Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-06-19

There were - yet in the camp very few
women, and the prejudice against China.
men was 10 great that it was not safe
for one Of that race to come into the
camp
Before the end Of the first week
Jasper was SO overwhelmed with work
that he hired . poor boy who had
strayed into camp d NJ assistant. An
other hopper was needed early in the
second week, and still . third before q
month was done.
Jasper had . flourishing business,
and found II necessary to enlarge his
shanty. He developed q capacity for
business that he himself had never sus-
pected.
His industry increased with his sue.
cess. There was plenty Of money in
the camp, and it was not long before
Jasper was possessed OF ten times as
much money as he had eyer seen before.
Moreover, his head was not turned by
his success.
He had . queer habit Of going about
chuckling to himself and saying. linus
write a lettah one oh desc days; for q
fac, / mus. Hi! I bet hit'll be q mighty
welcome lettah to de pusson what gifts
il, case oh what II 90 long wild it. Oh,
Use gwine write q lettah by 'n'by, deed
Iisl"
Even-tempered as he had been in the
midst Of steadily increasing prosperity,
Jasper almost lost his head when he
was one day offered 50, 900 for his corner
lot. It was needed for o business block.
So fast had the town grown, and
speedy and great had been the rise in
real estate; that Jsper's lot had become
70 valuable a. this in less than three
months. Fearing q possible decline in
values, Jasper prudently sold his lot
and removed his laundry.
1t was then that he wrote his letter,
or rather, had It written for him.
Among his patrons was . young lawyer
who had befriended Jasper on his first
arrival in the camp, and who had taken
an interest in him afterward. It was
this friend to whom Jasper applied when
he was ready to have the letter written,
and the lawyer kept his secret.
1t was about q month after the letter
had been sent that the crowd which al
ways assembled to await the arrival of
the two stage-coaches, which came to-
gether from the slowly approaching line
Of railroad in the valleys below, noted
the restlessness and peculiar actions of
Mr.. Jasper Price, who was by far the
most prominent figure in the throng.
Newly shaver and spotlessly clean,
he was arraved in q shining suit OF
black, aud wore a glossy high silk hat.
He had given o bootblack twenty-five
cents for an extra shine on his large
shoes. His wide expanse OF white shirt
front shone in the sunshine, and upon il
was . huge breastpin Of red and green
glass and q gorgeous necktie Of blue
and yellow.
On his hands were kid gloves Of q
saffron hue, while q watch. chain of
mighty and shining links was stretched
across his waistcoat front.
His black face wal Leaming with
kindly smiles, and he frequently chuck
led softly to himself as he moved around
re~stlessly in the crowd.
His excitement grew intense when
some n called out, "There they comet"
and q great cloud Of dust. rose ct one
end of the long, stony street.
The second Of the two coaches bore
such . load as it had never before car.
ried. The driver, with his hand at the
side Of his mouth, had told the "boyss
as he came up that "all Africa had
broke loose"
At the side Of the driver sat q short,
well-knit, d~ust.covered negro woman,
with . black and happy baby in her
lap. Her face was wreathed in SMILES
rs she looked down on the crowd, and,
. great responsive shout came from her
lips when Uncle Jasper called out:
aJinny! Heah ! is! Doan' you see
me, Jinny2'
From every window and door of the
coach grinninR black heads of ell sizes
and ages. and in all sorts OF hats and
caps and bonnets were now thrust with
cries OF @Daddyi daddyl We's come,
daddy Heah we is, daddy!"
Hits my fambly," cried Jasper, as
he pushed his way through the crowd.
"Dem's my folks, in dat stage. Halle
logger"
Down and out they came into his out
stretched arms.
.Glory!" he cried. @You's all heahl
Heah's Jacky! An Lofty! An Lib
butty Ami An Ab'aham-laws, how
dey has all growed! An de baby !
Bless my soul, I'd nebbah knowed dat
chile in oil dis world-he's growed SO!
An dis amt Washin'ton? How he am
changed, tool An heah's Matildy an
'Minty Jane! Come an. kiss yer daddy
what! yo' amt 'feerd O. yer daddy
kase he's dressed out SO fine? Use yer
daddy, all de same! William Henry
amt afeerd. il you, boy?
is yer all out? No, dar's little Nose
II hardly knowed dc chile, he's got SO
big! Well, we'll, we'll, il dis amt de
happies' day I cher see!"
They made q queer procession a. they
walked away from the smiling crowd.
Jasper led the way with the huge baby
on his shoulder. His radiantly happy
wife walked by his side, loaded with
baskets and bundles, while the nine
older children followed. each carrying
q pot or q pan or q tcakettle which their
mother had foolishly e fit to bring
ali the way from Georgia
Fortunate days had dawned for the
reunited family. Jasper's industry did
not flag, and no and his thirty wife
showed coed sense in the use Of the lit
tic fortune that had come to them.
When the decline of the camps pros
perity came, and the laundry business
wal no longer profitable, they went to
fertile valleys below and bought q
ranch, that their numerous boys aud
girls might be trained to habits OF in
dustry.
There. I dare say, they are STILL
Youths Companion.
III
Performers on the Cornct,