The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-14

ont vid de sheep, den comes in an every.
ding is yust de way it vas yesterday" Ole's
voice had grown melancholy with his story
bnt it became hopeful as he went on.
Now, Ize found place dat yust suits me.
| Tze goin' to take mp dat ranch up and get
me one house and one wife. goes on herd
! in sheep to get moneys 10 pay for dings.
| Den 1 come in at night I finds de hohse
all warm. / finds everything nice-riice
supper on de table, ereryding nice. All Ize
got to do is yust to wash; / sits down, eats
| supper, everything pleasant and nice den
| have scme fun viv him after supper"
"And be a sheep herder all your Iife," said
Ecc'es, with fine scorD.
Watts de matter viv him ?" Ole asked
lansing, with lot of knives and forks in
his hands.
"Oh, nothing, if you like it. It is legiti-
mate business" and Eccles stirred about,
finding pipes and tobacco.
Ole laid down his knives and forks; he
rested both hands on the edge of the table
Legitimate--vats dat?" he asked, puz-
zling over the new word.
He means that it is not against the law
Vande explained.
81 keeps de law,n cried Ole.
He felt insulted and wiped the bread tins
in silence.
Ecces tipped the chair against the wall
and settled himself to instruct the others.
II wouldn't give my chances Of striking
it rich next Summer for any old hay dig
gers ranch in the country" he said, and
then he blew out his first dense cloud of
smoke.
"This afternoon was thinkin' that you
might sell your Windy Gugch lead for
S5o00," said Ned, encouragipgly.
Whats SIS, 600 to me?" Eccles asked, cIn-
temptuously. Gould 20 East, marry, and
support wife in good shape On that paltry
sum-"
Lots OF men marry on less" said Jim.
Lots Of men are fools,a said Eccles
"When / prove up on my ranch and get
my pension I'll be pretty well fixed" Jim
went on.
vande was fixing the FIRE again. This
time the sweet piney odor made no head
way against the smell Of tobacco.
Now, look here, JIM" said Yande, paus-
| ing, with a stick Of wood in his hand; If
getting broke up entities man to pension,
l ought to have one, too"
That depends on how you got broke up,"
said Jim. Does the Government owe you
anything? Did you face rebel guns2n
NO; but l faced Indians and helped
| make roads 50 you fellows could come West,n
and Yande carefully lit his pipe, sau down
| on a soap box and leaned against the wall.
I've lots of respect for you fellows who
came West on the start. You did the coun-
try a heap of good but who hired you TO
Gomez Why did so many of you come in
'61g" and Jim leaned forward and cocked
his forefinger at Vande. "Thefe was more
danger behind than there was before yon-
that's why. You know you'd rather face
Indians who might be friendly than white
men who were bound TO fight to the death.
went TO help stop the war;
Yes, and you were paid for your services
right nj the time"
"Paid!7 cried Jim; "what are you giving
us? Would you start out TO face muskets
and cannon-balls for Sl3 month?n
Il goIly! that's too cheap" said Ned !;
81 rather mine for nothin' and board N.Y.
self"
"How long world you try Andersonville
for $l3?" Jim continued. Maybe you had
best girl once. How long would you have
left her Cor the pTlneely sum OF 433 cents q
day?"
"Ah, Jim, you are getting eloquent now"
said Eccles. i Pour out the drinks and tell
us about the first battle OF Bull Run"
wasn't there, SAID Jim. pouring out
the drinks and wishing that he dared resent
Eccles's tone; but 1 was one of them
100000 more that Old Abe called for |
was only II when l enlisted-had to swear
l was Is; but done it cause / couldn't
bear to see Old Glory trailin' in the dust"
Before anyone cared to venture further
remark, Jim began to sing his standard tune
| to the words:
"We are coming. Father Abraham Three hundred
Thousand more,
From Mssissppis winding stream and from New
kn9lAnd's shore