The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-09-15
WHY BADGER WAS BLUE.
His Story Of Home, Sweet Home
Explained It AL

His Story Of Home, Sweet Home
Explained It AL
IL was the regular weekly rehearsal
Of the Banjo club. The playing had
been unusually good that night, and
consequently we were In particularly
happy spirits The stories were more
spicy, the Jokes more clever, and, talk
ing it all in al, we enjoyed moro
laughs at every body's wit and at every
body's expense than Ut any other meet
ing Of the year.
But pardon @ correction II Is not
true that we were all in good spirits,
for Jim Badger, usually the jolliest fel
how In the whole club, had sat back
against the wall the entire evening,
and had contributed neither word nor
sanile to the general fund of amuse-
fDeut However, this was not an un-
beerd-of occurrence, and Jim was such
smighty fine fellow that suppose we
imposed on his good nature when be
had On ''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
Iess shafts that were thrown at him,
and seeming to find comfort In the
ttrings of his instrument
How he did play that night Good
nessl 1t seemed as if that banjo sctual-
II tallked-and think it did. to Jim
Well, we had played our last piece
and were putting our banjos in their
cases, ready to 60 to our rooms Jim
was Just passing out the door without
his usual 'Good-night boysi" when
Sam Watson called to him.
! ''Say, Jim, old man, you're not feel
ing very jolly tonight, are your Here's
. little song may cheer your walk
home,n
With that Watson commenced to play
Home, Sweet Home" punctuating il
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 q
moment, and then he said, softly:
'Please don't, Sam. If you knew what
that song means to me you wouldn't
use it for joke"
There was the fatntest suggestion of
tear in his eye. Sam saw he had
gone too far, and said With honest peni-
tance: Forgive me, Jim. Iwas only
in fun, you know; aud 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"
eyes, think It will" Jim went back
TO his seat, leaned hts banjo against
the wall, and after a moments medita-
ton began: II don't much believe In
1ellow's talking about himself, but If
you win listen TOR awhile may be ablo
TO explain why have the blues every
now and then
"The summer after my sophomore
yer spent among the foothills of
the Rockies, out in Colorado One al
ternonn in September O dozen or 90 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 60 ahead and not TO mind
me. I watched them out of sight and
then turned toward home; but before
going very far found had forgotten
the road. Considering the lameness of
my horse, and knowing we had, ut
best, long distance to travel, con-
clnded my best plan was to put In at
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.
San old woman answered my sum-
mons, but before had chance to
speak she said, in hoarse Whisper
''Ehi Thar's q sick man In here.
stranger, an yer mustn't make so much
noise
II apologized for my rudeness. ex-
planning that ! had lost my way and
would like shelter for the night, and
adding that perhaps might be of some
aaaSstance to her
Reckon yer kin, stranger .she re-
piisd Ter hain't slep' might these
two weeks Come In
Il entered the room and saw ON
bad IN one corner an old man who
seemed to be Just lingering between
lie and death The old nurse did not
look much better. In fact. she seemed
90 worn ont BY loss Of sleep that
Gslfed her to instruct me about the
pndicines and allow me TO watch in
her place. She was soon ssleep, and
sat by The bed, wouderinQ at the
strunge otrcugnetancest thnx had brought
n thss& ] lcotsd = the sick man
g. ssa 20 Z sss 4. - ssssas