Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-08-09

1855 - $3.50 '~As~ HASAS VA
water. Now the great salt plain
stretched before his eyes, and the dis
tant belt of savage mountains, without
a sign anywhere of plant or tree, which
might indicate the presence of moist
ure. In all that broad landscape there
was no CLEAN of hope. North, and
east, and west he looked with wild,
questioning eyes, and then he realized
that his wanderings had come to an
end, and that there, on that barren
crag, he vas about to die. why not
here as well as in a feather bed, TWEEN
ty years hence" he muttered, as he
seated himself in the shelter of a
boulder.
Before sitting down, he had depos-
tied upon the ground his useless rife,
and also a large bundle tied up in a
gray shawl, which he had carried,
slung over his right shoulder. 1t ap-
peared to be somewhat too heavy for
his strength, for, in lowering it, it
came down on the ground with some
little violence. Instantly there broke
from the gray parcel a little moaning
cry, and from it there protruded a
small, scared face, with very light
brown eyes, and two little s~peckled,
dimpled fists.
You've hurt me-" said a childish
voice, reproachfully.
Have l thought" the man answered,
p~enitently; Il didn't 60 for to do It,"
AS he spoke he unwrapped the gray
shawl and eXtricated a very pretty lit
tie girl Of about five years of ace
whose dainty shoes and smart pink
frock, with its little linen apron, all
bespoke a mothers care. The child
vas pale and wan, but her healthy
arms and legs showed that she had suf-
fered less than her companion.
How is it now?" he asked, anxious
ly, for she was still rubbing the towsy
golden curls which covered the back Of
her head.
kiss it and make it WELL" she said,
with perfect gravity, showing the in
jured part up to him. That's what
mother used to do. Where s motherT'
Mothers gone. / guess you'll see
her before long"
Gone, ehm said the little girl. Fun
ny, she didn't say good-by; she most
always did If she was just goln' over
to auntie's for tea, and now she been
away three days. Say, it's awful dry
amt it? Amt there no water nor moth
ing to eatY'
mo, there amt nothing, dearie.
You'll Just need to be patient awhile,
and then you'll be all right. Put your
head up agin me like that, and then
you'll feel better. 1t amt easy to talk
when your lips is like leather, but l
guess I'd best let you know how the
cards lie. What's that you've gotT'
Pretty things! fine things" cried the
little girl, enthusiastically, holding up
two glittering fragments of mica.
When we 60 back home I'll give
them to brother Bob"
You'll see prettier things than them,
soon," said the man confidently. You
just wait a bit. 1 was going to tell
you, though-you remember when we
left the river?
"Oh, yes"
well. we reckoned we'd strike an
other river soon, dye see. But there
was something wrong; compasses, or
map, or somethin', and 1t didn't turn
up. Water ran out. Just except a
little drop for the likes Of you and
and"
"And you couldn't wash yourself"
interrupted his companion, gravely,
staring up at his grimy visage.
ANo uOI ulllh. ALI WI ItubCl bc
was the first to 60, and then Indian
then Johnny Homes, and then, dearie,
your mother"
Then mothers a deader, too" cried
the little girl, dropping her face in her
pinafore and Sobbing bitterly.
Yes. they all went except you and
me. Then / thought there was some
nhannn Of u-atar In this 1irnnftnn CO \
heaved you over my shoulder and we
tramped it together. 1t don't seem as
though we'd improved matters.
There's an almighty small chance for
us now!"
do you know that we are going to
die, tooT' asked the child, checking
her sobs, and raising her tear-stained
face.
II guess that's about the size Of IT,"
"Why didn't you say SO before?" she
said, laughing ~gleefully. You gave
me such a fright. Why, Of course,
now as long as we die Wen be with
mother again" .
Eyes, you will, dearie."
"And you, too. I'll tell her how
awful good you've been. I'll bet she
meets us at the door Of Heaven with
a pitcher of water, and a lot Of buck
wheat cakes, hot, and toasted on both
sides, like Bob and me was fond OF.
How long will it be first?"
II don't know-not very long" The
mans eyes were fixed upon the north
ern horizon. In the blue vault Of the
heaven there appeared three little
specks which increased in size every
moment, so rapidly did they approach.
They speedily resolved themselves into
three large brown birds, which circled
over the heads Of the two wanderers,
and then settled upon some rocks
which overlooked them. They were
buzzards. the vultures Of the West,
whose coming is the forerunner OF
death.
Cocks and hens" cried the little girl,
gleefully, pointing at their ill-omened
forms. and clapping her hands to make
them rise. Say did God make this
country"
'In course He did" said her COM
panion rather startled by this unex-
pected question.
He made the country down in Him.
OILS and He made the Missouri" the
little girl continued. II guess some
body else made the country In these
parts. It's not nearly SO well done.
They forgot the water and the trees"