Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-02-01

ling the philanthropic brakeman, in one of
our siestas, he rounded up his glowing tribute
by exclaiming: when Tatervine Joe meets
a srnutty faced brakeman he meets brave
heart, a true heart rough 10 may be, but
full TO overlooking with the milk OF human
kindnessln
'.Tatervine Joe,n said I, "who's Tatervine
Joer'
"Wen, sir, I'm Tatervine Joe-that is, Tn
known by that cognomen TO many Of the
craft / used 70 sing the grasshopper and
tateryine song with such true artistic feeling,
that became so entangled in the vine that it
stuck to me long after the boys refused to
listen more to my melodious ditty."
"Tatervine," said /, "I've got song for
you TO sing. II has awaited your coming
good while" And l led him TO the mys-
FERROUS writing on the wall over Bob's case.
The new compositor read the lines and,
turning to me with moistened eyes, said:
IL will tell you a short story. Two men,
both type stickers once left New Orleans for
the diamond fields of South America. They
went for adventure and 20 better their for
tunes. One never was married; the other
was young widower, who left behind, in
the care of relative a sweet little maiden
over whose head four summers had flown.
The father idolized the child. He of the two
adventures, went forth with purpose. To
gain for the child was his one motive in life.
He worked hard and fortune favored him.
OF the two who returned after five years
toll and privation, he, the father, had treas
ure-both money and sparkling gems But,
alasi the relative into whose keeping the
child was intrusted had died. OF the girl no
trace could be found. Some affirmed that
Al. 4
fathers heart and quite turned his head.
"He searched for his child, but in vain.
To think said he, of robbing myself of the
sunshine of her presence so many years for
the paltry treasures Of the mine-one loving
smile from her lips would buy them ALL All,
continued he, i once had heart of 1esh-it
has turned 20 crystal now. In my bosom !
shall put these fateful stones. Though light
they seem TO crush me will carry them
unseen, in penance. set my heart on them
they shall now sit on my heart-yea, they
shall be my heart. Henceforth | am dead
The man grew thin and wasted, and he wan
dered afar His friend saw him last som,
three years ago. Later, he received letter
from the wanderer. IL was mostly an in
coherent muddle-the stony heart was crush
ing him-the imps of darkness coveted hi
bones-they would boil him into glue-of tn,
glue they would make an linking roller an,
| spread darkness over the face of the heavens
"Hold ON, Tatervine," said |, 1.-THE riddle i
solved. You are the friend; and this,
| pointing to the scrawl, lis the wanderer'
latest message 10 you" Then told him O
my thin lodger Of that cold October night.
Hes buried his heart-his burdensom
treasure-his diamonds in your hell box
| tpIJet harfaroI fa,.a
| Broken leads and bent up spaces"
| said Tatervine There's a Providence /
that" he continued, ''for have found hi
long lost daughter"
Sure enough, there in the receptacle 10
old and broken types, incased in a small car
vas sack, were the ''shiners" and the follow
ing note
DEAR TATERvTSE: AS you migrate It IL possib
that you may strike this place / bury my hea
| In this box. You may Ind IL. IL will not he bu
densome to you The accursed diamonds al
yours II Bessie Is dead II you find them no
they may be a benefit to the poor lad who is tr
ing to first class paper In this woebegor
town. He was kind TO me- but you have alway
been my friend. | shall not be boiled! | go
Niagara Falls tomorrow. You know what b
comes of morbid people who 20 to the falls.
| TON BUrTERFIELD
Bessie got the diamonds
never heard anything more of poor Ton
Jasper Henderson in Democrat and Chron