Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-03-12
wILL-PoWER
Its Lamcntable Failure to work !" '"'
Case of One Mans Resolution.

him thai he mas no A
weakest spot of conceit is the suppose
ton of a personal possession OF Will
power. My friend Bjinks got very
wrathy when a friend told him that nc
(Biinks) hadn't will-power enough to
stop chewing tobacco. 'What! I've
cot no will-powcr? Why, man alive,
You don't know me. I've quit buck
wheat cakes. | used to be Il perfect
slave to the deadly griddlc p%lacqucs.
T.
Eyes, you've quit them because your
wifc's mother will not allow her rooms
to be smoked and sccntedupany more
W-wcll! Isn't my allowing my
wifc's mother to set her foot down
upon n of my pleasures one OF the
grandcst manifestations of will-power,
I'd like to know" clustered Bjinks.
':It might be; but, all the same, re-
%itcrate, you haven't got w%ill-powcr
enough to quit chewing tobacco"
Haven't, hey? See here. I'm going
rabbit-hunting tomorrow. When | re-
turn | shall be able to tell you that I've
formed Il solemn resolution to quit
chewing. You can believe ne. If
there is any one thing moro than an
other that I'm proud of, its my inn
"very we'll. Try it on, and good
luck to you, Bjinks. l suppose you'll
come back from rabbit-hunting hump
backed with will-power instead of
game. Good morning!" and Bjinks's
friend took his departure.
''I'vc got no will-powcr! Humph!
I'm proud of my will-powcr. When 1
put my foot down to do a thing, I do
it. A stone wall couldn't turn me out
of my way, when l say go. Can't quit
chewing! Nonsense! Any man can
do a thing when once he sets out to do
it. III 60 rabbit-hunting tomorrow,
and to show my friend that. I've got
will-power enough to pass round
among my ncighbors, Til form the
resolution to quit chewing while I'm
on the chase. Will-power! Bah! Only
children and weak, puny women haven't
any will-powcr."
Thus Bjinks unused as he wendell his
way toward his Office. All day long
he chewed vigorously. Tomorrow he
will manifest the %stupendous album
dance of will-power which can be en-
compassed in one human frame, 5 feet
81 inches, weighing 113 pounds.
When the roseate blush of early
morn peeped through the windows of
the house, Bjinks arose, got his gun,
called his dog, and started forth to Stay
the gentle rabbit. The air was crisp
and fresh. Bjinks felt as buoyant as a
boy with a little red bob-sled. He
felt a new strength within him. He
feels more manly, more like II of
natures noblcmen, and less a serf to
Il slavish habit. His thoughts rove to
his childhood's days, when he wore a
chip hat and went fishing with Il PIN
hook; when he drove the COWS home to
milk, and stole cream off the pans in
the cellar (whcn he got u thrashing
for that act and various other little
mistaken ideas of life too numerous to
mention); when he wove the wreath
| of a from the pages of a dime
novel, and went forth bent for the
trackless plains to Stay redskins with a
hammerless pistol and a brass pair of
false knuckles. All these and various
other items connected with his days of
freedom illuminated the research of his
memory. He is once more free
He slaps his hand upon his hip
pocket. He halts and stares about
him. A cotton-tailcd rabbit sits upon
its launches and blinks its curious eyes
and points it's rose-tinted ears at him.
"Great heavens! I've come away with
! outmy tob- Pshaw! How foolish lam.
Aha! will-power. Bjinks; will-power."
The rabbit flashed out Of sight and the
man of %stupendous will plodded on in
search Of tracks.
His thoughts went back to his spark
ing days. The little parlor with IL fire
in winter and dampness in summer;
this gate that swung without n crcak
when he entered at eight, but groancd
enough to wake the seven %slecpers
when he went out at three the next
morning; the attcnuatcd bundle of con-
versation he was wont to throw at his
darling seven nights in the week; the
pop-the ''yes''-the holy altar of
by heavens [ must have been a
blockhead! Here I am five miles from
home without my tob- Pshaw! non
sense; will-power, Bjinks; will-power!"
1t was a struggle. 1t was a relentless,
endless, ceaseless struggle. He saw
HAL u uoHcu iaDDluS. lie SnOt at tnCm.
He didn't bag a single rabbit. His
hand was very unsteady. But lie was
growing big in his own eyes; for-his
immense will-power. He hurried owe
the ground as quick as possible and
make tracks for the town. The first
man he met was his friend who had
twitted him about not having will
power. ''Ah! my festive Nimrod.
Been shooting, eh? Got a bag Il
For the sake of Heaven and a suffer.
ing man, give me a chew!" groaned
Bjinks. abjectedly.
"Will-pow-"
"Be hanged to it! Your plug-oh,
thanks. Good morning;" and Bjinks
went home feeling like a man again,
but very sensitive on the question OF
will-power.-H S. Keller, IN Boston
Globe.
A Reliable Bank Detective.
Lookers-on see most of the game
and accordingly it has been reserved
for a correspondent of the independence