The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-19
A SWAMP POET.

about that whatever to any ordinary dis
passionate observer. But the one observer,
the solo critic Of the moribund poet, was
not dispassionate, and no RETAINED from
obtruding tho fact upon tho notice Of tho
slck youth. Outside tho wind roared
through the bush. The ohurned waters of
tho angry Ottawa beat against the wood
on piers, their rough music calling upon
the youthful Shelley to depart through tho
valley of the shadow, although he knew
1t not
Amid the bowling & the wind, tho
honrso roar of tho flood, the craoklo Of tho
logs upon the hearth, came tho soft silvery
tones OF the invalid reciting q moving
composition which had occupied his atten-
ton for the last 10 hours-thnt Is, whom
no was not otherwise occupied In splitting
blood or coughing The ono oil lamp on q
wooden stool by his bunk gave out
smoky light, through which the boys eyos
shono with unearthly brillianoy. Jake
Timber Jake. as he was popularity known
among the gentlemen whom no distin-
guished by his jovial preference-sat on
tho only other stool which tho log hut
boosted.
Now and then he threw In different
suggestions as to the originality Of the
poets natural history, suggestions which
tho latter received with pctulent impa-
tiencc. Though these contributions to tho
literature OF his native land wero invari-
ably rejected, Timber jake continued to
listen to tho poem with lnbored oortialiey
At intervals, when he was evidently OK
peotcd to applaud, he did 30 with q tin
spoon against battered old kettle, at the
Same time drawing the ooverlet over the
wasted arm which held tho sheets of MS
"Thorel" said the poet as he finished.
fy,fn no1 10,
What do you think Of that JakeS"
Mo not bein a soholard, Jake replied
in slow, simple tones, as he dropped the
spoon on the ground-''mo not bein o
scholard, you see to me, ez between man
and man, jake, old pard, how does it pan
outF And L BeS to you, me not bein q
scholarri, but cz between man and man:
Bedrock, every darned line Of It'll Bed
rock! Thar's things there like tho singin
of robins In spring; thar's things there
like tho little flashes of light when dragon
lilies goes across the sunshine; thar's
things there cz Shakespeare couldn't ha'
dono, or-or," no somewhat lamoly odd
cd, tho Frisco Times, or any of them
mud oolored ink slingors over tho river"
Tho youths check flushed warmly at
this whole hearted eulogy. At the sound
of 1t he turned momontarily away from
the entrance to the valley of dcath. Then
no shook his head and fell in tho bunk.
with sigh.
Maybe, Jake" he snid, maybe, but
for nll that the burned old editor at Ma
rysvillc won't print 'em unless they're
paid for at advertiser rates. IIc sent back
tho last lot sortor sarcastic, with his COM
plimcnts to tho Shelley OF Muskrat
Swamp, and no wasn't takin any stock
In poetry or chipmunks just thon.
An ominous frown gathered on Timber
Jake's brow.
"Bein a one boss concern, he nat rally
wouldn't know real high toned poetry
when he had 1t chuckcd undor his nose,
the napdoodle eatin slumgullion. You
lowed just now OF you felt sort of chill
when his arnsor camo backt"
"A death chill, Jake. Timber rafting
begun 1t, and that Marysvillo coon's sort
or finished mo up. Yes, I'm goin under.
Don't you hear the river callin, calm,
callin-comc awayS
Jake gazed thoughtfully into tho fire
with puzzled, simple eyes. He was man
who thought slowly, but who always acted
with commcndable promptness when ho
had onco made up his mind.
II was over to Hutchinsons today" he
resumed presently, land the doc give mo
some stuff for you. I'll fix you up with q
NooOJ oiiN biicii JOu nOll v WhuG hIly UHlu Ulll
tho mOrnin. It's / o'clock now"
AS he spoke he poured some medicine
into an old cracked tea cup and held 1t to
the sick youth lips One arm stolo gently
round tho boy, he was little moro than a
boy, who, with CLEAN Of mischief in his
great eyes, put up thin white hand to tho
.bronZod checks above him and gave them
a caressing rub
Jake was mnnifestly discomposed by
this poctical exhibition of tenderness
Quit yer fooiin," he said huskily, land
drink this yerc mixture It'll keep yor
quiet till mornin."
Tho boy drank with difficulty. Yes
Jake, reckon it'll keep mo quiet till
mornin. That's about the time tho river
leaves off CALM"
Jake affected not to hear this pcssimis-
tic remark, but talked on in wandering
fashion until the boys fair head fell back
upon his arm. Then ho covered him up
carefully, yelled the light OF tho lamp with
an old towel and drew a revolvor from tho
shelf
The wind, as 1t blow beneath tho rudo
door of Pine slabs, r,lstled tho papers about
tho floor. Jake picked them up, bont over
the boy to make suro that tho opiato had
done its work and orept cautiously into
tho darkness.
low whinny OF Delight greeted him
AS no entered tho narrow shanty which
served for stable. Withoub striking u
light no saddled his brown marc LODI her
Into tho trail and mounted
Now, old lady," no said. you bot you
have got to hustle"
Tho marc whinnied again and broke
into long, swinging gallop
AS sha sped on through the darkness
Jake sat squarely buck In Athto; sadtias, the
reins hanging loosely, and only stirring
whom splash Of water from tho marc S
flying hOofs wetted his cheeks
Aftor an hours hard gallopinR his DRAG