Connecticut western news., 1899-02-09
A STRONG MAN.

The weekly coach was due at South City, and all the inhabitants wert ea- gerly awaiting. its arrival. The Diggers' Arms was, as usual, crowded, and against its hospitable walls lounged those unable to get in. Suddenly a l crack, loud and reverberating, sounded in the clear mountain air, and with a whoop and rattle the great coach lum- | bered up.
 The driver, a cheery Yankee, who knew his men as we'll as be >d did his horses, shouted: "Have you heard the news, boysf Nol We'll, I'll tell you North City has imported parsonp' "A whatr' shouted the miners, jeal- ous of their own town.
 "A real live parson, and, what more, they've turned the old saloon into 8 meeting house.
 There was a long standing feud be- tween North City and South City, which dated from the first gold rush, and many and useless were the buildings that the rival towns had erected to Ego one better" than the other.
 All looked toward Texas Joe, an old and tough miner, who by brevity of speech and quick use of his gun had long held the perilous position of dicta- tor to the neighborhood.
 No one spoke-indeed no one quite cared to. At length the oracle, shifting his plug from one cheek to the other, said: "Pass the word that there'll be a meeting here of all the boys at sharp. It ain't to be allowed that a young shove ahead village like North City is to take the shine out of us. No, sir, it ain't likely"
 Long before the whole adult pop uletion 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-mo- tions 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 call ed. We have been made fools of by the people away ycnder,' waving his hand northward, land it ain't to be. They have 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, ain't more religious than most, still l say," kicking his heel in the bar rel to emphasize his words, "that it's a real disgrace to us that we ain't got parson too. Now, what I say is this: North City have got larson; South City will have one too. They have got 3 travelling cuss; we will have man of cur own. chap wot's got some edu- cation. That'll fix 'em up, you bet"
 A redhaired Cornishman, who hated Joe, ventured to say 1T vote we have good chapel man; he'll be sight cheaper and will be more of our own way of thinking"
 "Now, Treleaven, you dry up. 'Pis- copals know, Catholics know, but 1 know nothing and care less about fancy religions, and we'll have one from 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 money. l ain't gut much, still I'll give S20," said the chairman. "I'll give s5r' "Ill give S10r' "Here, take my dust!' Here's for the skyscraperl l' were heard on all sides, and amid a scene of wild excitement Texas Joe, aft CT counting the collection on the barrel head, said, "We'll have the best there is to be got-we've got $400." He beamed on the crowd and saw genuine satisfac- tion on every face in front of him.
 Then, with queer smile on his face, Treleavan pushed his way to the front and said: II call that good start, and now all we've got to do is to write to Frisco, for there's sure to be boss there who will send us up the man we want. I vote that the chairman write and see to the whole job. A dead 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 8 kind CT nasty twang about the last speakers remarks that I don't like. ain't pushing man, but of course I'll write if Mir. Treleayen wants me to. Say, do you now?" he asked, looking intently 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 tent orfoot, had better write it. We usLtl't to put it all on you, Joe. No offense," he muttered.
 "Ab," said Joe, "just as you like. | Now, Green, get paper and pen. !" The crowd gathered again. "Give the boy room. Now just you write." With iGmiration the miners listened while Joe dictated the following letter: SOUTH CITY, Cal. U. S. A. IGNORED SIR-North City have got a chapel | parscn and South City felt that the time has | cone to have real college parson living in l tEe town. weak man ain't no use, cos we | want strong man fit to run the show proper | We send s40U for exes. Yours truly, THE INHABITANTS OF SOUTH VIEW. "Now, boys," said Joe, ''it's my shout"
 South City was en fete. The miners. unusually clean. were waiting for the arrival of the man who was to fairly knock North City. Their hopes had been raised to high pitch by the re- | ceipt of letter from San Francisco in- forming them that real strong man was coming up to put them in the way they should go.
 Joe had suggested a salvo of pistols ss welcome. but 1t was felt that such
 . reception was open to misconception. and tho subject dropped.
 The empty saloon, which had been taken as a temporary church, was as clean as whitewash and soap could make 1t and only wanted the presence of the parson to make it complete.
 The excitement grew intense as the hour drew near when the coach was due, eliminating in mighty cheer when the driver finally pulled up oppo- site the saloon. Several passengers got down. but no one answering to the de. | nofi okfnd of d serou e m a |, ioft aka aaaoh