Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-08-22
This proposition made cautiously,

fer boy who could cheerfullv con-
template sleeping in tree, probably
without supper. and who could travel
! for five weeks and go hundreds of
miles without money, might ScOrn
such a position. But he accepted it
/ willingly.
| Dick, for such was his name. was
so useful boy from the first mo-
ment, and so thoroughly happy al
ways, that he almost made me re-
greet the coming of the day when INV
mountain hearthstone should grow
cold, and when smoke should no
longer curl from my chimney OF
sticks and mud. He was, without
exception, the happiest boy l ever
saw: 50 uniformly cheerful, SO ready.
so willing always to sacrifice his own
comfort for mine, that named him
Happy Dick. No boy ever better de-
served the title,
Little bv little l drew his story
from him--.or one of his good points
was that he did not talk too much
he let Oft his superlluous happiness by
whistling.
Waco? No. sir, it was not just
exactly in Waco where l lived, but
/ c.cse by. Oh, yes sir, can read and
write, for l went to school-two win
tiers. In the summer l worked in
the cotton fields But don't think
much Of that, sir. You see, it's like
this. sir The gentlemen that have
worked in the cotton fields for fifty
years are worse off than am, SIR"
"You mean the colored gentle.
men?"
"Ycs, sir, the colored gentlemen.
White gentlemen don't work in the
cotton fields"
But how" asked him, lean they
be worse off than you if you haven't
a cent?"
because they're old and Pm
young, sir. 1t don't make any differ
ence what happens to me, generally
manage to live; bat they're old and
poo'ly. and they can't get along like
can. That's lust the way I'd be some
day, If staid in the cotton fields,
sir. So made up my mind to come
away"
~ suppose you ran away?"
ooh, no, SIR" Happy Dick an
swcred; II didn't do that sir; Ididn't
have any need to run away. II my
old pop had, wanted me to stay, I'd
have staid anyhow. But l told him
l thought Id so away from Waco
and get rich, and he said go ahead,
and went"
$50 you want to be rich, do you?''
ooh. yes, sir, intend to be. Col.
Crawford SAID to me, (Col. Crawford
was my boss), Dick said he, you
Try to please people, and they'll try
to please YOU Don't l keep the fire
up good, sir?"
Yes. indeed, he did, and told him
so; so good that the old cabin fairly
shone with the blaze every night and
the cold mountain winds had not q
ghost OF chance in the chinkS and
crevices.
When the break.ng-up day came
there came with it great division O
property. The cooking utensils al
the pots and pans and dishes that ha(
made US so comfortable, had beer
promised to our gentleman cook be
fore Dick appeared upon the scene
But l had some few articles of M
own to be disposed OF. Item, a ham
mock: item, backing brush; item
Il white-glass shade for student
lamp, which could not be packed in
trunk with safety. These things
and some Others, went to Happ.
Dick.
> No boy can ever have been as mucl
pleased with new gun or new
horse as Dick was with the hammock
He wrapped it around his neck ant
shoulders and tied the ends bchin(
HIM.
ats just the thing for boy Xix,
me. sir. Now l shall know wher,
I'm going to sleep every night. An(
it's so easy TO carry, sir, and keeps M
warm BESIDES"
But the lamp shade and the black
: ing brush, what would he do will
, them. l wondered. He had mad,
up his mind to strike out for Littl
Rock, which was the opposite direc
tion to nine; and when the carriag,
came for me, l babe him good by
The hammock was snugly wrapped
! around his shoulders the handle o
the backing brush protruded from
+ his coat pocket, and he wore the lam
shade over his left arm like cuff
AS long as l could see him heard hi
< merry whistle down the road.
, did not expect that l should eve
see Happy Dick again, and l rattle
regretted it for there was somethin
contagious in his happiness. Hi
$ whole property was a hammock,
S brush, a shade, little change in hi
, pocket. and the clothes he stood in
l Yet how many rich men 1 know VIII
9 would give great deal for as muc
9 happiness in week a, he had ever
] minute.
, My journey to the West lndias wa
to be a roundabout one by way {
D New Orleans and Key West Their
S was delay of several days at Shrev,
port waiting for a Red River boa,
y and the "trip down the Red River too
C seven days more, Nearly two week
c after leaving the Arkansas cabin