Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-10-23
TELLING ON EACH OTHER.
The Taylor Brothers Enliven Their Can
vass by Recollections of Early Days.

The Taylor Brothers Enliven Their Cam
vass by Recollections of Early Days.
A moment of silence marked the
close of Bob's recital, says the Nash
spent with the Taylor brothers. Then
some one turned to ALI, who had been
an intent listener, his eyes fixed on the
floor, the smoke from his cigar curling
over his fine head, his whole attitud
suggestive of calm repose. What sor
Of 4 boy was Bob9:" was inquired Of the
Republican candidate. Aft removed he
fragrant weed from his lips, and turn
ing his chair toward the fire and peer
ing into the blaze, while "A genuine =.
smile stole over his ~countenance. said&
"Wcli, he was n queer boy. To begin
with BE careful, Az smilingly
interjected his younger brother. "All
right and then, continuing, eyes, he
was queer. He was in all manner OF
mischief at all times. but he had n
knack of getting out of the worst
scrapes without II scratch, while Nat
and jim and | caught the devil. He
was II natural-born humorist, and with
his droll ways could trick the old
folks nine times out of ten.
He would lead US into mischief
and then ge: out Just in the nick of
time, and leave us to catch the consc-
uuences. A lucky star has been over
that boy" pointing to Bob. from the
day he was born. Let me tell YOU how
he got ahead of lis on one occasion, but
it will serve rs an instance of how
managed things. Brother Nat, jim
and l.. Bob and a little negro boy went
IN swimming one Sunday morning in
the mill pond near our house. Father
told us he would whip Us if VT went
swimming on Sunday, but we di>obcyed
him. He found il out that afternoon.
He would not punish Us because it was
Sunday, but he took lis bright and
early in the morning TO the barn yard.
We knew what was coming. He took
a Single and bored holes through it
with a gimlct, and then he made us
bend over Il log. Iou can imagine the
result. He punished Jim and Nat
and me-. and we were all crying when
he went up to Bob, who was leaning
over the log waiting his turn. Father
raised the paddle; suddenly Bob pulled
a h~alf-dollar out of his pocket, and,
twisting his head around at father.
with a most humorous expression of
countenance, he said: Dad. I'll give
You this to let me off, at the same time
offering father the half dollar. We
were all watching him a. i~ntentlv as
our pains would let us. Father stood
with the paddle 1plifted. Bob con-
tinucd in his leaning position. holding
the halt-dollar between his upliftcd
fingers. with that grimace unalterable
on his face. Bob was as cool a, a GU
cumbcr. Father at length broke out in
a laugh and babe Bob TO be up and OF
in a t~winkling. Bob sprang 10 his
feet, and, slipping his half-dollar back
in his pocket, walked by us 70 the
house, making faces at us as he went
by
The laughter which this fratcrnal
sally had created having ceased, the
same inquisitor asked Bob of the boy
hood of All, well" said Bob, with "A
merry twinkle in his eye. ..Alf had
more temper than |; he had more light
than | did, but | had more Jun. He
was quick to resent an injury and
equally quick TO forgive. ALI was al
ways fond of hunting. When a mere
lad he would 90 out on the mountains
with an old man who lived near us and
camp out for weeks at n time. | be-
leve he had rather hunt now than DO anv
thing. ALI was my f~avoritc brother, if
| had Il %tayorite, and | think he thought
the most Of me, although he never told
me SO, for he always did have
"A way of concealing his affection from
those he loved. Father thought
there was more outcome in ALI than in
any OF us, but brother jim, who in
vented that gun of which YOU have
heard, is the slnartcst. Aft always was
n keen one. You may be sure he could
work Il scheme as well as anybody. III
tell you an incident of his manhood
which illustrates his boyhood. When
he was running for the Legislature there
was a big Baptist vote which he want
ed, and wanted badly. One day he
went to a baptizing. The preacher had
4 number of converts in the creek. Alf.F1
rs big rs life, stood among the peoples
on the store, singing for dear life. AS
fast rs a person was baptized and
started for the shore, ALI would wade
into the creek, and, singing as he adj
vanced with his hymn book in one
hand, he would extend the other to the
dripping penitent and escort him or her
to the shore. ALI got the vote of every
Baptist in the district. That's the sort
OF a fellow he was" and in this gay
bandiage the evening passed.