St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-25


The words fell on the uneXpectant ears
of Dan with startling effect, and he turned
quickly on the beer keg and looked in the
direction of the speaker. The sight that met
his eyes brought sparkle of merriment to
Dams blue syes. The speaker, who had
come upon Dan so quietly was an original
looking individual. His tall, thin form was
clad in a suit of black brOadcloth, the pants
rusty at the knees as though given much
wear at that point and the elbows of the
coat threadbare as if they were a part OF
the raiment of a meditative master. The
coat was buttOned closely around the spare
frame from his chin to his knees and at his
thin, white throat was white tie much
knotted and discolored with long usage.
A pale face wearing penitential express
sion looked out from framework of black,
stringy hair that crept out in timid way
from beneath the brim of tall, well-worn
hat and chung weakly to the narrow should
ers that upheld the unshapely head. Set
ting low down on a bOny nose were pair
of iron-bowed spectacles through which the
wearer looked only when surprised. Under
his left arm he carried book and his hands
were clasped reverently in front of him.
Good morning my good fellow" he re-
peated in a hollow voice as Dan turned
upon him.
WAL 1 should say it was pardner," re-
piled Dan, "'bout's good ez ennybody's got
round these diggin's. What's yer name?
Don't remember ever havin' seen yer round
these parts afore. Yer 'aint one ov them
perfeshurnal poker players be YEP" and he
looked sharply at the man in black.
Poker player" repeated the stranger,
''no sir have not played with the poker
since my dear wife departed this life and 1
broke up housekeeping. But in days of
yore. / confess, l have toyed with the
poker
Pm glad yer haint in tibet bizness now.
But whut's yer name?"
MY name good sir, is Peter Batham and
l am from Connecticut. For many years l
presided over church in the village of
Eagleville but my health became poor and
1 came West to breathe the pure air of the
mountains and reyel among the beauties of
nature"
wall, hev yer been disappointed in ther
amount ov reyel yer've hed?"
''Oh no sir, have much impr owed in
health and have become quite strong
again.
You don't look very husky now; what
re yer doin' fur livin'. Amt prospectin'
be yer?"
mo, my good fellow. I'm selling books.
I anna book agent. No, no. no, no, don't
shoot. my dear sir. am selling the life of
Christ. beautifully Illustrated and indexed."
life Ov Christ! Who wus hep"
s.Why, sir don't you know who Christ
wasp" =
mo. / never hern tell ov him before"
Poor fellow, forgive these tears, please,
but it does seem that the churches are
paying too much attention to Africa.
Christ, my good fellow, was a wonderful
man; man of great strength; "a"
Say, look hyar, stranger, I'll bet know
er man down on ther SweetWater range
what'll lift with him for emmy ermount oy
money tibet he wants ter"
There is no man living as strong as
Christ. Why. he holds the world in the
hollow of his hand"
Look hyar. stranger. Don't try ter play
emmy ov yer pranks with me. Yer must
think I'm er burned fool ter tell me tibet
emmy man can hold this hyar world in Their
holler ov his hand"
believe me. my dear fellow, it is true,
and there are many who know it in this
part of the country, and they will tell
you So"
stampede my steers, is tibet so? Known
round these digglnSW
YES"
''An' Inever heerd ov him?"
cit seems not, and regret it very much.
Though powerful he has a loving heart.
He is the great shepherd, and carefully does
he keep his sheep"
Dash my boots, is tibet so. an | never
heerd tell ov him? Say, stranger, what
range is he hurdin' on?"
''All ranges my good fellow. He tends
his fiocks all over the world"
"Whew, hez focks all over the world.
He must be er mighty well off fellow.
Funny / never heerd tell ov him. Eve
'druv cattle on erbout every range in ther
! country but never heerd oy him before. %
Poor fellow, and he died for you.n
'Wh-a-a-t," shouted Dan, springing