The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1896-10-22
IIGHTlNG JOE


Ivas stranger 10 thst part Of the cua
ifr sBd va, passiag through The place d
t1e O. srse Of laag vslk iron the large
.ly,oeut tosu to ~hieb ny baaoess hs
t.isa ne the LAY before
Tue eIteatlve minius operations oi th
l.,i y or 70 yesrs had altered tie uopn
tsudlne place m mst'rIlly. aud though tn
laau, old cbutch ead come long sod lo'
ballliass, suggestive OF isrms sod hom
.,sls. eth retsiued 40 slr Of rustic sIn
pneity, they we're btiog gradually oosen
Cd. tie place itself sophisticated bY th'
formal rove Of plain ani usiy tenement
built expressly for the mining population
ubiob every year was becoming more sn'
more numerous.
/ bad amused myself by deeipte1n'
SONS Of the Inscriptions on the trAV'
.tooes. veil nigh obIisrsted 10y the yea
er stnns aud the moss tina, time tad sn
t.red 10 find root hold in the hoiiows o
the lettering. when smsn, presumably
miner, 10 the Sunday clothes peculiar t'
tbst clats csuyiuga tie child or or
yesrs, and tolIove by suother somewhat
older, seated himself on fit stone aud
| opened a conversation.
A ciyilly spoken fellow enough, though
With the uncouth accent OF the couotry'
readily accepted the invitation be ofei
ed and We cbatted pleasantly.
He had known the pace many years, ht
| tlI me AYE, long before 1t had Grown 10
In the town il uow wss-wben 1t was moth
ipg buts humble villase, aud when The
long Grass 0, ripening corn bowed It's hesd
to the wind Oh the spot where the un
slightly engine house and tall, red chimney
now stood, and where the heaps OF Stag
and clnder marked the busy life OF the toll
ers 10 the esrtl.
That handsome marble monument, be
told me, denoted the last resting place o.
the late rector, and this massive piece o.
granite was the tomb OF q certain locs
squire ,popusrly known as esquire JACK,
who. It seemed was much given to horse
rscIlg. cookghting and such kindred
sports. and who being sad "netr &c
we'll, though,less, reckless fellow, but
withsl good nstured and easy gong, was
az such gentry not uufrequeptly are, The
most popular member OF his family.
As my new acquaintance pointed ou'
the objects and others which he thought
I snppose, would interest me be had riser
from his seat and we had sttolled through
the church yard,
uwasin 3 corner and rather ins holloV
| that. before a humble mound OF green tut
and decked with the pretty spring lowers
carefully placed in the form OF cross VT
both. as OF one accord, paused. 1t bad
not sny grsvestobe, bat only piece o.
wco1, supported by two short upushts
On this was roughly carved, as II WITH
pocket knife these two words; Fighting
Joe"
Thstisa strange inscriE ton to put oVeI
mans 8 grave said aud then added 'WhC
and what was he2'
The man sest9d himself on stone
close by and was silent for few SCI
ouds,
He had set down the child be had beer
carving, and the two little children a
tr.cted by the bright flowers, had foun(
their way to the mound and were about tt
gather them.
Here, you musta't touch them flowers
he said, and t,kine hand oi each lee
them away.
We'll, mate. be then went on to say Il
me in reply to my question. don't nsh
ly know who or what he was. he was
stranger down here, and neither me no
nv mates ever heard tell where be cam
from OF who he Was
When this here pit-Fentons pit "
esllit-vas fret worked; We bad but ley
hands heresbou's, and men as could "or
had 20 call to wait long fora job aud 60
good wages as well, Most Of the hand
we're from Stsh rdshire, but we never Eno'
al where Joe csma from, aud don't kno
As we asked. and Traps he wouldn't hsv
told us If We bad.
He was quiet aud lonely like and sal
but little that is, when be was all night
but when bed had a drop OF dnns,
maybe Of Sunday uiebt, when be hs
gotten hls wage, Of all the hands / eV'
see TO swear, sTend bis mo0ey or hst
there wasn't one like Fighting Joe,
Add hence his name, | supposef ! at
eI. And. Of course. it is the Cd stor
sgsiu-drlnk, a quarrel and a Violer
death. though | cannot underttsnd 10 ih'
oa,e the evident care that is bestowed c
the poor fellows tomb, such as 1t Il.
No, cir. the msB said graveIy, after
moments pause. Not quite ell that,
violent death. yes. aud sueh death as
might pray God might De'er happen
the worst Of rs, but It wssnt driuk, nor
quarrel. nor fight With smother ma
j that brought him to 1t lts" more II
other Esy. poor lad more the osh
way
The nab fellow beside me said II
With een,leusss Of tone and manner 10
was sufficiently cot Of keeping v'th
appearance to excite some d'gree o' CT
osi,y, and told hm should hEe 10 Be
more Of The story
lie DOT much az sneh as you might O.
q for ths man replied
o Here, be sstd, tutuiug to the hl
obes, uLo were s'rsyius tossrd the gre
nouud asUn. you musu t toneh them