Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-07-14
"SUFFERIN' NATE. 4"

an long sulTeriu man on airth.' 1t
was Mates way TO be patient and
long suffering, just aS it is some mems
way to fly off the hooks and lose
their tempetS on the slightest provo
cation. Perhaps the latter way is
more convenient, a. saving one Il vast
amount OF lacerated feelings and loss
of pride, but Mates way had the ad-
vantage Of costing its owner fewer
postmOrtem regrets and fewer friends.
True it j. that Mates friends were
wont to impose on him much as other
people did, but he didn't mind that
at least they thought he didn't. And
ii was this supposition that led some
of them into subsequent difficulty.
Nate was one of the principal char
acters and most important features of
Manganese, where he lived. To be Il
principal character necessitates the
possession of much spare lime, and
Nate had this essential qualification
nearly every day in the week. When
he didn't have it, he was at work,
but this did not happen often. Nate
was like Rip Van Winkle-always
ready to take u drink or to lend a
hand for the benefit Of some one else,
but prone TO shirE labor which might
benefit himself and his family. So
Mrs. Presto Sewed dresses and things,
which was quite convenient for Nate,
as it gave him more tine to indulge
his fancy for loating.
Mates loaGng places were the EX-
change and Red Front saloons. These
places were most convenient, being
provided with plenty OF chairs, and
being the places most affected by citi-
zens likely 10 set 'em uP. Here Nate
did most Of his suffering, Of whatever
kind. 1t came mostly in the form OF
Jokes. practical and of mouth, leveled
at him by his fellow citizens, and IN
these he took a sort OF mournfu'
pleasure, as being an indication OF his
popularity. 1t is a well established
fact that an unpopular man is seldom
troubled by jokers.
Like most of his kind, Nate had
dog mot yellow one, however, but
spaniel to assist him in loating, and
it was Curly whose misfortunes led to
Mates final reformation.
one afternoon, n Nate was IazlIy
holding forth to some of his cronleS
from his seat in the Exchange, there
was Il slight commotiou on the street
outside, and they went to the door to
ascertain the cause. 1t was Curly
He had stopped in at the Red Front
to look for Nate, and some of the
crowd down there had proceeded 10
have fun with him by tying tin can
to his tail.
He was now coming up the street
somewhat more rapidly than usual
and heading for the Exchange as a
possible place of refuge. Nate picked
him up and carried him inside, where
he removed the can. Then he sat
quite still for few moments, petting
Curly and quite unconscious OF the
laughing mob in the saloon cracking
fool Jokes at his and Curly's expense.
Suddenly he arose, and without
glance at any one strode out OF the
door. The crowd followed, wonder
ING what he intended doing. Nate
stopped a minute in front Of the bar
Der shop to speak to Jim Calkins.
Got a gun, Jim p
Yes"
Gimme it rr few minutes.
What We goin' t do, Nate p
jim" answered Nate slowly, but
working his nails in and out of his
palms very fast, I'm goin down t
lick tn brute th't put that can on tn
pup-an | want / be fixed I shoot
back ef he makes a gunplay."
Jim handed him the desired 6-shoot-
er, and he went on down the street to
the Red Front
The jokers had gone inside and
were laughing as they waited at the
bar for drinks.
"HulIo, Nate = called Nosey Price,
who was buying. Bring tn dog
an come an have a drink. Dooz he
drink too l see i'm rushin tn can
jes' now"
OF course all the men laughed up
roariously, but they stopped short at
sight of Mates uplifted hand and
blazing eyes
"Hol' on, Nosey," said Nate quietly.
Il want t know first place who tied
that there can on tn pups tail ?
The knot OF drinkers at the bar
looked at each other half amusedly
for second or two, and then one
asked, laughing:
why, Nate
Because. answered Nate, Il jes
come down yere / r'mark th't I'm pa
tient and long sutferin' myself, but -
Another laugh interrupted him,
and then he went on:
"slt | don't perpose no brute Is
eoip' + tease that dog o mine, none
whatever. Th' man th't did 1t Is
dirty. sneakin' coward, an l en- lick
i'm -
They saw he vas in earnest and dc
not laugh. Bill Kiley, a big, raw
boned. ham-fist, bad" man from
High nes, wko stood at the farther
end he bar, stepped forward.
.Wh-what did you say :" he asked
surprisedly. IVY, you half growec