Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-08-02
"SUFFERIN' NATE" 4"

Nate Presto was, as he blmsell
was wont to declare, 'th' most
patient an lOng.sufierin' man on
airth.' 1t was Mates way to be
patient and long suffering, just as
it is some men's way to my off the
hooks and lose their tempers on
the slightest provocatiOn. Perhaps
the latter way Is more convenient
as saving one vast amount of
lacerated feelings and loss Of pride,
, but Mates way had the advantage
of costing its owner fewer post
mOrtem regrets and fewer friends.
True it is that Mates trends were
wont to impose on him much as
other people did, but he didn't
mind thst-at least, they thought
he did't. And it was this sup
position that led some of them into
subsequent difficulty.
Fate was one of the principal
characters and most important
features of Manganese, where he
lived. To be a principal character
necessltates the possession of much
spare time, and Nate had this
essential qualification nearly every
day in the week, When he didn't
have 1t, he was at work, but this
did not happen often. Nate was
like Rip Van Wlnkle-alTsys
ready to take drunk, or to lend a
hand for tue benefit of some one
ese, but prone to shlrk labor which
mlght benefit himself and his
family. so Mr.. Presto sewed
dresses and things, which was
quite convenient for Nate, as 1t
gave him more time to indulge his
fancy for lOafug.
Mates loafng-place were the Ex'
change and Red FrCnt saloons.
These places were most convenient,
being provided with plenty OF
chairs, aud being the places most
affected by citizens likely to set
'em up. Here Nate did most of his
suffering, of whatever kind. 1t
came mostly in the torn Of jokes,
practical ana of mouth, leveled at
hlm by his iellOw.citizeps, ana IN
these he took a sort of mOurnful
pleasure, as being au indication OF
his popularity. 1t is a well-estab
lIshed fact that an unpopular man
is seldom troubled by iOkers.
Like most of bis kind, Nate had
dog (not yellow one, however,
but a spanielD to assist hun in
loafing, and 1t was Curly whose
mlsfortuues led to Mates final
reformation.
Que afternoon, as Nate was lazlly
holding forth to some of his crOnies
from his seat in the Exchange,
there vas slight cOmmO;iOn on
the street outside, aud they went
to the door to ascertain the cause.
1t was Curly. He had stopped IN
at the Red Front to look for Nate,
aud some of the crowd down there
had proceeded to have fun with
him by tying a ten-can to his tail.
He was now coming up the street
somewhat more rapidly than usual,
and heading for the Exchange, as
a possible place of refuge. Nate
picked him mp and carried him
inside, where be removed the can.
Tben he sat quite still for few
IN Jments, petting Curly, and quite
unconscious of the laughing mob
in the saloon, cracking fool Jokes
at bis and Ourly's expense.
Suddenly he arose, and, without
glance at any one, strobe out OF
the door. The crowd followed,
wondering what he intended doing.
Nate stopped minute in front of
the barber.shOp to speak to jim
CdlkIns.
Got gun, JimT
fYes.'
'GImme it, FRA few minutes
'What We goin' Z do, Mater
'Jim' answered Nate, slowly, but
working bis nails In and out of his
pains very fast, 'I'm goln' down Z
lick th' brute THU put that can on
th' pup-an' l want y be fixed L
shoot back IF lie makes a gun
play
Jim handed him the desired SIX.
shooter, aud he went on down the
street to the Red Front.
The jokers had gone inside, and
were laughing as they wanted at
the bar for drinks.
'Hullo, Natep called NOsey