Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-07-10

| too much. Likely enough he will think
| about as [ do on the question But he
| hes a right to be consulted an hev his
say. Eff you'll give me till tomorrow
morning, I'll go home an talk it over with
my pardner. | think it likely we can
| come to terms with the railroad. Peter
amt no ways diffikilt to git along with;
| he's got good sense"
| And no more than this conditional re-
| ply could be had from Mr.. Martin He
sold his strawberries, peas, lettuces and
new potatoes as calmly as if it were not
| proposed to devastate his garden. Then
he drove his empty wagon up the noun
| tain road.
| His house was one-story building,
painted a velvety black by the hand of
| Time; the barn was larger and in better
repair. Hezekiah put up his horse and
gave him a generous feed; then went
into the house and soon returned with
his own supper in his hand, a tin dipper
| of tea and a piece of dried apple pie.
| He sat upon the grain box to eat, talk
| ing to the horse between mOuthfulS.
The animal thrust his long head over the
side of the stall, munching, and pricked
| his ears back and forth in token that he
| was listening. The summer twilight
| came with a cool breeze and the spicy
odor of the pine underbrush was drawn
out by the dews. The stars appeared,
at first few, then innumerable. He
| Zekiah threw another armful of bedding
into the horses stall and went away.
| The next morning the veranda of the
| village store was populated They were
| waiting for Mr.. Martin to bring the
| answer of himself and his partner to
the proposition of the railroad company.
| There had been much talk about Peter
Black; nobody knew him, or had heard
of him.
There was Blacks over the other
| side of the mountain" said an old man.
| But 1 was thinkin' they was all girls.
| The old folks is dead these thirty year.
There was Alviry an Rhody an Marthy
| Ellen-wel, [ won't say there wasn't
| no son, but | can't seem to recollect
none"
However, it was settled that Peter must
belong to that family.
Now, HeZeklah's wagon was seen on
| the road; the horse was trotting faster
| than usual. Mr.. Martin explained the
| extra speed: My pardner is willin', so
| didn't stop for no garden truck. Where's
| Mr.. Thorpe? Good mOrnin', sir; I'm
prepared to step right over to Lawyer
Stones office an sign the agreement"
Mr.. Black was willing, you say|
Always willin' an agreeable, Peter is.
But he had a right to be consulted. We
| farm it share an share alike, an ekil
partnership
All the bystanders who had any plausi-
bic excuse for so doing, followed the con-
tracing parties into the Office. Here's
the deed you give me to look over, squire;
an my pardner an [ think it is correct;
an eff the payment amt all we could
wish, we expect that it's all that the land
is with to the railroad. I've signed the
paper, and Peter Blackwell here's his
\ mark. He amt he'd school privileges,
but he's got a good head. An schoOlin'
amt everything"
DO you acknowledge this to be your
free act and deed, Mr.. Martini" demand
ed the lawyer.
Yes sir. Mine an my pardner's.
But Mr. Black must appear in person.
Did he not know that? He ought to
have come with you"
We'll, in pint of fact he did. Hold
on minute, squire, an I'll fetch him."
Hezekiah went across the street and
soon returned leading his horse, who
thrust his head cordially into the window
of the office. Stand still there" said
HeZekiah to him. Then, entering. Mr.
Martin explained matters to the aston,
ished company.
That horse" said he, lis my pardner,
Peter Black He's good tempered an
honest an hardworkin'-a / don't know
what more you want in a pardner. Men
sometimes cheat; a horse never does.
Peter draws the plough while [ hold it.
He brings the truck to town an | do the
bargainin' about it. He amt no slave.
Peter Black amt. He is my friend and
pardner. He earns his board an his bed
an the roof to cover him from the
weather, an more than that. He is %
years old, he's worked with me nineteen
OF them; an it stands to reason he ought
to hev laid by money for his old age. He
has. I've KEEP an account, profit an loss,
share an share alike. There's S463. 80
in the savin's bank. of which S231.73 be
longs to Peter Black. The book is in my
name for convenience; but I've writ a
paper an laid it between the leaves of
my Bible, pervidin' that Peter, eff he out
lives me, shall hev his own money to live