Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-06-12
Raymond's Temperance Talk.
A Story of the Michigan Pineries.

There were four of us college boys
md Raymond, tie engineer Of a single
mill at Ontonagon. We had been board
ing at his house. The mill had shut
down for few weeks, and he had gladly
Joined in our train, eager as boy for
Tho free life of the woods.
We had found an old lumber camp
4r our camping place. Before it our
1re was burning. Raymond was the
only smoker in the party. He filed bis
pipe and leaned back upon the pile of
hsmlock boughs to watch the moon
come climbing over the tops of the trees.
SIT was nearly twenty years ago,
boys" began Raymond, ''just after the
var, that went to work in a lumber
camp on the Muskegon river, was a
young fellow then, too light for an Ak,
and they put me to driving the tote
tsam. 1t was tiresome, lonely life, I
oan tell you. A fellow had to be out in
al kinds of weather with no company
hut his horses. Many time have I
spent the night on the road with the
wagon stuck fast in the mud, or with q
There was only one house on the road
between the town and the camp. That
was little log cabin where old man
Billings lived with his wife and daugh-
tsr. 1 got SO I couldn't get by that
place without stopping for drink of
water CT to ask the old man some ques-
lion I made up on the road. The horses
got 50 they'd stop right in front Of the
house every trip.
We had the toughest crew in camp
that 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 I got up early to feed
my horses so that could get good
start and reach Billings in time for
breakfast. Four of the toughest men
m camp followed me out to the stables,
and asked me right out if I would snug
gle a Jug of whisky back with my load
II was dead against the rules, and I
knew it, but when they told me, in so
many words, that I didn't dare to do
it. was fool enough to promise. As
things happened, it's good thing, per-
haps, that did it.
/ bought the whisky and started back
10 camp Just after dinner. had two
passengers. They were the quietest
vorkmen in camp; good friends of mine
both of them. They knew nothing
about the whisky, and I was ashamed
to tell them about it.
The thing never would have happen
Cd any way if my wagon seat had held.
II broke down Just as we reached the
middle of little hill in front of old man
Billings house. had my feet out over
the front of of the wagon when it broke
and I fell fat, under the horses feet.
They stopped as soon as they could. I
could trust them for that, but before the
wagon came to stand, the trout wheel
nan over my leg and I could hear it snap
Ike q stick.
Charlie and Ben both jumped to the
ground in time to save themselves. They
pulled me out from under the load and
laid me on some grain sacks at the top Of
the wagon. 1t was only a few rods
down the hill to the house. Charlie
drove the horses on while Ben held me
m the wagon. We drove right into the
yard, and 1 tell you felt bad when
Nary Billings came to the door with her
kg.eyes wide open with fright.
The girl was all alone in the house.
Her father and mother had both gone to
town She was never afraid to be left
alone. As I lay ON the bags could see.
Standing in the corner,a bright shotgun,
md knew she could use it If necessary.
The boys carried me into the kitchen
md put me down On the lounge by the
stove. Oh! how my leg hurt me! 1 be-
gan to feel faint and dizzy as they tried
% move my foot. The awful grating Of
sAnt broken bone filed me with terrible
selling. The boys did their best to
xnake me comfortable. Charlie proposed
taking one of the horses to ride back to
1Uvn after the doctor.
He had even started for the door to
snuy out this plan when the room seemed
suddenly to darken, and great flakes of
snow came with quick rush against the
window. As he opened the door the
thick binding storm swept in upon us
with a wild fury. The storm was as
farce as it was sudden We were shut
up in whirlwind Of SHOW thAt hid even
Ain v,od and thn s,snrana uDder the treea