Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-10-05

". 3. ATKINSON.

WITH. 3. ATKINsON.
The name sounds green" doesn't itoe
ITS the sort of name which the man
who happens to possess it is apt to sup
nress in favor of the. initial E. or q ficti-
tious second name. Still, I used to be
partial to "Ebenezer," and to-day the
name has manlier ring to it than any.
Of the chivalric names OF which We read
in history and romance. Yet there was
time, and thank God it was only "a
short time, when I hated the name and
nv good friend who bore it.
lam a country girl. 1 never WAS to
town larger than our county-seat un.
til 1 was 10 years old. Then went OH
long visit to some friends of ours who
resided in large Western city-Isake-
port. The Lakeport girls were terribly
smart. was more directly thrown into
the company of two of them who were
"chums," and who, because they had
Just graduated from the High School,
we're under the impression that they
knew it ALL" For the first day OF two
they were gushingly polite to me. I
was the hero of the hour. When the
novelty of my presence wore away they
began'to weary of showing me the town
aud Of explaining the superiority of the
city to the country. Then they COM
menced to amuse' themselves by poking
fnn,at my greenness, and at any little
personal peculiarities which they could
discover in me. Being of fairly good
natured disposition, I took their ques-
tionable fun in good part and really did
not feel particularly sore. But"even q
worm will turn"
One evening the conversation Of we
three girls turned,upon beaux in gen
eral and our own "best fellows"
in particular. OF course my COM
panions were able to make a
good showing, while 1 had to fall back
upon my one homely knight Ebenezer.
Twas proud of him, too, and spoke of
him, I know, in glowing terms. Why
not? He was my ''best fellow" and my
lover. From the time I was little
Wee tot of 3-year-old, Ebenezer had
waited upon me as faithfully as ever
Bayard, of old served his "ladye-fayre. :"
Ebenezer was nearly ten years my
senior, but what of that? He had SO
much the more experience, and could
thereby take better care of me. He
was not.a "dandy"- possibly not emen
"good-looking," ana am certain his
clothes were never made to order.
Then, too, he worked hard at boat
building-for our village was on the
shore OF "a great lake, and some of our
people Were fishermen. When Ebe-
nezer worked he wore blue overalls and
rolled up his shirt-sleeves, while the
sweat often streanlad adown his honest
face. Yes, his hands were rough, and
yet-you should have beard the music
from the organ at church when it was
manipulated by those same awkward
looking hands! That WAS music; mu-
sic which came from d musical soul.
And then-his heart All, Ebenezer
may have had ~soft" name, but his
heart was softer by far. 1t was great,
big, kind, tender heart, and ought to
have been proud that it was mine. For
it was mine, and that is what told the
girls.
Then they teased me and leased me,
and I got angry. And the more l
showed my bad temper the more they
delighted in annoying me. For several
days, whenever I was around, they
would sing parody on Al old song
Dear Ebenezer, sweet Ebenezer,
My love for thee shall never, never die!'
Finally grew to hate the name and
tile man who bore it, and in tit OF
foolish rage I told the girls that cared
nothing for Ebenezer.
Il tell you," shouted, as 1 stamped
my foot, II don't mind if l never see
UNI again. Bah! I could stand over
ms coffin and never shed tear! lhate
h'n and his stupid name!"
When went home I invited my two
friends to go with me. So they agreed
10 come for few weeks, and we tray
t1ed down on the cars together.
As might have known, there was
hDenezer at the little depot, with nice
'ouble-seated carriage and smart
team, which ] knew he had been to bus
'rother's (ten miles away to borrow
W the occasion. Ebenezer was brushed