The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-08
A STRONG MAN.

The weekly COaCn was que at oOuln
City, and all the inhabitants were
eagerly awaiting its arrival. The Dig
gers Arms was, as usual, crowded, and
against it's hospitablo walls lounged
those unable TO get in. Suddenly
creak, loud and revcrberating, sounded
in the clear mountain air. and with
a whoop and rattle the great coach
numbered up.
The driver, a CHEEKY Yankee, who
knew his men as well as he did his
horses, shouted: Have you heard the
news, boys? No! Well. l tell you
North City has imported a parson!"
"A what" shouted the miners, jeal-
Gus of their own town.
"a real live parson, and what's more,
they've turned the old saloon into a
meeting house"
There was long standing feud be-
tween North and South City, which
dated from the first gold rush, and
many and useless were the buildings
that the rival towns had erected to "go
one better" than the other.
All looked toward Texas Joe, an old
and tough miner, who, by a brevity of
speech and a quick use of his gun.
had long held the perilous position of
dictator to the neighborhood.
No one spoke-indeed, no one quite
cared to. At length the oracle, shift
ing his plug from one cheek to the
other, said: pass the word that
therell be a meeting here of all the
boys at sharp. 1t amt to be allowed
that young shove-ahead village like
North City is to take the shine out of
us. No, sir--it amt likely"
Long before the whole adult popu-
lation was collected near the saloon,
and it was clear that no room would
hold the crowd. Finaly an open-air
meeting was proposed and carried
motions moved by Texas Joe generally
were-and the dictator took the bar
rel"
Men of South City" he began, "you
all know why this here meeting is
called. We hev been made fools of by
the people away yonder," waving his
hand northward, land it amt to be-
| They hev been presumptuous enough
to get a parson, as if the inhabitants
| of these parts want either doctors or
parsons, and are cracking on about it
| no end. Now, l amt more religious
than most still say" kicking his heel
| in the barrel to emphasize his words,
that it's a real disgrace to us that we
| amt got a parson, too. Now, what l
| say is this: North City have got a
rdrsun-South City will have one, too.
| They have got travelling cuss-We
VIII have a man of our own, chap
wot's got some education. That'n fix
| 'em up, you bet"
4 red-haired Cornishman, who hated
| zoe, ventured to say: 81 vote we have
good chapel man, he'll be sight
cheaper, and will be more of our way
| o thinking"
NOW, Treleaven, you dry up-'Pis-
| Copals l know; Catholics l know: but
know nothing and care less about
| fancy religions, and We'll have one
| fl ON the bishop or we'll have none at
| all" A chorus of approving voices
showed that Joe had the ear of the
meeting and the Cornishman sulkily
| drew back.
Now. it carn't be done without mon
| ey. l amt got much, still I'll give 500, y
said the chairman. I'll give fiven
''Ill give ten!" Here. take my DUST!
| Here's for the skyscraper." were
heard on all sides, and amid the scene
| of wild excitement Texas Joe, after
| counting the collection on the barre
head said: Wen hev the best there
| is to be gOt-we've got S400." He
beamed on the crowd and saw genuine
satisfaction on every face in front OF
him.
Then, with queer smile on his face
Treleavan pushed his way to the from
and said: Il call that a good start, ano
| now all we've got to do is to write tC
Frisco, for there's sure to be a bos!
there who will send us up the man we
| want / vote that the chairman write
| and see to the whole job" A deaC
| pause followed this, for almost every
| man knew that Joe could neither read
nor write. He rose slowly, with his pis
tol in his hand.
Now, look here, mates, there's g
kind 'er nasty twang about the las
speakers remarks that I don't like
| / amt a pushing man, but, Of course
I'll write If Mr.. TreleaVen wants me to
| Say, do you know?" he asked, lookina
intently at the Cornishman as he die
so.
The crowd fell away on all sides
for the air seemed a little heavy.
mo, Praps young Green, the las
tenderfoot, had better write it; W,
oughtn't put it all on you, Joe. No of
fense," he muttered.
"Ahv said Joe, Just as you like
Now Green, get paper and PEN" Tn,
crowd gathered again. Give the bo,
A room: now, just you write" With ad
4 miration the miners listened while Joe
dictated the following letter:
South City, Cal, u. S. A.-Honored ST.
North City have got a chapel parson an
|
have "A real college parson living in the
town. A weak man amt no use, Gus We
want strong man fit to run the show
| proper. We send on four hundred dollar!
for exes. Yours truly,
The Inhabitants of South View.
Now boys" said Joe, its m!
shout"
South City was en- fete The miners
unusually clean, were waiting for tn
arrival of the man who was to fairl!
knock North City. Their hopes hat
been raised to a high pitch by the re
ceipt of letter from San Francisco in
forming them that a real strong mai
was coming up to put them in the wa!
they should 60
Joe had suggested a salvo OF pistols
as a welcome, but it was felt that sucl
a reception was open 10 nlsconceptlon
and the subject dropped
The empty saloon, which had beel
taken as a temporary church, was a
clean as whitewash and soap coul
make it, and only wanted the pres
ence of the parson to make it com
plete.
The excitement grew intense as tn
hour drew near when the coach wa
rI.Nv