Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-12-23

In the vernacular of Simpsons grocery
he was "a hard one To tackle
In the beginning Of the heriilit id9'
winter on the mountain some mum ?,
driven by cold to his cabin, entefeu anu
found him moaning on his rli9e 3o'io.ii
They spread the news IN hul"Iu' aiiI
''the authorities" conferred together g any,
decided that it was time to act bI'
what should they do with him; Nou'ut
could 20 up to his lodge on the hlo'til''i IN
to take care OF him. his wretchea u" a.,
ing contained no comforts. And NOBODY
wanted to take him into his home;
There was the county house, where an
paupers were sent, but that was hV'I
the county seat, seven miles away
They who were most outspoken II TIE
matter of having him looked after ana
Who owned the largest and most COM
Portable houses, "hemmed and hawed
when il came to a question of taking
him in. Some one, in a moment OF hui
name feeling. suggested that the seven
miles Journey to the poorhouse might
nrove dangerous to the sick man, and
might even throw serious blame on those
who became responsible for 1t.
However. after much thought and
more talk had been put upon the subject
the poorhonse faction prevailed, and the
fiat went forth that Old Weaver must be
taken charge of By the county, Wiling or
unwilling.
The expedition set forth the next
morning. 1t was principally composed
of 1.-THE authorities" otherwise hard
headed and dictatorial personagcs, with
that degree of heartlessness peculiar to
10 l., -. stnVpI11Inpnt citizens.
A heavy snow lay upon the ground, ana
the mountain roads were unbroken. a
bic sled. generously supplied with straw
and lunch baskets, was made ready.
The departure of this hermit capturing
expedition was an event The postoffice
loafers gazed upon the imposing specta-
Gle with envy in their hearts, though
they cheered the noble philanthropists
roundly. The people at the corner drug
store were all outside waving their hats
and making other demonstrations of
good will and interest The yarn
spinners at Simpsons grocery held
their tobacco firmly between their teeth
and their hands in their trousers pockets
as the sled went by. This was their
manner of expressing very warm in
terest. Women watched from doors,
windows and porchcs, as women always
do, and a swarm of enthusiastic small
bows hung on to the sled until driven
back when half Il mile out of town.
The philanthropists reached Weaver's
cabin late in the day, after digging their
way through great snowdrifts. All this
heroic eSertion made them feel more
dominant in spirit than ever. The very
first rap on the hermit's door had the
sound OF authority in it. delivered as it
was by the formidable fist of the town
marshal, backed by the appreciation of
the other prominent citizens who accom-
panied him.
| There was no response.
The expression of decision on the mar
shars face deepencd as he began to beat
upon the door with both fists and kick
it with the thick soles Of his tremendous
boots.
Still there was no answer.
While they were parleying about
whether it was time to use the ak or
not the closed shutter of the hermit 5
single window opened, revealing his
haggard face. in which blazed pair OF
eyes whose wrathful lightning fairly an
initiated the prominent citizens.
"What do you want he asked. after
a moment of discomfting silence, as
! they stood, wordIess, under the spell OF
his unspol1cn anger.
I'VE heard you were sick" said TIE
marshal.
"Well?"
1--WE knew you would need help" s2id
the justice of the peace, and SO came
to try to do something for YOU
You have put yourselves to unneces
| sary trouble. | want nothing"
But our duty as citizens viii not
allow us to let a fellow being suffer,
said Deacon White.
Your first duty is to mind your own
business said the hermit.
Here is Dr., HorseGy, who viii hclr
you right OF, if you will let us in," sane
Mr.. Snollett, also prominent citizen
The doctor stood silent. medicine case il
hand, the rigidity of the regulars code
preventing his dong any tltlmpeting OF
his own account.
"When | am weary Of life | shall senC
for DR.. Horsehy. Until then he mus
excuse me returned the hermit, witt
something ike merriment dancing in hi.
wild ewes.
The doctor colorod under this deadly
insult, feeling it the more because tn,
earth was vt fresh over his two las
patients. This Offensive defiance of theil
authority was the facility understood
signal for concerted rally of the rescu
ers. lnstinctively they drew nearer to
gether, and one said;