Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-10-09

nina forty years ago; very much, IN TACT, as
have almost expected to see him-thougb
! tnow that over half lifetime has passed
NV But your father-tell me of him at
once " and the little old man began TO get
fdgety.
They relaxed their grese of each others
ba,ds and sat down together. while the
Others gave every attention
"My father is dead" began the young
man.
"Whatrp said the sire at his side.
ayes nv father, and the companion Of
vour Younger days, is no more. He passed
a,vny four years ago. and on his 1ying bed
he gave me the instructions am now car
r,ing ont It was the one wish Of my IA
theirs latter life to be able 10 take the east
ern trip to Rochester to meet the other two
members of that party you have told Of
II was on his mind a great deal
when my father died he was one Of the
most prominent men on the Pacific slope
NJ had figured in all the great political
events since 1860 and occupied many posi-
lions of public worth. He was attracted
toward California by the great gold panic,
and had a very venturesome yet not un-
pleasant. trip overland. for it was before
the railroad came.
ale became early interested in the fish
cries of the northern coast, and during
visit to those grounds was taken captive
nv A rowing band of Indians and held for
over year. He finally succeeded in max.
ing his escape, but was in the mountains
FOR months: at last, and by the merest
chance. getting to the coast again, and so
On back to San Francisco. He became
cashier in a bank, and while in this posi-
ton married the daughter Of the banks
president II was not long after this be-
fore my father found himself president Of
the bank. which was the largest institution
Of its kind on the Pacific coast.
1T was then that my father began his
public career, and he continued to rise in
worldly station until his death came |
am now one Of the officers Of the bank Of
which my father was for years president
and have large and pressing interests to
oversee, yet have left all for time for
the sole purpose of following out the
wishes may almost say last wishes-of
my father relative to this trip to Rochester
and the hunting up of the other two Of
that original little party Of forty years ago
have some mementoes with me that
father put aside for those he expected to
meet this year at Rochester, and now lam
afraid that we viii have to unite our pow.
ers in an effort to find No Of the original
party"
Just then a violent stamping was heard
in oneof the little staterooms on one side Of
where the narrators and their small body
Of listeners were seated Then two or
three sharp kicks came against the door.
followed by:
"Consarn i'll ef hadn't got sech internal
tight boots, jest & 20 down q Rochester IN.
| wouldn't hev Z kick til internal LEGS off'n
me when wanted c put them on.
Then there came a great bang, with a
Thar, by goll'
Immediately thereafter a tall, thin,
straight haired old fellow opened the door
OF the room from which the noise had
come and, minus collar and with one
trowser leg caught on the top Of his boot,
he stood in the dim glare Of the oscillating
light and looked with bewiliermentt toward
the wondering ones about the table
"ken any of you fellers tell me ef I've
been dreamin'g' he inquired after mo
ment or two had passed
81 don't believe we can. uncle,n said one
of the number
"Hev you fellers been a tellin' yarnsw
he again asked, without much attention 10
the answer inst received
The little old gentleman ventured to say
that they had been considering some old
time events.
Then amt been dreamiu'. / knowed
! was awake Say. which one OF sou was
tellin' TINT last storyf" heasked: and upon
the young man acknowledging that be was
the one the old fellow said:
Put her right thar then, for knowed
your dad;'' then turning toward the group
be inquired.
Nov, who was it tibet told tn first yarn
bout those three ohapsf"
The little old gentleman bobbed up, pre-
pared by his former surprise to have al
most anything happen.
Then, calculated the old fellow, his
iisheyeled hair and sparkling ewes indicat-
ing much excitement, "I'll be clubbed and
skinned fer a sneakin', wild eyed rattle
snake ef ! amt Their missin' link. Pm one
n tier same crowd tibet separated ut De
.roit away back thar in ~, an I'm Jest on
my way-M'linde n I-downt' Rochester
= shake hams all Ground ag'in. BY Their
great whale that eat up tibet Teller job,
out this IS er coincerdence."
After further expressions Of surprise on
he part Of each the tall old man was
'almed down sufficiently TO tell his story
which was as follows:
Wall, boys, jest went back few mile
IN set right down on 100 acres of as fine
and as lay out Of doors. an thar I've been
'-settin' ever since, except when / was get
IN bout clearin' off all tn timber,
'uliin' out tn stumps, an fenein', an
luildin' house an barns, an dom tn hun
ired things tibet come in feller's way on
farm. OF course got me wife, an she's
light IN thar now. a-listenin' to every word
say. She's smart woman, too. want
o tell YOU" said he, slyly winking at his
hearers
Wall, as to Happenings of any sort Of
consequence, guess we amt he'd none.
M Thorough mossback. We see. Hev been
me Tor forty year, an know but little Of
nything else.
As to FORUM hev that farm. with all
het's on it, an tibet seems to be about all
zen handle An for that matter, don't
now but what | hev all | really kere
bout I've got ten boys an six gals, an