River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-09-05

song away down the gulch. and now.
Is he came staggering up the path
scarcely able TO keep on his feet. they
pronounced him pretty full
'How'r'y. fellersh. " he said. bees
down ter zhe post havin or good
timesh- Doggone fine plash down
there. Want me ter shing somethin'P
D0ggoue line singer am. Lishen: D
{ oh. the old old hoInesh left behind.
( Al tner purty hitle gal THAT waitin fer me "
Reckon she'll keep on err waitin' a
GOOD while, old chap. Brandy said.
"Yesh. ] reckon; bat I'm go>n' home
purify shoon. ef nothin' don't happen"
'They's a monty strong prospect o.
sOmethin' happenin', though"
That SOP Coin ter strike err paw
/ streak and git ms fortua', yer reckou?"
Il low there won't be much pay in
it. but yer goiu' to strike a streak an
I git whut We desarye.
'Thanly Git what desarve. Shay.
/ that's what I want. Thanky. / guess
I Ill retire. feel s0rter tired"
Ola Ike turned and staggered away
to his cabin, iummiqg tune rs he
went
Got 10 let i'm sober up afore we
stretch i'm. Brandy remarked.
In course Jerry Rogers replied.
1T wouldn't nigh do to hang err Teller
I in that fix. Guess he wouldn't know
S hat he was stretched fer nor nothin'
bout l. Have 10 let i'm sober up"
Vas; an Wen tend to him the fust
thing in tine mornin'."
While they were yet talking they
heard the rumble Of a vehicle down
the road as it rolled and bounced
along the rocky course.
stage is comm Sam remarked.
Wonder if we'll git any letters from
home boys?~ one said.
Dunno I'm shore" Brandy re-
I piled. Il hain't heerd from my folks
( Ter morn a year now.
'.AIe MOTHER said Jerry; but fer
I that matter I hain't got no folks
/ worth mcntiouin'. jest some uncles
aud auu;s and cousins and SIGH. an
I they amt much TO Teller, nohow.n
no, not ike a wife an children"
7 BRANDY assented. I've got wife
and "a lcetIe gal back thar. an I'm
( sorter bcgiuuiu' to want to see EN-.
The gals the purtiest little thing you
ever laid your eyes on. an was about
so high (measuring with his hand)
when ! left That's been six years,
AM lowed she's growed up nigh to II
woman now
These remarks touching the past
and TIE old home recalled to each of
/ tic ncn train of fond memories.
I and Tor some time they smoked their
pipes in silence, each busy with
7 thoughts OF the dear ones in the far
East
Pretty soon the stage came in sight,
and Lsltiug before the saloon. the
4 driver brew oil little Hat mail-pouch
and cl-mouutcd- The men in the
meantime had lounged across. and
now stood around the stake.
Got a passenger fer you. boys. the
/ driver announced. as he clambcred
down
3 ~ AAt 81 AAfEs StIlAAt Oiltf dNhCtd-- q
/ teHder-f0ot or an old-timer?"
III amt a old-timer, an it amt a he.
I lt'~ Il little gal.
- he spoke the driver opened the
\ door and the passenger stepped out.
+ She was a little mite of humanity,
. scarcely turned into the teens, cheap
/ Is clothed. and rs delicate as could bc.
/ When she reached the ground she
stopped aud glanced eagerly at the
row of faccs before her. aud there was
e timij -hyness in her look and man
Her that told that she was afraid Yet
! every man had dofTed his hat. and was
/ doing his best to show his respect.
The driver mounted into his seat,
I and the Oh stage numbered away.
Then Brandy Smith, with his hat under
Z his arm. advanced step or two nearer
the child, and, speaking in as soft a
I tone ~ hc could command, asked:
..Air yc lookjn' fer somebody. sis?'
.-Ycs. sir. she said. ] am looking
T for pap. Do you know him2 They
said be was here. but don't see him. 8"
.Whut's yer pap's name?n Brandy
I asked We mout tell you somethin'
bout him.
Ills names samson
+ ..Whut. old Ike SAMSON"
Yes. Sir; only he's not old. DO you
know him
why. yu-as. we've seen i'm right
smart OF an on. He ulster hang
( 'rouud ycre a good bit. "
Then he's not here now?" she
asked.
Wal. he's not exactly right here.
bat he mayu't be fur of. you know"
DO you reckon you could find out
where he i-2"
..Wby, dunno We mout"
II want him 50 bad. and | wish you
I would ask about him and help to find
7 him.
What DO you want NV imp"
Mothers sick down at the post.
and want 10 take him TO her So she
will gIt we'll She heard OF him up
here. ANA left home away back in Mis-
-ogli 10 lind him, but she tool. SICK on
tile vay ana can't 90 any further, and
so came ON to find pap and take him
. 10 lcr Hen be So glad TO know she's
come won't hep"
II G0n why. YES. low So" Brandy
: Stammsrei out. .'Leastwise. he ort
10 be-"
An. he viii. too, for I know he
mast be- awful good Mother wouldn't
talk about him 80 much. aud cry over
his picture ard old letters every day,
I IL be- wasn'tthe best man living. lie is
good amt hep
Brandy -tammarcJ hcsitating. and
Turned red in tile face but made no re-
PLY After a little while the girl re
. peased her question.
WHY. sartinly. O course" Brandy
said.
And voull help me find i'm, too?"
las. wen help you. sam. you
-tay D e. With the child, an the rest
OF u-It look 'rou1l .it'le fe- Ike. "
sam understood old Brandy's mean
ing and nodded assent The others
drew away and walked some distance
down the Eu.ch. where they came to a
halt
Vow. SAYS Brandy, "you have all
heeri the gals tale. an ye all know