The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-02-02
HE WANTED A BIBLE.
Eighteen Indians in Bear Traps Who
Needed Consolation.

Eighteen Indians in Bear Traps Who
Needed Consolation.
The train had ~sidetracked to let the
east bound have a clear track, when
an old man, having a Winchester rife
On his shoulder and wearing a cap
made of puma fur, came gallOping up
on a mule. He dismOunted at the
platform, hitched his animal and gave
his rifle to a man to hold and then came
through the + to inquire:
docs it SO happen that any of you
folks hev got a Bible to spare"
The Union Pacific hadn't got to car
rying Bibles on it's cars at that date,
and few if any of the passengers ever
provided themselves with anything
outside of the regulation novel. He
couldn't find q Bible on the train,
much to his disappointment, and l for
one followed him out Of the car to
ascertain what emergency had arisen
to demand one.
"Wall, you see,"h he explained, II
live over here about thirteen miles.
I'm developin' a claim and I live all
alone"
why 1 should think the Indians
would have had your scalp long before
this!" exclaimed a passenger.
Yes, you'd a thought so, but they
haven't" said the old man, as he re-
moved his cap to feel if the scalp had
got away. Its about Injuns I was
goin' to tell you, They have killed off
most everybody around where I be,
and are still at it. If it wasn't for
Injuns I wouldn't want that Bible"
What have Indians and Bibles got
to do with each otherH"
"Nawthin', but they Orter have.
You see, I've been expectin' to be at
tackled, and so two nights ago 1 set
eighteen bar traps around my cabin,
That night the Injuns cum, and next
mornin' 1 woke up to find eighteen
Injuns in them eighteen traps, each
one caught by both feet. SIGH a lot of
disguised lookin Injuns nobody ever
saw before"
DO you mean to say you actually
caught eighteen Indians9" demanded q
passenger, as he pushed his way into
the circle.
II hain't given to lynn about SIGH
things" dryly replied the old man.
"'Tain't but thirteen miles over thar,
and them eighteen Injuns is a standin'
thar in the traps yit. Mebbe some of
you want to go owe and see emf"
But about the BibIes'" 1 asked.
"Wall, I sorter thought this way:
Here is eighteen Injuns who want to
kill. They don't know no better, havin'
bin brung up in wickedness. I've
cotched 'em, and they ar mine to kill,
but wouldn't it be better to read 'em a
few chapters out of the Bible and let
'em got Wouldn't. it be better to try
to turn 'em from the evil of their ways
than to slay 'eml That's the way I've
reasoned, and l left EN- all standin'
thar and rode over here hopin' to find
q Bible among the crowd"
Nobody said anything in reply and
he looked around and continued:
1.-The trouble with me is that l cant
remember much about the Scriptures.
About the only thing I kin recall is,
Honor thy father and thy mother
but that don't hit Injuns, you know.
I've got to read 'em about ten solid
chapters to make an impression. How
ever, IS l can't find a Bible amongyo
I s'pose I must go back and kill 'em.
'Twon't do ts let no eighteen onre-
generated Injuns loose without purity
good security"
"Why, man, you dom NEAR that
you are going back to murder those