Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-15

was already so far gone that he could
not understand why, after his taking
this new position, the nondrinking in
habitants ceased to recognize him re-
spectfully. But he had his revenge, al
though he had not the slightest idea Of
taking any. His beautiful store of jokes
and his fine assortment Of funny songs
drew into the back door of the liquor
shop many likely young men whose par
ents supposed their sons were visiting
their neighbofs' daughters.
At last Sam became too much of a
drunkard to mix liquors correctly, 80 he
lost his professional position. But
Bayne, his late employer, was not a
man to 20 back on his friends, so he let
Sam sleep on the bar at night, fed him
with his own hired man and woman
and occasionally gave him castoff cloth
ing, in return for which kindness Sam
took down and put up the shutters,
made the fire, chopped wood and made
himself incidentally useful in other
ways. His principal occupation, how
ever, consisted in rambling about aim
lessly and chatting in desultory man
ner to whoever would listen to him.
All the ministers tried their hands on
Sam, and he cordially agreed with ev-
cry proposition they advanced. Once, in
the midst of an earnest sermon by the
Methodist pastor, the subject being,
"Our Home In Heaven" poor Sam
burst out crying, and his conversion,
which took place soon after, was the
precursor Of a mighty revival. But the
brethren were so busy in rejoicing over
the reclaiming Of Sans soul that they
forgot all about the needs Of his body,
until one of that peculiar class of benev-
olent people who must be satan's espe-
cial darlings offered him his board in
return for steady job Of wood chop
ping. The new doctor took it upon him
self to visit some of the faithful and
say that Sans system could not meet
the demands made upon it, and that he
must return to his cups if something
were not done for him, but the new
doctor, besides being sort Of an inter
loper, was not religious man and
could not be expected to understand the
things of the Spirit. So his prophecy
was permitted to be fulfilled
After this relapse Sam went to the
dogs. To be sure, the New Rochester
dogs never lacked food. Sam hung about
sugar camps. loggers' huts, soap boilings
and other places where small services
would earn a full meal and a bed of
leaves. Sam appeared at every temper
ance meeting and always signed the
pledge, and no one who looked into his
eyes when he did it could ever accuse
him Of insincerity. a curious citizen
once gave sam quarter to publicly put
himself under the fingers of lecturing
phrenologist, and the lecturer said some
thing about congenital lack Of vitality
and imperfect nourishment in early
years. For few moments all good peo-
pie in the audience thought that some
thing should be done for Sam. Then
they wondered what it should be.
The only business to which Sam de-
voted himself with any earnestness was
that Of catching sawlogs. About twice
a year White river would be suddenly
filed by freshet, and then, with the
driftwood, fence rails and other wood
which the waters found on the bank,
would be an occasional fine log which
had been cut for the sawmill, but which
the cutter had been unable to get to his
raft. These were claimed by whoever
could find them adrift, and they brought
81 each at any mill on the river. The
catching Of these logs was work which
exactly suited Sam. Itconsisted in sit
ting in skiff behind a point where
there was dead water and looking up
the surface Of the stream. When log
appeared in sight, he rowed into the
stream, drove into the log a spike fas-
tened by rope to the stern of the boat
and towed it to shore. The active exer-
tion required per diem to catch several
logs did not consume an hour. The time
thus left for smoking, drinking and re-
iection was considerable Then the same
freshets were the signal and the only
means for the start of many flatboats
for the south, and it was poor boat
which, on being boarded, could not sup
ply comfort to thirsty man
AS Sam was log catching during
spring freshet he saw coming down the
river very queer looking little craft,
which seemed to be manned by only
single very small person. The rapid cur
rent soon brought the craft near enough
for him to see that it was small
bridge, made Of two logs and several
planks, and that the occupant was lit
tie girl, who was crying piteously, and
when she saw Sam she held out her
hands appealingly. Sam had her in his
arms in an instant and exclaimed:
"Where did you come from, little
dear:"
"Way off to Raysville, she sobbed,
"and want to 60 back to mamma.
"Well, don't cry, said Sam. rays
vile is only two miles up the river,
and I'll take you home in the skiff right
away after I've towed the bridge ashore.
How did you get afoat?"
"Why, papa caught the BRIDGE" she
said, land twas tied near to the fence
where the river was oyerfowed, and I
was playing house on 1t, and then 'rne
.a~4 4L;oo k,a,p IL ,r-oc hrol-o 1ooca