Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-09
THE SON Of A FARMER.

uHu eot away. tnOugN Liz uAu oeA +"
powerful low ~figger." meditative!y. "Fve
wondered many er time ssnce what could
hev druv Their TELLER to hit. He must hev
been purity sorely pressed tibbe sure, tel
hev sold Il fire ~critter like that fur sixty
dollars
II reckin' ez how he got inter q scrape o
some kind suggests Jeemes. hes anus
a-doin' o somethin' O the ike. hes {
mighty bad sort, you know"
But, pap returning to the mattertha'
more directly concerns himself, Il coult
mighty soon pay for Their shotgun myself
Paterees is a sellin' at five cents a head o.
ther new hotel in Gainesville. and wouldn'
tell my name eF / couldn't bringdown man.
ez twenty o. mo- O EN- at one hunt. In
a good mind ter ak Jerry Dantzler ter le
Inc hcv one o his purtiest double barrel
on credit"
mo, Jeemes. no." says the farmer. shak
ing his head emphatically. Debts a tur
rible barrassin' thing -jes like a milI-ston
a-danglipg from or body's neck. 10,
mought hev poor luck a-shootin' arter all
and be disa 'p'inted in gittin' Their money VI
at Their time hit was promised. an, tne'
Their Dantzlers 'ud poster you ter deatt'
But there's somebody a'helleln at the
gate. Run see who It's
docs 'squire lilly live here?' questions
aclear, ut voice. as James reaches th'
gate to find q stranger on horseback.
"Yes, sir, he do" returns James. as he a
the same time makes a swift yet calculatln:
survey, and Immediately comes to the con
clusion that the horse, n powerfuichestnut
with much breadth OF handsome chest
slim legs. small feet and a proudly archet
neck, is by far the most taking part OF thu
whole combination.
as he at homer" -,
Yes, sir, returns James again. Won
you 'light?'
Yes, thank you"
On closer inspection the stranger proves
more prepossessing. He IS short, wlry,
we'll built, and walks with 81 quick, spring
ing step that is suggestive OF extreme buoy
ancy OF spirits. He is apparently abhut3 30
years, has a somewhat lean face, consider
ably sunburned, and crisp, dark hair, a
little scant on top.
lie brings a letter OF introduction 10
Squire lilly from one OF the leading at.
torneys of PainsviIle, announces his errand
as that 0! geologist in search OF some OF
the many rare specimens with which this
section OF the State is known to abound,
and asks for two weeks board.
The Squire at first seems reluctant to
accommodate him.
"We-uns is powerfully scrimped fur
ROOM" he a~nnounces besides We hain't
perked up ter accommodate city folks
But the 'Perfessor," as he is termed from
the first, declares that he is willing to put
up with anything, even to being
packed of in the shed-room along with
Their boya."
He makes himself at home right away.
He listens with the most marked attention
to the 'S1uire's long. desuitory harangnss
- l.. t. !, --l -,,. ,r,<,nI. rA,pa
suggestions OF his own, which are pro-
nounced purity fustrate fur er periessor.'
He quite wins the heart OF the farmers
wife by praising everything set before him.
He has many amusing stories for the little
girls, which he never seem to tire OF telling,
while The boys declare him 'thcr bfs' sort
Of er TELLER.
He makes long excursions into the woods,
and goes OH tramps up the mountains that
sometime last whole nays. On these occa-
sions he alwayg brings back with him a
heterogeneous collection Of specimens that
would quite drive the average g%eolO2ist to
the verge 81 despair even to attempt to
classify.
II don't b'lieve that ar professor knows
liz much bout them ar rocks an stuns an
things us he makcsout to d. declares the
Squire one day in James presence Il
axed him some questions no l~onger'n ter
day bout them ar purity, little, six sided.
glassy.lookin' stun, what it seems all that
ther color OF 'er yi'Iet had got squeezed out
inside OF fem, an he crowd composed like
immejitl.y, an tarned of my question.
But he's er powerful clever fellow il he is
kinder %pecoolyar bout some things"
II don't think he knows, much bout 'em
neither declares jim, with some little
force. II fooled him Their purtiest you ever
seed with er piece OF mounting soap, them
ar slick brown rocks what comes out o
their creek bottom you know? Hecouldn't
nigh tell what twas
"Mebbe he know d EN- by another name"
suggested the charitable Squire.
"Waal he didn't hev another name for
'em anyhow. He jes' lowed eN how it was
a rock. Now, / know ez how it ar got an
other name, case | heard one O them ar
chaps at the D%ahlonega College say so. !
tell you what, pap" after a moments pause,
and raising his voice somewhat excitedly.
"the Professors got two O the purtiest
shooters you ever seed. They shines jes'
like them ar two new silver dollars you
gave mar ter put up fur good luck. An
he's alias a-takin' O. 'em out, an a-lookin'
at 'em, an a-rubbin' O. 'em ies' like they
warn't shinin' enough Already. An pap"
coming nearer and lowering his voice,
a. o SSA VAIN q AoCo ftiSSpApilo
lately bout Their moonshiners. He pears
ter think thar's er secrit still roun' hyar
some'ars Gaze a lot O. Their stufi's bein'
sold 'roun' Gainesville lately. Now, how
him ter know 80 much about hit, Id
like to discover"
'Ther good Ian alive" calculates the
Squire, nearly losing his balance on the
pile OF corn he is unloading, 80 great is his
SURPRISE Hes q raider sure's my names
~Joshaway lilly! / might hev susDicioned
it from Their first, eff only | hadn't been so
Waal, ef he wants ter keep
l hain't er gwine ter be Their one to ak
lny questions, nor ter blab on him. Them
ar sinners is a bad lot, eZ hev done a
sight O. damage to this hyar Sec
ton O. country, a-makin' o. folks outside
blieve ez how we war all a lot O. heathens,
what hain't got no regard for ther law,
with q knowing wink, twill ketch
lp with 'em, though how he's goin' ter
it l cant see. An ef ever he
gets spotted, Lord. Lord! l wouldn't
De in his boots fer Their whole State o
But she-e-e-e! hyar he comes
Gan your son ride over to GAINESVILLE
md carry a telegram questions the Pro
essor somewh hurriedly. as he sticks his
lead into the crib where the Squire is now
landing. 81 will pay him well for it-a
ouple of dollars or so more if he thinks
hat isn't enough"
Visions Of the coveted shotgun GO dane
ng through Jim's head at once. What a
tart this will be towards 1T.
''Yes, pap he speaks up at once; II kin
can't II"
But it's arter 4 o'clock Already" saws
he Squire, shaking his head obviously.
You couldn't ride thar an, back, eighteen
allies altogether, aforeway inter the night"
But that don't max no difference" per-
listed Jim. 81 don't mind a-ridin' in the
ark. Sides. the sorrillltake me thar an
ack by 8 O'Clock at Their outside"
I'D lend you my horse" says the Pro.
.ssor, "but have to ride him off now in
mother direction. Ii you r, ally prefer not
citing yonr son 60, Squire, he adds good.
aturedly. an see if l can't get some one
though Pm afraid by the time I can
another messenger it will be too
lte, and the matter is urgent
The Squire notes the emphasis, and his
lanner changes at once. =
"Oh, Jeemes kin co." he adds quickly.
Jes' step 'roun' ~liveIy!' This to his son.
And be Off without any foolin'. Give :
her mare Their reins goin', but be careful !
Ow you let her out comm back. ca re ther :
Dads purity well full O. wash holes"
The ride 70 Gainsviile ia occompl;uba1 I