Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-10-07
WHY BADGER WAS BLUE.
His Story Of Home, Sweet Home
Explained It All.

3 1t was the regular weekly rehearsal
of tho Banjo club. The playing had
been unusually good THAT night, and
consequently we were in particularly
happy spirits. The stories were moro
spicy, the jokes more clever, and, talk
ing it all in all, we enjoyed more
laughs at everybody's wit and at every
body's expense than at any other meet
ing of the year
But pardon correction. 1t is not
true that we were all in good spirits,
for jim Badger, usually the jolliest fell
low in the whole club, had sat back
against tho wall the entire evening,
and had contributed neither word nor
smile to the general fund of amusc-
ment. However, this was not an I'M
heard-of occurrence, and Jim WAS such
q mighty fine fellow that | suppose we
imposed on his good nature when he
had an "off" night like this, and made
him the butt of more jokes than was
really kind. But he always kept right
on playing, never needing the thought
less shafts that were thrown at him,
and seeming to find comfort in the
strings of his instrument.
How he did play that night! Good
ness! it seemed as If that banjo actual
ly tallSed-and think it did, to jim.
Well, we had played our last piece
and were putting our banjos in their
cases, ready to go to our rooms Jim
was just passing out the door without
his usual Goodnight, boys!" when
Sam Watson called to him:
Say, Jim, old man, you're not feel
ing very jolly tonight, are you? Here's
little song may cheer your walk
home"
With that Watson commenced to play
Home, Sweet Home" punctuating it
with those slurring, crying notes that
are made by sliding the finger up the
string.
Jim turned quickly. There was an
angry flash in his eyes, but for only o
moment, and then he said, softly:
"Pleasc don't, Sam. II you knew what
that song means to me you wouldn't
use it for Joke"
There was the faintest suggestion of
u tear in his eye. Sam saw he had
gone too far, and said, with honest peni-
=. tence: Forgive me, Jim. Twas only
/" In fun, you know; and if you don't
mind, old fellow, let us have your
story Perhaps it will cheer you up
and help us to understand you better"
"Ycs, think it will" jim went back
TO his seat, leaned his banjo against
ton began ~ don't much believe in a
fellows talking about himself, but if
you will listen for awhile may be able
to explain why have the blues every
now and then.
"The summer after my sophomore
year spent among the foothills of
the Rockies, out in Colorado. One af-
ternoon in September dozen or so Of
us, started out with rifles, hop
ing to stir up little game
somewhere, but my horse had
hurt his foot quite badly, and was
unable to keep up with the others, so
told them to go ahead and not TO mind
me. | watched them out of sight and
then turned toward home; but before
going very far found had forgotten
the road. Considering the lamcncss of
my horse, and knowing we had, at
best, long distance to travel, con.
cluded my best plan was TO put in a.
the first house until morning. 1t was
already dark, and we Travelled some
miles before seeing light. The horse
seemed to know that it meant rest and
shelter for him, so he ambled along
more courageously, and another mile
brought us to the door, where dis.
mounted and raped loudly.
AN old woman answered my sum
mons, but before had a chance &c
speak she said, in n hoarsc whisper
''Shl Thar's sick man in here
stranger, an yer mustn't make so much
noise
81 apologizcd for my rudeness, ex
planning that | had lost my way anC
would like shelter for the night, anC
adding that perhaps | might he of som'
assistance to her.
"'Rcckon yer kir, stranger she re
piled, fer hain't slep' night thes,
two weeks. Come in
Il entered the room and saw on
bed in one corner an old man VIII,
seemed TO be just lingering between
life and death. The old nurse did no
look much better. In fact, she seemed
SO worn out by loss of sleep that
asked her to instruct me about tn
medicines aud allow me to watch il
herplace. She was.soou asleep, and
sat bv the bed, wondering at ia,
strange circumstances that had brough
me there. | looked at the sick maj
and was bit startled to see his erca
eyes staring steadily at me,