The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-01-25


rat beeids him.
"Jaek, my boy, what's wrong?"
Nothing, Sam"
Jack never said much. He was
botter at doing than Saying.
! looked at the poor fellow in des.
pair. ! had never nursed q eick
person in my life. The captain came
In while I cat there,
I'VE must have adoctor, captain, !"
said /.
might aswell want a gold mine, !"
he replied.
but look attack, captain. What
II don't know"
"Sam, said Jack, looking at me
with Q strangeexpression, "you know
my sister Annie?"
Certainly, Jack"
II want You to tell her about me"
"You will soon see her jack
"No, Sam; I'm going"
We're both going home"
n. yes, going home. I'm tired!
"Then rest, Jack. shall be here. :"
Take my hand, Sam"
~ have your hand, my boy. Try
to Sleep"
yes" he went on, pointing.
"There's Annie ut the door. She
looks more and moro like mother as
she grows older. She's glad to see me
from the way she smiles"
Indeed she is Jack"
That's Sans voice; he got over
the fever well. believe / had it, too.
Hear old Pont barking at the gate;
he's most as glad as Annie to
see me back. All. Sam, it's
good to be back in Pennsylva-
nia-God's countryl Anniel Annie!"
He fell back in a stupor, with his
eyes set. / felt a spasm pass through
his frame, after which his hand Law In
mine like = lifeless thing. I looked
up questioningly at the captsin.
God help himl He is dead"
20, surely not!"
"DeadW herepeated.
Only when l bent over him did I be.
lieve it. Jack was dead.
"He died working for others" said
the captain, and in lieu of better
words these must stand for his cpl
taph.
l can only tell Jacks story in a
plain way. cannot fill your eyes
with tears as mine are filed, as there
is no art behind my words. You
read of good men-unselfish and he
roic men that poets sing of and his
torians immortalize-but here was
one that nobody ever heard of. Who
was there to read q funeral sermon
over him when we buried him in q
lonely place on the river bank next
day? Who prayed over the rough
pine box? Not a prayer, not hymn
at the funeral; only some tears that
came of genuine grief We left him
there on the river bank, with piece
OF driftwood to mark his grave,
which the next food would sweep
away. found a little flower grow
ing there-a violet, think-which
brought away for Annie.
Jack was as homely q man as ever
you saw, q big raw boned fellow,
with a twinkle Of the eye that made
one laugh. Had you been hunting
for a man Of polish and education
you would not have picked him out.
His head had not been cultivated at
the expense of his heart. He used
strong language sometimes when q
rope got tangled, or the pumps
worked hard, or the coffee didn' suit
him. ! am not tryingto picture him
as perfect; I want you to know him
as he was. His voice in a sick room
was as gentle as o child's he had q
big, tender heart, kindlier than most
women have, and a hand that served
q friend until ready to drop from
WEAKNESS. / remember him as he
bent overme while / lay helpless with
fever, q kindly light beaming in his
face that beautified it. I learned
then how unselfish he was, and my
heart went out to him as yours
would havegone had you known him.
This was Jack Mt his best.-H. d.
Mason in Pittsburg Bulletin.