The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-17
SELECTED STORY.
"See Yup,"
BY BRET HART.


But these sympathies were not al
ways unanimous.
One evening l strolled into the bar
room of the principal saloon" which,
as far as mere upholstery and comfort
went, was also the principal house in
the settlement. The first rains had
commenced; the windows were open,
for the influence of the southwest
trades penetrated even this far-off
mountain mining settlement, but oddly
enough there was fire in the large
central stove, around which the miners
had collected with their steaming boots
elevated on projecting iron railing
that encircled it. They were not at
tracted by the warmth, but the stove
formed social pivot for gossip, and
suggested that mystic circle dear to the
gregarious instinct. Yet they were de-
cidedly a respondent group. For some
moments the silence was only broken
by a gasp, sigh, muttered oath or
an impatient change of position. There
was nothing in the fortunes of the set
Element nor in their own individual af-
fairs 10 suggest this gloom. The sim
gular truth was that they were, one
and all, suffering the psngs of dyspep-
STA.
Incongruous as such a complaint
might seem to their healthy environ
ment-their outdoor life, their daily ex-
ercise, the healing balsam OF the noun
tain air, their enforced temperance in
diet and the absence of all enervating
pleasures--it was nevertheless the in
contestible fact. Whether it was the
result of the nervous, excitable tenn
permanent which had brought them to-
eether in this feverish hunt for gold;
whether it was the quality of the tim
ned meats or half-cooked provisions
they hastily bolted, begrudging the
time it took to prepare and to consume
them; whether they too often supplant-
ed their meals by tobacco or whiskey,
the singular physiological truth re-
NAMED that these young, finely select
ed adventures, living the lives OF the
natural, aboriginal man, and looking
the picture of health and strength, ac-
tualiy suffered more from indigestion
than the pampered dwellers of the
cities! The quantity of "patent medi-
cines," "bitters," "pills," 'panaceas"
and 'ilozenges" sold in the settlement
almost exceeded the amount of the
regular provision whose effects they
were supposed to correct. The suffer
ers eagerly scanned advertisements
and placards. There were occasional
"runs" on new "speci6cs," and gen.
eral conversation eventually turned
into discussion of their respective
merits. A certain childlike faith and
trust in each new remedy was not the
least distressing and pathetic of the
symptoms of these grown-up bearded
men.
"Well, gentlemen" said Cyrus Par
ker. glancing around at his fellow suf-
ferers, Eve can talk of your patent med
icines, and I've tackled 'em all, but
only the other day struck suthin' that
Pm goin' to hang on to, you bet"
Every eye was turned moodily to the
speaker, but no one said anything.
"And l didn't get it outer advertise
ments, nor off of circulars. l got it
outer my head, just by solid thinkin,"
continued Parker.
"What was it, Cy?" asked one un-
sophisticated and inexperienced suffer-
err.
Instead of replying Parker, like a
true artist, knowing he had the ear of
his audience, dramatically flashed a
question upon them:
''Did you ever hear of Chinaman
having dyspepsy?"
',Never heard he had sabe enough TO
hev anything" said a scorner.
"No, but did YEP" insisted Parker.
"Well, no." chorused the group.
They we're evidently struck with the
fact.
"Of course you didn't" said Parker,
triumphantly, ZOOS they amt. Well,
gentlemen, it didn't seem to me the
square thing that pesky lot O. yellow
skinned heathens should be built diff.
ferent to white man, and never know
the tortur' that Christian feels, and
one day after dinner, when I was jest
a-lyin' fiat down on the bank squirmin
and clutchin' the short grass to keep
from yellin', who should 60 by but that
pizenous See Yup, with grin on his
face.
"'Mellican man plenty playee to him
Joss after eatin,' SEE he, 'but China.
man smellee punk, alice same, and nc
hab got
81 knew the Shiny cuss was just pre-.
tendin' he thought 1 was prayin' to my
joss, but was that weak / hadn't
stren'th, boys, to heave rock at him.
Yet it gave me an idea."
"What was it?" they asked, eagerly.
II went down to his shop the next
day when he was alone, and 1 was
feelin' mighty bad, and l got hold OF
his pigtail and l allowed I'd stuff il
down his throat if he didn't tell me
what he meant. Then he took piece
of punk and lit it and put it under my
nose, and, darn my skin, gentlemen
you mightn't believe me, but in min.
.nte felt better, and after a Whit OF
two l was all right"
"Was it pow'ful strong, Cyl" asked
the inexperieced one.
"No," said Parker, "and that's just
what's got me. 1t was sort O. dreamy
spicy smell, like hot night. But as
couldn't go round 'mong you boys with
lighted piece o. punk in my hand, e7
if was settin' off Fourth of July fire.
crackers, / asked him if he couldn't fix
me up suthin' in another shape that
would be handler to use when / was
took bad, and I'd reckon to pay him fol-
it like ez I'd pay for any other patent