Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-04-03
The Odyssey" were all drawn upon
that afternoon.

| tnat afternoon.
After prolonged silence at tt e con
clusion of one of old Toms stories, tn,
boy remarked, THAT was a bully on,
you told me the other day about tha
boy Jack that climbed up the bear
stalk. l reckon you don't know bet
ter one than that, do you?n "Well
yes, think I know better one than
that, and what is better still, it's true. y
Every word?n
Every word,' said old Tom.
Lets have it," said the boy.
Old Tom stirred the fire, put on an.
other log, took fresh chew of tobacco
and launched into the following story
Once upon time there was an island
in the center of q broad river It was
a large island, and although great
many peopleli on il, it wasn't near
settled up. 1T was probably one ofthe
richest islands in the world. It had
the finest fields for corn and wheat that
ever We're seen. It's woods were i'm.
mense, and they had in them all the
different kinds of wood necessary for
p7opIe to have. Underneath the ground
| were mines of every kind: there were
great stores of iron, coal, zinc, lead
silver and gold, besides vast quantities
of oil and gas. / have heard it hinted
| that the Worlds Fair Committee of
the Chicago of that day was swallowed
up where the most of the gas has been
that to give an opinion. This island
was Inhabited by a straightforward,
hardworking old gentleman by the
name of Jonathan, but in of later years
he was called, | believe, Old Jack, or
Farmer Jack. When be was a young
man he. didn't think he was treated
quite right at home, by the old folks.
They had an awful row about his GO
ing away from home on Sundays. 50 be
concluded he would shift for himself.
While he was looking for place to
locate, he found this island--saw it was
good claim, married, and moved on
to it. And he and his sons own the
greater part of it to this day. though of
late years they seem in fair way to
part with their possessions. His con-
nectiln did not pay much attention to
him at first, but when they found that
he had cleared out good-siZed farm
and was in fair way to do well, they
came over to his island to dictate to
him how be should run his farm. He
naturally thought this prize exhibi-
ton of gall, but didn't say much about
if. He just listened to what they had
to say, and did his own way without
saying anything back. After awhile,
he was called upon to help pay the
taxes of the family estate. His father,
who had in manner disowned him,
tity of his corn and wheat, hogs and
cattle, and Of any other property they
might find belonging to him. This last
proceeding inflamed his bile. He ex-
planned to the gentlemen whom his
father had sent over, that he was per-
fectly willing to help the old man in
his hour of need, as a dutifui son ought
| to do, but he was twenty-one, and, as
he knew better than any ybady else what
he could afford to do, he intended to be
the judge Of the extent of help he gave,
and that ait would be a mighty good
way to get knoc!; ed full f sand holesn
n f. nd
taking his property without his con-
sent. The men the old gentleman sent
over were big, strapping, tall fellows,
who had been so accustomed to having
their own way That they had got to tie
very overbearing; besides, they didn't
think Jack would fight, he had been so
patient and quiet all along. They
looked on his remarks about the sand
of bluff. But when they undertook to
carry away any of his property, the
whole business turned into a surprise
party for them. When they got back
to their own side of the river they look
ed very much like they had been mis-.
used by cyclone. and they didn't have
any ofJack produce with them either,
for he had kicked the rascals off his
island; and, on receiving some further
insults, refused to have anything to do
with the old gentleman until he agreed
to meddle with his affairs no more.
Finally, the matter was patched up,
after another scrap, in which the black
eyes and bloody noses were about
equally divided.
After Jack had got on good terms
with his relatives. they esta blished
several lines of boats between the main
land and the island, at suitable points.
When he wanted anything from the
home place, he sent over and got it,
and when any of the family wanted
ANYTHING from the island, boat was
sent for it, and nothing was thought
about it. This primitive and natural
way of dealing with each other was not
continued very long. Something hap
nened one morning that was destined
to overturn this informal and conven-
lent method of doing business.
The farmer found at his door, one
day, a little, ugly, dirty. scrawny chap
so homely and humbly. looking that
no respectable dog would compromise