The morning call., 1891-05-10
A TALE OF FORTY-NINE
He Was Mercifnl and Would BE
Merciful to His Beast.

The best stories extant abont the days of
'49 have not all to do with mines and min
ers. The stock and agricultural industries
also yield their quota to entertain the wiser
tenderfoot of to-day, and the following, re-
lated by a writer in the Chicago Tribune, is
one of the best we have come across in some
time:
Twenty-eight years ago there lived at
Auburn. Placer County, two partners, John
Smith and j Ohm Jones. These men reached
the "dlggings" in 40. the former from
Maine and the latter from Rhode Island.
They had mined, mlled, merchandised aud
farned, saved and banked together. Some
twenty years ago they concluded to go into
the Angora wool business. Now Smith was
liberal and hospitable, Yarm-hearted and
kind. Jcnes was just the reverse, although
he was not altogether misery The part
ners had a fine band of Angoras, as pretty
as could be found anywhere in California.
The winter rains had commenced To de-
scend, in 1868, and the Angoras would hud-
die together and wish-if they know how to
wiSh-that they were shorn lambs; at least
so the man from Maine thought. And 1t
moved his heart t. pity, and he suggested to
Jones that they build shed, so that the
poor animals might have some shelter from
the pitiless storm. Jones laughed at his
partner aud said:
"Smith, you're fool. If were asked to
name the biggest fool in Placer | should
answer, John Smith from Maine"
"Do / understand by that that you decline
10 join me in the building of q shed for the
protection of our fine goats ?'
That's the long and short of it, pard.
Well l shall build 1t out OF my own
private funds, them" said the sturdy old
man from Maine.
"And l have no objection to you doing
So" responded the brusque Rhode Islander.
"They are as much Gods creatures as we
are, Mr. Jones'"
EXCEPT that we eat the contents of to-
mato cans and they mastcate the cans, Mr..
Smith"
"You're a ruffian!"
" And you're fool"
| know il"
/" Yes; and everybody knows it,"
But Smith went on with the shed, which
was built big and strong, and cost nearly
500. And upon the very piglf iof its CON-
pletion there came an ideal Sierra storm.
So severe was it, indeed, that Jones, before
he retired. made up his mind to share with
Smith the expense OF the construction of the
shed.
"Providenee prompted me to erect that
cover for our Angoras," said Smith TO his
wife, just as he put out the light for the
night.
All that night it blew furiously and the
ram descended IN torrents, ana there also
came sleet, snow and hail.
Still every human being in Auburn was
happy, including Jones. Smith, however.
was the happiest person of all.
But when he looked out of his window the
neXtmorning his happiness was Immediately
turned to grief, and there came a fearful
headache to him and he concluded that he
was too i'll to even so up to the postoffice
that day.
what is the matter?" cried his wife, as
her husband once seemed to swoOn.
Matter enough. And mind you, Sarah,
don't you dare let Jones into this house to-
day under any consideration. If he comes
tell him I'm too sick to see any enc. Tell
him I'm out of my head. Tell him any
thing to get rid of him."
why, what is the matter?"
Matter! Great Cesar's ghostl Every
thing is the matter. Jones says am fool,
and Jones is right Jones never lies"
Heavens! You are mad"
fright you are. But look out of the win
dow. Look at the other foolsv'
Mrs. Smith took in the whole thing at a
glance. The beautiful Angoras were all
huddled together on the roof of the new
shed which had been built for their pro-
lection.