Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-10-31
CAMP CHARITY.

II frequent finds myself takin O
notion ag'in n word, said the old
oattlcman rs he lighted cigar,
"samo as l do ag'in some people.
There's the word charity as shore
ly wenries me heap. Not but what
believes in givin, an rs fast as l
runs up with n human bein in hole
most likely lays off a day an pulls
him out But / don't like this yere
word charity none whatever. 1t
seems like it puts You on a boss an
leaves the other man afoOt. 1t sets
you way up an the man who takes
it way down yandor.
what you alls calls charity" in
the east is nuthin but plain every
day business on the range, an you
secs it round your camp as common
as cactus, an SO you amt applaud
in or aboosin or speculatin on It
none whatever.
You see, son, it occurs humorous
In the west that many a good man
rolls outon his blanket in the morn
In to find his luck done stampeded
in the night. This yere existence of
ours is just the Same as a COW pony.
We throws on our saddles an draws
the front cinch tight an the rare one
loose, accordin to our notion; we
swings on, sticks in our spurs an
away we oil goes. But this yere
JUank ~
we finds we've cinched the hull ON to
some high, half broke bronoho of
situation, an 1t stays with it all we
knows, an spite of curb, quirt, buck
in straps and spurs we discovers
ourselves bucked plumb out an of,
afoot an alone in the Wilderness of
some disaster.
Such catasterfy shouldn't be
counted ag'in no one. The best rid
or as ever see spurs will frequent
find his pony saying 'adios' most
redio'lus an unexpected. I've struck
grass head fust an mighty involun-
tary a whole lot myself an looks to
find it in my face plenty often yet
This yere teaches me lot, an
you'll be plenty testified in takin
odds that as frequent as squar man
gifts shot too hard to hold his gun
an mo SEQ it, backs his play with
mine. He don't slip from his saddle
mono while l can hold him thar; go
gamble on it. never seed no moro
churches than calabooses, no more
preachers than police, but I saveys
when to hep pard withouten no
teaohin.
'Speakin of preachers an police,
do you know l alters allows thew
must somehow belong to the same
outfit; cause wherever you crosses
the trail of one you'll shorely find
the hoof prints of the other. They
seems to come west together, they
do. Well, l s'pose they're workin
the same round up, an it's all right
an proper too. The preachers are
riddin the ridges an mesas an the
p'lice tho valleys an dark sinful can
yons of human life. But they re both
a-brandin with tho same runin iron
for decency an law.
i've gone on yere heap about
dom of benevolences, an recalls q
little missionary play it comes our
way to make down in Wolfville.
A. T., some years back on the trail.
The victim in this yere charitable
oloudburst WAS woman.
Thar amt nuthin as will rouse
up an consoOmc "a western man az
the spectacle of IA female of his spe-
cles a-glttln tho worst of the deal.
He'll troth an paw round frightful
at the mere idec
This yere episode l hereby re-
lates was this way. 1t was Just about
the fourth drinktilne-as Won alls
say, a. Man band of us was
standln an stampin round the bar of
the Red Light a-fiXin of the hour in
our minds, whom up comes the stage
from Tucson. Old Monte was a look.
In mighty dignificd, an a-poppin his
whip like the crack of '45, where
by he was maxim camp with his out
lit on the dead gallop, an to us
a-lookin on these yere signs WAS
plenty plain he had a squaw inside.
odd Monte was mighty soft ON q
woman, an his notion of gainin their
love an confidence was to Chamber
on to his stage, tie his reins to tn,
br" &c, take his whip in one paw a,
six shooter in t'other, bang away
with each alternate, an send his 81,
horses a-stampedin down IL mile.
Of mountain trail, a-swingin roun(
corners an a-peerin over precipicei
scandalous, an all enough for I,
make craven image spraddle righ'
out an bawl with fear. I've know'C
females as aged ten years Jest goir
over the divide once with Monte
The pore, timid creatures would re
gard him with reluctance an horro,
ever after like he was some night
mare, an yet that old sot, up to thu
day he disputes for place with som,
card sharp's bullet over in Tucson
an went a-shoutin home to heaven
swung an ratified with the notion
that all this yere relates was the
straight, plain trail to a woman.
heart.
well, the stage stops, an as soor
as the door is open out oapers az
moe a little girl as ever pulled g
dress on over her head. She was put