The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1901-03-28
The Stirring Up
Of Shiftless John.

By As. M. GREELEY.

In summer Wrapb III IIituitdtlOIl Staiu tl-
bacco smoke, The neighbors passed
|by without the trouble Of saying
ssgood morning ~ for he was q grouchy
old fellow, without an ounce Of socia-
bility In his system.
But lately the young men of the
neigh borhood seemed to take o sudden
interest in the old man, and many d
visitor had called at the shanty Just
Ito be neighborly. 4
/ "A niece of Sis had come from some
where, and this attractive young lady
had lent sudden charm TO the place.
The young lady now sits BY the side
Of the old man, sharing his popular
game Of silent meditation.
Al young man OF the neigh borhood.
wearing flannel shirt and Q new pair
of corked shoes, shutfies UP in front Of
the door.
sHowdedo, 81.
sHnlloa, John. e
We'll to-days''
Amt a squalin. 4
ssOld man sent me over; got a sick.
boss to home. Did yon ever have q
boss with the bottsss 4
es.
What did you give:
''Tnrpentine. /"
The young, man shuffied around on
one foot, with one corner of one eye,
fastened upon the young lady.
She was intensely engaged in watch
ing the smoke from a saWmill down
the river.
If John had expectations OF a rons-
ing recognition his hopes were soon
frost bitten.
Did you say turpentine, Si?"
At hope so.s.
Yes; and how much. =
seAll ther way from a tablespoon TO,
gallon. |"
'soh, yes. Z
He still shifted from one foot to the
other, but with both eyes sweltering in
emotion, now fixed upon the medita-H
tive maiden. She continued to gaze
at the sawmill down the river.
"Wouldn't jar me il we had 9 rain
tonight; heard tree toad as I come
up.
The old man grunted in q language
that might imply a corrob oratiye or
negative opinion.
.Tnrpentine, you said2 Guess ] II
|trot along.
The only answer came from 9 CUR
gle in the Old man s pipe stem.
John shook loose his appealing
glance from the meditative lady, kick
ed chip from q spike in his shoe and
reluctantly sauntered away.
The young lady continued to gaze at
the sawmill down the river.
Who was that felloW?n asked the
young lady, with a sudden interest. II
was full an half-hour after Johns de-
parture. NJ
limp the old man growled he's
no good; names John Hacks; haint
with the powder takes to blow him up.
Fathers got the humstead next to US:
no good, neither; poisoned my dog.
once; fathers been there six years an
haint proved up yit; haint got 'nough
land cleared to make q cabbage patch
no count family.
Old ST had pioneered SO long that
his speech had caught the brevity Of
the Indian and the slang OF the sslum-
beriack.
81 think he ) kind OF good looking,
remarked the girl, after another long
silence, in the tone OF one who had
made a great discovery. 5
aWho3 him: Never'll hurt his good
looks by work. Worked in q lumber.
camp once: forgot to get up fore noon
and the bull cook woke him up with .
cant hook; cum home next day an
been restin ever since.
A few days later as Stand Lucy, his
niece, were INDUCING in their usual
game Of silent meditation, John re-
turned. In hesitasing manner he.
approached.
tHowdedo, ST. "
aHulloa, John.
John smiled at the old man and
would have bowed tosthe young lady,
hut her gaze was firmly fixed upon the.
smoke arising from the sawmill down
the river.
You said turpentine. Sis:a
'sTnrpentine is ther stuff.
ssGood for bottsy'
Bolts it were.
aWeli, we tried turpentine md Their
boss died. y