River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-04-10

bit ter market fer the mite o. money
they'd pay fer hit En- we uns war hard
up; we had nary sugar nor coffee-jes'
bread On a little bite o meat; en- Jack
seq, seZzee, i haint agwine ter stend
hit haint; I'll jes haul the corn over
ter Stillinger's still en- turn hit inter
bug juice. Hit'n fotch nuf ter buy
sugar an coffee
80 he hauled hit over thar ter the
still, every bit o. our crap we had TO
spar, en- the stillers stilled hit on sheers
The shOtes. they followed Jack. en- the
rev'nue they followed the shoates en-
busted up the still, en- throwed out the
mash en- the beer, en- the whiskey, en-
away went our years crap at lick. En-
wussur an all. they cotched Jack. Still
linger he got er way-he's ole hand at
the business-en the rey'nue took en-
brung Jack ter Atlanty."
Then you didn't git no sugar nor cof-
fee?" said the jailer, as old Bigby
paused.
Nary drap," said he mournfully,
shaking his grizzled head, zen we lost
our leetle crap besides. But what's
sugar en- coffee ter Jack bein' tuck? Me
en- his ma en- the gals wish we uns never
heared tell D sugar en- coffee. What's
sugar en- coffee ter Jacks lynn thar "a
perishin' away, weaker AN a baby?"
cried the old man in tremulous voice
Here the sick mans nerves gave way
under flood of self-pity, and he began
10 weep.
"Thar-thar-honey," cried his IA
Their, trying to soOthe him, don't We
cry" lie thrust his hand into the
pocket of his cOpperas jeans coat and
drew ont gaudy red and yellow cotton
handkerchief.
La, La he calculated, ''ef hain't
clean disremembered all bout hit!
Why, honey, eff hyar hain't a new hen
kercher yer ma sent We. She saved up
all o ole Speck's aigs en- sol EN- Chris
mas, en- buyed hit fer We for a present,
en- she's been a-keepin' hit fer ye ever
sence."
But the gaudy handkerchief, far from
comforting the prisoner, overwhelmed
him with home sickness.
Take hit awayi" he sobbed. Take
hit away, Oh. ma. Oh, ma. I'll never
seq We again.
The stalwart mountaineer dashed the
gay handkerchief under the bed, and
kneeling beside his son, Graded him in
his arms as if he were baby.
Thar, now, thar, now, don't We take
hit SO TO heart. Yen git well en- see
her Wit. Pap'll nuss his boy till he sees
her. Don't! don't, my Jackie, my baby
Oh. my LOrd!'' he moaned in sudden
terror at his hOpelessness TO comfort
The unhappy fathers tears mingled
with his sons, ard he vainly strove TO
dry them in his blue checked handker-
chief
The friendly jaiier's eyes filled. and
his throat swelled, and fearing he might
be swept away in the sea of woe, he
hastily retreated to the door, and
nearly knocked over the doctor, who
was entering.
What is the matter?" said he.
Come, come, this won't do!''
"He won't hush.' said the father
"Ef his ma was only hyar to nuss him
he'd do better"
We'll, he must get well and go to
her. Here's something that will cure
him faster than all my medicine" and
the doctor held mp the paper. See, the
Judge has sent you a release" and he
read il aloud Now, Bigby, you must
get well, so you can travel"
iii never get well in hyar," said the
prisoner, trying to stay his sobs. .All
I crave is a leetle sunshine en- fresh
ar"
well, you shall have it just as soon
as YOU can travel"
Pap, We say the suns a-shinin' out
side?" said the prisoner.
well, hits a-shinin' right smart"
nd Mr.. Bigby, winking the tears off
his eye-lashes..
Yes" said he, qualifying, as it we're,
his assertion, Il mOught say hits a
shinin' right peart."
asked he. Springs a-comin', hain't
hit?"
Springs a-cOmin' on" assented Mr..
Bigby The SHOWS done melted en-
gone, the peach trees are a-bloomin'.
the buds o the ellums en- the willows
air a-yvellin'. the red-buds en- naples air
a-blOoInin', the bees air a-playin' in the
sun afOre Their gums, en- the young
calves air a-bleatin' in yander pastur',"
he said, adding bit by bit to the rural
picture as his sons hungry eyes seemed
to devOur him. The jay-birds air be-
ginnin' ter sing, en- soon the voice o the
turtle will be heard in the land" he
concluded.
Then IA GO" said Jack, home-sick
for a sight of what his father had told
him.
1T Will be great risk, " said the doc
tor.
well. I'll risk hit. What's the use
o dyin' like a rat in a hole, in this hyer
jail?" aid the prisoner.
1T is almost certain death TO vent
urc," insisted the doctor. wait till
YOU get little better"
''Ef mus die, lemme die at home"
cried Jack. Pears like ! could die
easier thar"
Seeing that he was determined to 20.
the doctor ceased to urge him. Have
YOU the means TO take him homer" he
asked the father, who had arisen and
seated himself on the side of the bunk.
We'll. yes" said the old man. Il
sold nv critter afore leavin' home ter
git the money ter come hyar on
IF you sold your horse. how are you
going to make your crop" asked the
friendly iailer.
well" said Mr.. Bigby, undaunted
by the dismal prospect ahead, II
thought as how I'd sell nv COW en- calf.
arter Jack is well nuff ter do 'thaut the
milk. en- buy steer. Only femme git
him back ter his ma in the mountains
en- well scratch long somehow"
The sun shone bright and warm; the
air was sweet and balmy; spring was
coming fast and April seemed to have
fastened along the road 70 meet March,
and strewed few Of her days in his
calendar. The sun beamed into the car
where Jack Bigby lay on two seats. APP
parently half asleep. For the first half
Of the journey the excitement, the
change, the thought Of home had kept
him Up