Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-12-29
Old Times.

Ed Register-In the summer before
I was marred we made the brick for
my house, with the expectation of hav-
ing it built, so I could go into it as
soon as I was married, which was to
be in October of that year. But when
it come time to build the house father
came to me and said, 81 don't see how
we are to put your house up this fall.
has gone to work for the
Iron Mountain Company" For they
had just commenced work, building
furnaces and putting up buildings, etc.
1--WE can't hire a hand for love or
told him to let us live in
brother Cyrus house, as he had no
wife, and it would be better to have
some one live in it. He said, ..Well,
that will suit all around, so go ahead
and get married as soon as you want
to-
After we were married and got home,
my wife's furniture, which
her father had made for her, for he
was a cabinet-maker and made all of
her household goods, as they had been
shipped before we started tor home.
We thought we would be able to go to
almost as soon as we
got home, but the Illinois river was
very low and the boat they were on got
aground and did not get off until next
spring, so we had to remain with faith
er's folks until the next May. That
Summer we built my house. Iremem-
Der one Saturday while we were build
ing a number of school boys came over
just as peaches were getting fit to eat.
That day after dinner all of US, as we
passed the peach orchard. filled our
pockets and handkerchiefs with those
half-ripe peaches. When we got to
the house we were building we put
them in pile under the old oak tree.
When those boys came they sat down
and pared and ate those peaches. Al
ter awhile the boss mason spoke to
them and said, s'Boys, you better not
eat too many of those peaches, it will
not be good for you, they are too green
to eat too many at time" They all
stopped but one boy. He kept on par
ing and eating until we told him to
stop or he would kill himself. Atlast,
after he could eat no more, he put up
his knife and we went to the creek
This boy began to feel
bad in his stomach, and, while the rest
Of us were swimming, he lay groaning,
rolling and tumbling around with the
collie. That night the doctors worked
all night with him and the next morn
ing Sunday he died. Monday I went
to his funeral. stood by the side OF
Farnham and sang with him. After
the funeral went home.
That night Charley was born. After
my wife had got about, one pleasant
I think it was Saturday,
she said, eff you are going to be about
,he place this afternoon l would like to
20 up to fathers and see the folks once
more. have nursed the baby and he
$ asleep, and if you don't disturbe him
will sleep until come back" '.All
light; I'll see to the boy, you needn't
hurry back; I'll attend to him." As
oon as my wife was out of sight, /
pread large shawl on the floor and
aid the boy carefully on it. then
led the corners of the shawl together
md slung him on my back, took down
ny gun and started for the woods, and
lon't you think that boy never made a
lit of noise until began to shoot squir-
els. The first shot he made q spring,
nut soon settled himself to sleep again. |
found l couldn't shoot SO good with |
i'm on my back, 80 I hung the shawl
0 a Big swining limb. gave the
hawl swing and went on killing |
quirrels. When l had killed about
alf a dozen he began to fret, SO
houldered him on my back and went
lome, where my wife had come and
ound everybody gone, but she heard
ne shooting down in the woods. Then
he just knew where we were and she
idn't feel very good about it. As soon
9 got to the house she net me and
aid, What sort of a father are you to
reat a baby that way?" I said. 81 am
be best old dad you ever saw. Why
can kill two birds with one stoEe
ill squirrels and take care OF the baby
t the same time.'' "Well, you ought
D be ashamed of yourself; what will
olks say?" '.Huh! they will say he
a professional bady-tender. That's
that they'll say if they know what's
that, and I'm going to make hunter
+ him. ..Well, you ought to be
of yourself to treat a baby |
Ike that" s.Now, mamma, You 60 in
nd tend the boy and I'll dress these
quirrels for supper and he shall have
leg to know if he wants one." i
We'll We ont the ho,,S, built and fin