Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-11-30
The Dream.

thing but soporifc, yet / fell asleep
| while reading the last number, and 1
had a dream which l am about to re-
| late. and which l beg you to interpret.
We do things in our dreams that we
should never think of doing in our
waking moments, and this will explain
why l started west, bought tract of
government land and went to farming.
built cabin for my family, by hard
work cleared up part of my land, and,
having sold my first crop, / was think
ing about replacing my oxen with fast
err animals, when a horse dealer hap
pened along and, 1 bought a good,
strong animal.
Just when that horse had become the
pet and pride of the family the horse
dealer returned one night with pale
face and frightened manner. Taking
me behind the barn, the man told me
he had stolen the horse he sold to me.
Its a case of downright conscience
with me-" said the penitent horse thief,
| and as he said this he hitched his belt
around, accidentally of course, but it
brought the stock of revolver under
the moons rays. 81 want to do the
square thing" he continued, 80 I'll
give you back your money and will
take the horse and return him to his
owner"
gave up the horse and got back the
one hundred and twenty dollars I had
paid for him. The next day I discov-
cred that half the money was counter
felt, but as it was in the reformed
thiefs power to have paid me the whole
in spurious paper l reasoned that he
had made very fair start in his new
career.
The next day had another visitor, a
tall, ungainly man, with long leathery
jaws. keen gray eyes and a tuft of chin
whiskers. He wore high woolly hat,
and his trousers were alternate stripes
of red and white. He had an old-fash-
toned blue coat with long spiked tails,
and about the breast there was a gal
axy of forty stars.
LET me introduce myself" said the
stranger with an air of mingled kind
ness and authority. II am your Uncle
Sam"
shook hands with the gentleman
and was wondering if he had heard of
the counterfeit money, when he set my
mind at rest as to the object of his visit
by saying:
'You must give up your title to this
farm, my son."
"Why SOP" asked in surprise.
Because it is no good" he growled.
''But, sir, I got it from you and paid
for it. 80 e1sA
That's all very true; but since that
little deal have discovered that had
not the power to parcel out to few
what really belongs to all the people;
and then, between you and me, my
original title was smirched.'' Then
sinking his voice to whisper he add
ed, II stole the land IN the first place
from the Indians"
Then let the Indians come and claim
what is theirs" said, angrily. 1.-THE
fact is, am ready to be interviewed by
Indians few at time"
''Oh, the Indians have been killed off
or cooped up; and then, you know,
they've got no votes. I guess their title
has lapsed. at any rate, they won't de-
bate that point with me. But though
it's a little late, I'm now going to do
the fair thing. You must surrender
your separate title to this farm and
pool it with the common domain"
''But," / asked, angrily, when did
you learn that the title you gave me
was not good?"
''Since l have been studying Henry
Georges books on the land question.
You read them carefully and prayer
fully, my son, and you will become not
only reconciled to the change, but glad
of it"
''And my buildings, improvements
and crOnSS" I frrOaned
''Oh!" sad Uncle Sam quickly,
''they are the fruits of your
own labor and belong to you.
But you can continue to reside on
this land and to work it as you will,
provided you pay the same rental as
others may be willing to pay for the
adjoining quarter sections"
&c.," / said, another man, without
paying one cent to you. can take his
money to improve the leased land. and
he is taxed no more than amp"
''Just So"
"Then the money I paid is dead
loss?"
'sOh, no" replied Uncle Sam. - 10