Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-08-24
A SWAMP POET.

about that whatever to. any ordinary dis
passionate observer. But the one observer,
the sole critic of the moribund poet, was
not dspassiunatc and he rcfrained from
obtruding the fact upon the notice of the
sick youth. Outside the wind roarcd
through the bush. The churncd waters of
the angry Ottawa beat against the wood
Ell piers, their rough music calling upon
the youthful Shelley to depart through the
valley of the shadow, although he knew
It not.
Amid the bowling of the wind, the
hoarse roar of the flood, the crackle of the
logs upon the hearth, came the soft slvery
tones of the invalid rcciting a moving
composition which had occupied his atten
tion for the last 10 hours--that is when
he was not otherwise occupied in splitting
blood or coughing. The one oil lamp on
wooden stool by his bunk gave out a
smoky light, through which the boys eyes
shone with uncarthly brillancy. Jake
Timber Jake, us he was popularity known
among the gentlemen whom he distin-
guishcd by his jovial preferencc-sat on
the only other stool which the log hut
boosted.
Now and then he threw in different
suggestions as to the originality of the
poets natural history, suggestions which
the latter received with petulcnt impa-
thence. Though these contributions to the
literature of his native land were invari-
ably rejected, Timber Jake continued to
listen to the poem with laborod cordiality
At intervals, when he was evidently ex-
pectcd to applaud, he did so with a tin
spoon against battered old kettle, at the
same time drawing the covcrlet over the
wasted arm which held the sheets of Ms.
''Therc!' said the poet o he finished
"Stop your Internal row Tor a moment
What do you think of that, Jakc''
Nc not bcin a scholGrd, " Jake replied
in slow, simple tones, as he dropped the
spoon on the ground-"mc not bcin
scholard, you sen to me, oz between man
and man, Jake old pard how does it pan
outY And l SCI to you, me not bcin a
scholard, but cz between man and man:
Bedrock, every darncd line of i'll Bed
rock Thars things there like the sngn
of robins in spring; thar's things there
like the little flashes of light when dragon
flies goes across the sunshine; thar's
things there cz Shakespeare couldn't ha'
done, Orr " he somewhat lamely add
ed the Frisco Times, or any of them
mud colorod ink singers over the river.
The youth check flushed warmly at
this whole hearted oulogy. At the sound
of it he turned momcntarily away from
the entrance to the valley of death Then
he shook his head and fell in the bunk,
with sigh.
Maybe Jake" he said, "maybe, but
for all that the burned old editor Mt Ma
rysvillc won't print 'em unless they re
paid for at advertiser rates He sent back
the last lot sOrtcr sarcastic, with his com
pliments to the Shelley of Muskrat
Swamp, and he wasn't takin any stock
in poetry or chipmunks just then.
An ominOus frown gathered on Timber
Jake's brow.
" Bcin II one boss concern, he nat rally
wouldn't know real high toned poetry
when he had it chucked under his nose,
the flapdoodlc eatin slumgullion. You
lowed just now ez you felt a sort of chill
when his arnser came back"
a death chill, Jake. Timber rafting
begun it, and that Marysville coon's sort
er finished me up. Yes, I'm goin under,
Don't you hear the river calm, calm,
callin-comc away"
Jake gazcd thoughtfully into the fire,
with puzzled simple eyes. He was man
who thought slowly, but who always acted
with commonCahle promptness when he
had once made III, his mind
- was over to Hutchinson's today" he
resumed presently, and the doc give ne
some stun for you. I'll fix you up with
dose, and then you won't want anythin till
the mornin. It's | ocloc; now"
As he spoke he poured some medicine
into an old cracked tea cup and held it to
the sick youths lips. one arm stole gently
round the boy, he was little more than n
boy who with gloam Of mischief in his
great eyes, pat up a thin white hand to the
bronzcd cheeks above him and gave them
a caressing rub.
Jake was manifestly discomposcd by
this poctica! exhibition of tenderness
"Quit yer fooin," he said huskily, and
drink this ycre mixture Itll keep yer
quiet till mornin. "
The boy drank with difficulty. Yes
Jake, reckon it'll keep ne quiet till
mornin. That's about the time the river
leaves off calm.
Jake affected not to hear this pessimis-
tic remark, but talked on in wandering
fashion until the boys fair head fell back
upon his arm. Then he covered him up
carefully, veied the light of the lamp with
an old towel and drew a revolver from the
shelf.
The wind as it blew beneath the rude
door Of pine slabs, rustled the papers about
the floor. Jake picked them up, bent over
the boy to make sure that the opiate had
done its work and crept cautiously into
the darkness.
a low whnny of delight greeted him
as he entered the narrow shanty which
served for n stable. Without striking
light he sadded his brown mare, led her
into the trail and mounted.
Now, old lady, he said, you bet you
have got to hustle"
The mare whinnied again and broke
into long, swinging gallop.
As she sped on through the darkness
Jake sat squarely back in the saddle, the
reins hanging loosely, and only stirring
when "A splash Of water from the mares
flying boots wetted his checks
After an hours hard galloping his prac
ticed eye detected a light in the distance
'ShooW he said to his mare Gen
tly, lass, gently. We're Almost thar"
He drew rein on the outskirts of Mays
Vile and tied the mare to pine stump
Then he crcpt along to the one tumble
down hut in which there was light and
peered through the window with a salts
fed look
Mr. Watson II. Bangs (Mr. Bangs COM
prsed in his own person the editor, staff
s.dovil - priptar odvorfisipO ogept ard