The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-22
WHY BADGER WAS BLUE.
His story Of Homo. Sweet Homo"
Explained It All

His Story Oh homo, i520oE Homo
Explained It All
y was the regular weekly rehearsal
of the Banjo club. The playing had
been unusually good that night, and
consequently we We're IN particularly
happy spirits The stories were more
spicy, the jokes more clever, and tak-
ing u all IN I'll. we enjoyed more
laughs at ercrybotiys wit and at every
body's expense than at any other meet
ing OF the year
But pardon q correction y Is not
true that we were az IN good shirts,
for Jim Badger, usually the jolliess fel-
low in tile whole club had sat bnck
against the wall the entire evening,
and had contributed neither word nor
smile to the general fund Of amuse-
ment However, this was not an I'M
heard-of occurrence. and Jim was such
. mighty fine fellow that suppose we
imposed on his good nature when he
had an "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
less shafts that were thrown at him.
and seeming to find comfort IL tho
strings Of his instrument
How he did play that night Good
nessl Il seemed as # that banjo actual
~ talked-and ] think II did, TO Jim
Well. we had played onr last piece
and were putting orr banjos in their
cases, ready to 80 to our rooms Jim
was just passing out the door without
his usual Goodnight boys when
Sam Watson called to him;
Say, Jim, old man, you're not feel
ing very jolly tonight, are you? Here's
o little song may cheer your walk
home.
with that watson commenced TO play
"home, Sweet Home, Punctuating II
with those slnrring, crying notes that
are made by sliding the finger up the
string.
jim turned quickly There was an
angry lash n has eyes, but for only a
moment, and then he SAID, softly
Please don't Sam II you knew what
that song means 70 me you wouldn't
use i for joke.
There was the faintest suggestion Of
tear IN his eye Sam saw he had
gone toofnr, and said, with honest peni-
tence; Forgive me, Jim. Twas only
IN fun, you know; and If you don't
mind, old fellow, let us have your
story Perhaps 1t will cheer you up
and help rs TO understand You better
Yes, think it will. !" Jim went back
to his seat, leaned his banjo against
the wall, and after q moments medita-
ton began 4 don't much believe in a
fellows talking about himself, but If
you will listen for awhile may be able
toexplain why ! have the blues every
now and then,
The summer after my sophomore
year spent among the foothills of
the Rockies. out ID Colorado one IA.
ternoon IN September dozen or. SO 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 70 keep up With the others, 50 /
told them to go 4ahead and not 10 mind
me. watched them out Of SIGHT and
then turned toward home; but before
goirg very far y found had forgotten
the read, Considering the lameness Of
my horse, and knowing we had, at
best, long distance to travel, / eon-
cluded rly best plan was to4put ID a.
the first house until morning ii Was
slreadF dark, and we Travelled some
miles eefere seeing light Tho horse
seemed IA know that 1t meant rest and
shelter for him, SO he ambled alt.no
more coufagsously, and another Tnile
brought lis N NY door ma / Az
mounted ana raped loudly.
AN old woman nnsV yarad ~ y ~. -, {