The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-11-18
A CUP OF COFFEE.


known everywhere as 1.-THE Robbers"
They lived simply on plumber, nothing
else. They were freebooters that did not
dare show themselves among honest peo-
pie in the daytime. They followed no
D~-honest avocation in the day or night.
Their meat drink and wear were all OBJ
tanned in maraudings.
All yaluables had to be kept hidden
away from these thieves, though when
they entered ones premises every nook and
corner was ransacked for things which
they carried away with remorselessness
unknown before among Christian nations.
Once in a night raid upon my fathers
house-they had robbed him half dozen
times previously-among other treasures
that were unearthed by the villains from
the cloisters of privacy and sacredness was
several pounds of genuine coffee which my
mother had been for years hiding and keep
ing for occasions of sickness or 'rainy
days" When the robbers produced this
before her eyes, displaying it with fiendish
flourish and hellish glee, it was the last
feature that broke the patient spirit, and
she denounced the act with all the severity
of terms she could command, appealing to
the manhood of the villains for return of
her coffee, if of nothing else, for the sick
dependent upon her, and it was for these
that she begged.
All the manhood" that was eXhib-
tied on the occasion was the brute force
4 that overpowered an old gentleman and
few ladies. Revealing itself further one
of the villains seized the aged matron-my
motheF-by her cap and forced her face in
a succession of shocks down into the YES
sci containing the coffee, and telling her
at each time. to "smell of Abe Lincoln
"smell of Abe Lincoln"-"and Abe Lincoln
coffee" OF course would yet shoot that
ruffian did know where to find him any
where this side of torment. I'd shoot him
even at the expense of that little religion
have referred to, though do feel that
should not be held to divine accountability
for the act
But here is an incident of an entirely diff
ferent character, yet one also in which you
may think that the religious scruple" was
held in allegiance or Punishment entire, but
not agreeing with you there.
Once when sick and travelling over the
North Carolina railway, got off the train
at the usual breakfast house, and present
ing myself at the dining room door ] asked
the landlord for simply a cup of coffee.
81 want only the coffee, for | am sick.
How much?" These were about my words.
The reply was, quickly:
Give dollars-where's the money!"
"But, my friend l insisted, "that is the
price of the regular breakfast; l want only
the coffee-nothing else, for | am quite
sick."
81 haven't time to fool with sick fellows
now; if / let you in there there is no tell
ing what you will do"
saw there was no use of parleying with
him, so paid the five dollars and entered
the dining room-though there was some
thing then in my brain besides the active
~, l.S,Fk h.,
sails, for there was resolution to bear, if
possible, something besides the grain OF
salt, plus the coffee.
There was the usual scramble for posi-
ton and plate, the well fellows Glowing
me to the most remote table begged the
waiter to bring me a cup of coffee as soon
possible. At the very last moment it came.
l drank the fluid yclept coffee-and was
about to leave the room, when it occurred
to me that had paid honestly for the
"cup" also; and so, with a sans souci move
ment, took possession of the purchase,
dropping both cup and saucer into the
haversack on my shoulder.
then went on my way rejoicing rejoic-
ing in three things: The beverage had re
lieved my suffering, for hot water. you
know, is a specific for many ailments. Sec
ondly, had, for once in my life, got even
with hotel man; and thirdly, had made
most valuable and permanent addition tC
our camp chest, thus long exhibiting de
felt in the way of white granite table ware
Ny conscience did not then reproach me
nor has it since reproached me in the latter
4fssact, though you may consider it LITTLE
honest stealing if you wish to. The bluff
curt landlord had expressed to me his op1n
ion that if | entered his dining room
would as likely steal as eat if he was no
watching me, and so he had charged me TO
the possibilities in the case. l looked at thu
thing in that way. You pay your none!
and you get what you can in the dining
room-that was about the philosophy o
his table and his pot.
Doubtless the pallor of my look, tn
general wretchedness of my countenanc
under the suffering of the sickness, thes
may have given the fellow the idea that
was really thief, and, of "A necessity or
prudent forethought, should be forced t.
pay beforehand for what might be done.
But / got the cup of coffee-cup and al
and as have said, went on my way re
joicing.
In the beautiful lines of Mazeppa, Their
are found these, barring the slight trans
position, ETC.;
Time makes all things even,
If we do but bide the hour.
A few months after my purchase OF th
"cup of coffee" was sitting in front G
my tent Tin eastern South Carolina, wher
we were picketing in front Of Newberr
3, when civilian rode up and spoke to m'
I at once had recognized in the man tn
landlord who had taken me for a THE
.rbo bod N, ada ma nav in advance fC