Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-04-02
EVERY BODY'S FRIEND.

EVERY BODY'S FRIEND.
That's tho Reason He Died with
His Boots On.
Certainly my boy, shall die with my
boots on. 1t is my fate. Nothing can
90 will prevent it. 1t is the Fairburns
Nonsense, Jack. I have never heard
any thing more absurd. Why, you can't
have an enemy in the world"
Neither had my father, nor my BROTH
ers-and-yet-"
And yet-what?"
They all died with their boots on"
The words were spoken slowly. calm
~, and with an accent OF truth that was
not to be mistaken. I looked at nv
friend in Mortified amazement. had
known him many years, and loved him
as one man may love another in this sell
hsh, practical nineteenth century, where
love and friendship form so small part
OF mans life, and business and specu-
lation SO much of it. And, truly, Jack
was lovable fellow, as men go-gener-
Gus to fault, whole-souled, active, en-
ergetic, manly, fine talker, good
listener, jolly and sociable; in short,
every body's friend. He was certainly
nobody's enemy-unless, perhaps, his
own-poor fellow.
His wife adored him. His children
were devoted to him. His home was one
OF the brightest iresides in all the
country round. The cook declared that
Mrs. Fairburn had more "eatin' cum.
pny' than any white folks she ever did
cook for. but as the increase in her per-
quisites more than counterbalanced the
increase in her work at such times, and
as Aunt Milly' was fond of ''cumpny'
herself, and jolly old soul at her best,
she never carried out her oft-repeated
threats of leaving, but continued to send
in hot "batty cakes and marvellous
good things" year after year, to the
great enjoyment of every one.
Jacks home was out of town-a de-
Hghtful suburban home, replete with
every comfort and convenience; guam
titles of fruit, melons. grapes, vege-
tables, fat poultry, and an artificial pond
full of choice fish. Jacks ''cumpny"
were not always Of his own selection.
The guests often invited themselves,
always sure of a cordial welcome (for
Jacks pretty little wife, like himself,
was 'given to hospitality, but self-in-
vited guests are always so charmingly
aemonstrative, so delightfully."- easy to
please, and fatter one into such COM
Portable self-complacency that ono is
often surprised into cordial greet
ing, even when they are a
little objectionable; and Jacks
guests were seldom that. His home
circle itself was an odd mixture of
those to the manor born, and those to
whom it had become homo through
courtesy and kindness, and who had no
greater right to its shelter than that
Of belonging to one common brother
hood; an old lady who had no other
home, and who mothered Mrs. Fairburn
and grandmothered the children to their
mutual qualification; funny-looking
little foreigner who seemed perfectly
''at home" and in no wise unwelcome,
though no one seemed to know precisely
from whence he came, or whittier or
when he expected to go, and although,
as far as l could learn, he had no special
claim on any one; a few mongrel dogs
that had been given as puppies to the
children-dogs of no particular breed,
and of no specified use apparently, but
fat, self-important ours; ever ready to
dispute the right of entrance to any
newcomer, human or canine (as their
own had never been disputed), in
harmless way, however, as if to simply
intimate that they owned the premises
and had the selection of the guests
one else.
Poor Jack! Every body imposed upon
him in some way, even those who loved
him best. They could not help it. The
temptation was so great. Those that
did not care for him found him as help
less as young rabbit and totally una
bic to resist their opportunities
remember one occasion when this
was particularly noticeable. A bold I'M
6crupulous woman came to lecture in
our town. She was person Stunned
by the good and modest of her own sex.
Separated from her husband; leading O.
gay, frivolous life; far from her home
duties and her little children; she was
one to be pitied, perhaps, but not to be
encouraged in the course which she had
adopted, by such model husband and
father as our Jack. Yet she wrought
upon the sympathies of my softrhearted,
misguided friend, until she inviegled
him into consenting to introduce her to
an audience Of refined, modest ladies
and gentlemen before whom she de.
ivered such lecture as called up
blush to the face Of every woman pres