house every trip.
We had the toughest crew in camp
that I ever saw. There was nothing too
mean for them to do, and they got the
upper hand on the boss and so had
things their own way.
One morning L got up early to feed
my horses so that L could get a good
start and reach Billings IN time for
breakfast. Four OF the toughest men
in camp followed me out to the stables,
and asked me right out if would snug
gle a Jug Of whisky back with my load
1t was dead against the rules, and
knew II, but when they told me, in sc
many words, that L didn't dare to dc
it, was fool enough to promise. AS
things happened, it's a good thing, per.
haps, that did it.
bought the whisky and started bach
to camp Just after dinner. 1 had two
passengers. They were the quietest
worhmen in camp; good friends Of minis
both Of them. They knew nothing
about the whisky, and was ashamed
to tell them about it.
The thing never would have happen
ed any way if my wagon seat had held
1t broke down Just as we reached the
middle Of little hill in front Of old MAJ
Billings house. had my feet ont owe
the front of of the wagon when it broke
and / fell fiat under the horses feet
They stopped as soon as they could.
could trust them for that, but before thu
wagon came to a stand, the trout vince
ran over my leg and I could hear it snaI
like a stick.
Charlie and Ben both jumped to tn,
ground in time to save themselves. They
pulled me out from under the load ana
laid me on some grain sacks at the top o
the wagon. It was only a few rod
down the hill to the house. Charlie
drove the horses on while Ben held ml
IN the wagon. We drove right into tn
yard, and tell you felt bad whel
Mary Billings came to the door with he
big eyes wide open with fright.
The girl was all alone in the house
44HL Lul44CL anu A4QlLAGA -4l-NA Jun 1N--l =
town. She was never afraid to be LEI
alone. AS lay on the bags I could see
standing IN the corners bright shotgun
and I knew she could use 1t If necessary
The boys carried me into the Etche,
and put me down on the lounge by tn
stove. OIL how my leg hurt mel 1 be
gan to feel faint and dizzy as they tire
to move my foot. The awful grating c
that broken bone filed me with terribl
feeling. The boys did their best
make me comfortable. Charlie propose
taking one of the horses to ride back
town after the doctor.
BE had even started for the door
carry ont this plan when the room SCENE
suddenly to darker, and great flakes {
snow came with a quick rush against ia
window AS he opened the door til
thick binding storm swept in upon Z
with a wild fury The storm was {
fierce as it was sudden. We were shT
up in a whirlWind of snow that hid eve
the road and the passage under the tree
There was no help for 1.-THE boy
drove the wagon under the shed and VI
hitehed the horses. Then they can
back to the kitchen, where We all e
watching the storm. 1T grew darker an
darker, and at last Mary lit the lamp an
put the supper things on the table.
lay and watched them with that avn
faint feeling on me. At last I spoke Of
the Thought that was on my mind;
II wish had drink Of that whislZ,
boysP
Mary dropped the plate she was ca
ryiBg and looked at me 90 queerly ia
] was ashamed a myself for speakinI
wished i had bitten my tongue on b
tore ] had lee her know Of that part
my load