Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-09-01
A STRONG MAN.
BY Or. fred Enslebach.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

| gers' Arms was, as usual, crowded, and
against its hospitable walls lounged
those unable to get in. Suddenly a
crack, loud and reverberating, sounded
in the clear mountain air, and with a
whoop and a rattle the great coach
numbered up.
The driver, CHEEKY Yankee, who
knew his men as well as he did his
horses, shouted: Have you heard the
news, boys? No! Well. I'll tell you
North City has imported parson!s
"a what" shouted the miners,
| Jealous of their own town.
"A real live parson, and what's more,
they've turned the old saloon into a
meeting housed"
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 10
''go one better" than the other.
All looked towards Texas Joe, an old
and tough miner. who, by brevity of
speech and a quick use of his gun, had
long held the perilous position of die
tator to the neighborhood.
No one spol1e-indeed, no one quite
cared to. At length the oracle, shifting
his plug from one cheek to the other,
said: pass the word that therell be
meeting here of all the boys at six
sharp. 1t amt to be allowed that a
young shove-ahead village like North
City is to take the shine out Of us. No,
sir!--it amt likely"
Long before six the whole adult popu-
lation was collected near the saloon,
and it was clear that no room would
hold the crowd. Finally an open-air
meeting was proposed and carried
motions moved by Texas Joe generally
were-ands the dictator took the "bar-
rel"
"Alen of South City," he began, you
all know why this here meeting Is
called. We hev been made fools of by
the people away ycnder." waving his
hand northward, and II amt 10 be.
They hev been presumptuous enough
to get a parson. as IL the inhabitants of
these parts want either doctors or par
sons. and are cracking on about II no
end. Now, | amt more religious than
most, still / say" kicking his heel on
the barrel to emphasize his words,
that it's real disgrace to us that we
amt got n parson, too. Now, what ]
say is this: North City have got par
son-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. Thatll fix 'em up.
you bet"
A red-haired Cornishman who hated
Joe ventured TO say: IL vote we have a
good chapel-man. he'll be a sight
cheaper, and will be more of our own
way o thinking"
Now. Trelcavan, you dry up-'Pisco-
pals l know; Catholics know; but
know nothing and care less about fancy
religions. and Wen have onesfrom the
bishop or Wen have none at all" A
chorus of approving voices showed that
Joe had the ear of the meeting, and the
cornishman sullily drew back.
.Now. it carn't be done without
money. l amt got much. still I'll give
S20," said the chairman. "I'll give
ive." "I'll give ten!" Here, take my
lusti" Here's for the slkyscraperl"
were heard on all sides, and amidst
scene of wild excitement Texas Joe aft
err counting the collection on the bar
rel head said: ''Well 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
i'm.
Then with queer smile on his face
Treleavan pushed his way to the front
aud said: Il call that good start, and
aow all we've got to do is TO write to
Frisco. for there's sure to be a boss
there who viii send us up the man we
want. | vote that the chairman write
and see to the whole job" dead pause
followed this, for almost every man
suew that Joe could neither read nor
write. He rose slowly, with his pistol
in his hand.
NOW, look here. mates. there's a
kind 'er nasty twang about the last
speakers remarks that don't like. ]
amt a pushing man, but, OF course.
III write if Mr.. Treleavan wants me to.
Say, do you, now?" he asked, looking
intcntly at the Cornishman as he did so.
The crowd fell away on all sides. for
the air seemed little heavy.
NO. P'raps young Green, the last
tenderfoot, had better write it; we
oughtn't to put it all on you, Joe. No
offense," he muttered.
"Ahl" said Joe, lust as you like.
Now, Green, get paper and pen" The
crowd gathered again. Give the boy
room; now just you write" With adj
miration the miners listened whilst Joe
dictated the following letter:
South City, California. U. s. A.-Honored
Sir: North City have got a chapel parson.
and South City feel that the time has come
to have real college parson living In
the town. a weak man amt no use, COS
we want strong man fit to run the show
Dropar We send on fnrrY- hrr1 rcd 7of1or-