Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-05-30
igby, you must gee well, SO you

crave is ieetle sunshine en- fresh ar"
"Well, you shall have it just as soon
as you can travel"
"Pap, ye say the SUMS a shinin' out
side?" said the prisoner.
"Well, hits a-shinin' right smart"
said Mr.. Bigby, winking the tears off his
eyelashes. Yes" said he, qualifying,
as it were, his assertion, 81 mought say
hits a-shinin' right peart."
"En hits a-gittin' warm, haint hit?'
asked he. Springs a-comin', hain't it?"
Springs comm on, assented Mr..
Bigby. "The SHOWS done melted and
gone, the peach trees air a-bloomin', the
buds o the ellums en- the willows air
a-swellin', the rcd buds en- naples air
a-bloomin', 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 devouI
him. 1.-The jaybirds air beginnin' ter
sing, EN- soon the voice O. the turtle will
be heared in the land" he concluded.
"Then I'll 60" said Jack, homesick foi
a sight of what his father had told him.
sit will be a great risk" said the doc
tor.
"Well, I'll risk hit. What's the use O
dyin'. like rat in hole, in this hyeI
iail?' said the prisoner.
"It is almost certain death to venture, :"
insisted the doctor. "Wait till you get
little better"
tsEf 7 n,,,St dia Ian,,,a I;a Of bo,,,o y
cried Jack. "'Pears like l could die
easier thar"
Seeing that he was determined to go,
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.
"Well, yes" said the old man, ''I sold
my critter afore leavin' home ter git the
money ter come hvar on"
"If you sold your horse, how are you
going to make your crop?" asked the
friendly jailer.
"Well," said Mr.. Bigby, undaunted by
the dismal prospect ahead, Il thought as
how Id sell my COW en- calf, arter Jack
is well nuff to do 'thaut the milk, en- buy
a steer. Only lemme git him back tel
his ma in the mountains en- we'll scratch
long somehow,
The sun shone bright and warm; the
air was sweet and balmy; spring was
coming fast, and April seemed to have
hastened along the road to meet March
and strewed few of her days in his
calendar. The sun beamed into the car
where Jack Bigby lay on two ats, ap
parently half asleep. For the first half
of the journey the excitement, the
change, the thought of home, bad kept
him up.
"The sun-tne ar" he cried, delight
edly, "hit's powerful good pap!
"Hits mighty peart," said the old
man, sympathetically.
But now, his little strength exhausted
Jack lay in "A state of collapse that his
father mistook for sleep, with the sun
shining full into his face, though he did
not seem to know it.
"Wake up, Jackie" said old Bigby,
cheerfully. 1--WE air out er Canton now,
en- gwine in ermcng the mountains. Look
at 'em."
The sick man reused up, and with his
fathers assistance raised himself so as to
look out of the window AS far as the
eye could reach range after range of
mountains met the view rising one above
the other, The invalid gazed upon them
as if he could never get his fill and
drank in the mountain air as if it was an
elixir.
"Thar, thar, Jackie, said his father
"I'm afeard you'll cotch cole"
''The sight er them is good for sore
eyes" said the released prisoner. And
language could 80 80 further in his case.
Old Bigby laughed. "What'll We say
when ye see Baldface, en- thet thar big
pine thets crowd on the tip top er hit
war we use ter go coon huntin'?n
"Ef ever | gets able ter climb up thar
I'll never wanter come down again, " said
Jack.
Again his father laughed. SIS thet
thar ole pine all ye're hankerin' arter,
sonny" he asked.
In course | wanter see ma and the
gals, said the sick man. "When | see
ma agin This voice failed him and he
broke down.
Thar, thar said the old man hastily,
don't bother bout ma en- the gals-not
but what they'll hev' er shout en- go
roun' when they see ye, Lie down en-
res now"
He laid his son back on the seat, and
Jack wearily closed his eyes and seemed
to sleep. Absorbed with his unaccus
toned surroundings old Bigby did not
notice his heavy breathing, which was
deadened by the noise of the train. At
last, glancing out the window, familiar
objects came in view.
Jackie" said the old man, Jackie
wake up, honey. Thar's old Baldface
Look up. En- thars yam pine"
The sick man Enclosed his eyes, but
they wore a strange look. 81 see no
pine," he said feebly.
Old Bigby grew frightened. He passed
his arms around his son and lifted him
by main force; terror gave him strength.
Look, look" he cried anxiously.
But his sons head fell back against his
shoulder, the cool mountain breeze played
with his hair, the sunshine beamed in
his face, but the dying mountaineer saw
nothing. In vain his glazing eyes turned
toward the distant mountains.
81 KANT see hit, ;" said he feebly, I'm