Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-02-08
JIMMY'S ADVENTURE.

boy, born and bred in tka2 great
noisy, rushing city.
Had you asked him any question
about streets, museums, geological
gardens, the busy markets, or the best
places in Central park to skate in win
ter, you would have been surprised at
the wisdom displayed by this little
fellow in regard to the great metropo-
lis.
| Jimmy had seen the great Atlantic
steamers as they moved slowly up to
their docks, unloading their hundreds
of passengers, people from those far
o6 lands beyond the seas, and he had
often wondered and asked innumera-
bile questions OF Uncle Joe, who dearly
loved the bright little boy, and found
pleasure in answering his many ques-
Etions.
Jimmy's only knowledge of these
far OF lands was gained from wonder
full tales from his elder playmates and
such stories as he was able to read and
understand.
His father was a wealthy gentle
man; his mother an educated and re-
fined lady, who knew little Of the
trials of the poor.
Jimmy was just 10 years of age at
the commencement of my story; was
the prospective heir to large sum of
money.
I His little sister, Ella, was just 6, and
q more beautiful little fairy it would
have been hard to find.
Jimmy was quite fond of her, and
considered himself quite man in car
ing for her.
| He had innumerable toys and al
lowed Ella to join him in all his
sports. His rocking horses, hoops,
drum and marbles were always at her
disposal, so you see Jimmy was not
like some little boys that know, who
are ashamed TO be seen playing with
girls, and their own little sisters are
sometime, / am sorry to say, snubbed.
No wonder the world looked bright
to Jimmy.
| He often wondered and longed to
know of that wonderful land called
the sfar west" of which he had read
stories and heard tales of its trackless
Iprairies roamed over by Indians; of
its great stretches Of desert land, and
conjectired that it was only inhabited
by Indians, buffaloes, bears, panthers,
etc. As he looked at the western sky,
illumined by the descending sun, Jim
my would draw picturesin bis imagin-
alton of this far away country; how
to get there, what he would see, and
how, mounted on a wild steed" or an
Eungovernable bronco" he would
dash over the prairies, hunting, lassoe-
ling wild cattle and horses, and in
tdulge in all the sports of that wonder
lfnl land if he lived there. Jimmy had
seen a few Indians in one of the mu-
seums and had once seen an encounter
between cowboys and Indians in q
Ebig circus tent.
! Alas, poor JIMMY how soon your
Eboyish dreams were realizedi
! One day, soon after a romp in the
nursery in which Ella joined, with
the rocking horse a wild mustang,
ELLA an Indian, mounted in a rocker,
with two spaniel puppies grizzly bears,
and a fierce encounter with wooden
lguns, Jimmy's father came home with
. pale face.
} A long conference between his
father and mother took place, and
Jimmy was finally told that his father
was ruined. Through the baseness of
trusted partner in some large invest
ments in a wonderful speculation
(which promised large returns, Mr..
weston found himself in bankruptcy.
7 Jimmy heard of the disaster with
little dismay. He was too young to
Erealize his fathers distracted air or his
mothers pale face and tears. In a few
short weeks the house was in the
hands of strangers. Nurse, with her
wonderful fairy tales and goblin stor-
lies, discharged. The pony cart, 4"
Jimmy's pride and joy, disposed of,
and one bright spring morning found
Our young hero on the road to tho
E'.far west
! Jimmy's father remembered am old
friend who had gone to California and
who had written back glowing de-
|scriptions of that golden land. He was
NOW commander at Fort Yuma. Thith-
er Jimmy's father determined to go.
II am going to be a cowboy and
fight Indians and show them what a
New York boy is made Of" said Jim
my to Ella one day.
But Jimmy, Injins will shoot and
ieary off little boys and girls and eat
Fem"
Eat 'ema oh, Ella, nobody eats
folks but cannibalsi Injins amt can
nibals. Uncle Joe said Injins was just
wild men, who had never been civil
lied and lived in tents and never been
told about God, nor nothin'," explain
ed Jimmy.
II don't care, don't want to see no
Injins; l want to ride, but I don't
want TO be eat up" said Ella, who be-
Geved fully in the carnivorous habits
of the noble red man.
'tShol I'll show them what Jimmy
Weston is made OF, and I'll take care
OF you, too, Ella; so don't you be
afraid, said Jimmy.
! One beautiful day along in the ear
ly summer our party found them
selves at st. Joe, Mo. Here the weary
Journey was to begin. Civilization
was TO be thing of tie past, and even
Jimmy's eyes grew larger and wider
open wien he saw the long strings of
covered wagons, the great strong mule
and OK teams. the guides and scouts in
their buckskin suits and fringed leg
gings, with their long hair and their
belts stuck full of knives and pistols,
their keen, piercing eyes, and listened
to their wonderful stories and hair
breadth escapes.
I'm going to be a scout, now, that's
what I'm going to be-" said Jimmy
one day, after cycling one of those
worthless and listening to his tales.
my son, you may have work for
scouts before Fort Yuma is reached"
replied Jimmy's father.
They found that large party had
left st. Joe the very morning of their
arrival.
Jimmy's father was very sorry, as
it was very dangerous piece of bust
ness crossing in small parties. They
hastily made their preparations, hop
ing to overtake the other party. Sc
curing the services of a trusty guide,
teams, blankets, guns ammunition,
cooking utensils, with many other
necessary articles, and provisions, our
party, with the addition of number
of other families who had arrived,
commenced their journey across the
plains.
Jimmy was in his element. His ia
Their bought him lovely little rifle,
after persistent teasing on Jimmy's
part.
Among the parties who Joined them
was family named March. 1t con-
sisted of Mr.. and Mrs. March and their
son Sen q lad of TX The hous hecarne