Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-03-09
HIS NERVES GAVE WAY.



-
Aud the clustering Cowboy Went Away
M Gentle ms u Lamb.
1t may be n matter of surprise to
the reader that cowboys ever have
the toothache But it Is a fact that
they do, and am determined to set
the poor, maligned, gentle, kind
hearted child of the cattle ranch
right before tho world. His actual
ing motives in life have not been
understood. When he comes rush.
ing down the street of o mining town
on hi, broncho with n wild yell, dis,
charging his pistol at every head he
sees and popping over few miser
able heather Chinese, he is no cruel,
hard hearted, murderous desperate
He has only got the toothache, and
the poor fellow, in all his generous
nature, wants to share his aches and
pains with his fellow man. Even
tho dentist, that useful individual in
the east, doesn't understand him, be
cause he shoots the very moment
the forceps start the roots Of the
tooth, and so the dear boy is left to
his fate.
There is one honorable, bold, fear.
less exception. One dentist has dared
topull n cowboys tooth and, in slang
phrase, yanked it out before a crowd
of admiring friends. 1t was little
disappointment that they couldn't
attend the dentists funeral, but al
together it was an enjoyable affair,
especially as it was something new.
The facts are as follows:
One morning in Silver Ranch u
wild yell was heard at the far end OF
the street, and the anxious inhabit.
ants who momentarily poked out
their heads saw Terrantelor Tom on
his pony dashing up the street dis,
charging q revolver from each hand.
The heads disappeared, and it was a
deserted street, with but one inhab.
liant. That temporary, solid citizen
was the aforesaid r. Tom, Esq. A
sign stlid his wild flight. Upon that
sign was the inscription, "Dr. Hop,
kins, Surgeon Dentist. "
When tho reliable old citizens eau
,lously looked out and saw the pony
in front of the dentists, they knew
Tom had the toothache and realized
that there was fun ahead. Of course
they knew he'd only shoot the den.
fist and wind up with friendly
drink all round, so they gathered
around the doors and windows of the
tooth pulling shop to sec if Tom s
hand was just as steady as ever. Tom
opened the conversation as follows;
You long legged grasshopper, pull
this tooth, and be quick as lightning
and as gentle as a zephyr"
All right. Sit down in that chair,
and I'll yank it out for YOU" Tom
leaned back in the chair with cock.
ed revolver in each hand and re.
piled:
You jest git the drop on tina,
tooth now, or I'll yank YOU
Dr.. Hopkins had a chair fixed fol-
just such customers. Hehada heavy
galvanic battery under the seat
which could throw q circuit heavy
enough to paralyze Jumbo, and he
just quietly turned the knob on Ter.
ranteler Tom and walked around and
took the pistols out of his hands
Tom writhed as though he were
fastened to the chair of the inquisi
ton; his eyes stood out like door.
knobs; he tried to yell, but no sound
escaped his lips 1t was something
new to Tom. He didn t understand
it. He had never heard of galvanit
battery, and he thought he was 60
ing to die Quickly the dentist pulled
the tooth, took the remaining car
tridges out of Toms revolvers, ant
then gradually letting up on the bat
terry he said cheerfully:
Tooth il out, sir. Five dollars
please.
What in Ill the tarnal grizzlie,
and wildcats was the matter Will
mo while you was pulling tha
tooth?"
"Oh, your nerves just gave way
little That's the way with mos
everybody when they get in den
lists chair "
Tom was SO ashamed to think hi
nerves had given way that he pait
the dentist, invited all hands to drinl
and rode off as gentle as q lamb
thinking for the first time in his lift
that he had mistaken his vocation
and ought to enter the ministry. -.
Exchange.