The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-06-27

that sartin as l could whip Bob out OF
bis boots. Finally. thie bein' Christ
uas Eve. we concluded a. how next
mornin' would be- the best for the mill.
and | named as my second a chap Of
the name OF Cleve Whitman. rs were
n great chum OF mine; Bob namin' IA
shipmate OF his'n. called Fred Nichols.
and both OF as stepped into the Wind
mill Tavern. kept by n wilder of the
name of O'kane rs were willin' 20
hang IL up for Bob. We had "A drink
onto IL arter which we went down
aboard. pm ships bein' close TO ono
another In the Waterloo Dock. fcelin'
better than for many nights past and
glad as we'd arranged IL all In -ich u
friendly manner.
Christmas mornin' near daybreak all
four OF US went down nigh hand 10
Bootle Landmark. There's docks there
now. but them times IL were as nice n
place for IA little mill as one would
wish. the beach as hard and springy
ns a dancing floor. Gettin' there.
Steve Whitman said as how him and
Fred had talked the matter over the
night afore. and had come To the ron
clusion as neither OF us wouldn't be I'm
no fit condition for sparkin' Polly arter
a hard mill sich as we was likely 20
have, and SIGH helm the case. they
him and Fred-had argued az they
would do the hghtin' themselves.
Steve for me and Fred for Bob. and
that this would answer the same pur-
pose. so far "a Polly were consumed,
and that me and Bob should stand the
drinks arter all was over. share and
share alike.
Me and Bob agreed "a IL was a very
kind thing for them 20 do. but jist what
would have been expected OF two good
shipmates. and the men stripped and
the fight begun. Arter about an hour
OF as nice fibbin' as | ever seen. !
found IL impossible "a rouse Steve. he
was that tuckered out and | Civ In for
him. and then / seer how l gone TO lee
ward by such a arrangement for
whereas | were morally sartan | could
have whipped Bob Steve never
couldn't whip Fred. and Polly were
lost 20 me forever. However, | wasn't
a man IA would 20 back on a bargain.
and from that time on | never went
into that kitchin. and Bob had the gal
all 20 hisself.
AS soon as We got Steve all right
he were "A bit dazed fust Olive all
four went 10 a place kept by "A man
named Phillips. rs had been mate OF n
ship. and had spliced the wilder as
kept the place. and so come Ia be the
skipper OF IL. There we busted IL u
for an hour or so In "A seamanlike
manner. | don't think as Bob done
much courtin' that night, and know
AS | were In no condition for any sich
nonsense; but | heerd tell some time
arter that o havin' shipped for London
next voyage, as Bob and Polly we're
spliced. and that he'd took her TO
Philadelphia.
IL were another Christmas. n matter
OF ten years arter that afore | come
athwart Bob Lyons agin. and ! "A Y 10
him, recallin' our mutual sparkin' of
Polly Dawson;
Bob, my boy, I'm right glad for TO
meet you ag'in and ] wants you to
understand rs ! bears you no hard
feelin's.r
You needn't Of" says he. but I
wish 10 the Lord as your man had
whipped. . from which | inferred as
his venture with Polly hadn't been n
success. and remarkin' ms We never
know what's best for us In this life. ]
asked him for to go ana take some
thin. which he did.