Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-04-18

In the quiet cleaning Of last
evening a party of gentlemen en-
joying their after supper cigars
strolled down the Katy track to
the coal lift
A freight train had pulled in
from the south a short time be-
fore and The crew were up town
getting their evening meal.
One of the gentlemen saw
youth approaching an empty box
car with a bundle wrapped with
newspaper and remarked upon the
peculiarities Of some natures,
instanoing the lad who, from np-
pearanoes, could command a fair
position and have pleasant home
but who preferred the rowing life
about the country begging his
meals.
The boy entered a car in which
we're two other lads of about his
age and the three could be seen
setting about TO devour the lunch
some kind hearted house wife had
given him.
The party walked along and in
less than half an hour were leisure.
ly strolling back. Suddenly they
we're arrested by a clear, pure
voice from a boyish throat singing
in sweet melody,
"She was bred in Old Kentucky
Where the meadow grass Is green."
To those gentlemen who stood
entranced the words Of that popu
lar song had new meaning.
There was that in the sweet tones
that clearly drew one closer, hung.
ering with open mouth for more
and inwardly wishing that the
song would have no ending; that
the voice, so enhancing, would
never cease to send forth such
sound as made commonplace
verse vibrate through the air with
a volume Of such music as is atlrib
uted as a gift only to the en-
chanted.
The party walked over to the
car, being joined by a trainman
who said they "would be laid out
for 80 minutes waiting for number
As" Reaching the open door Of
the psper carpeted box car the
party attracted the attention of the
singer who ceased his melody at
once.
Engaging him in conversation
one Of the party cleaned the in
formation that the boy lived at
Victor, a Tennessee town a few
miles from Memphis. He was q
bright lad and capable Of holding
a good situation. He loved tC
roam, however, but retained thai
spark of manhood which caused
him to resist falling into the ways
Of a thoroughbred tramp and &C
quiring a ragged garb. When hs
got too seedy in appearance, he
would stop of, work a while and
buy new front.
While he was talking one OF the
other boys bad torn a piece oI
newspaper from the floor and wai
reading from its columns although
il was several weeks old. Sud.
denly be interrupted with the
anxiously spoken question; "Hey,
Harry, didn't you cay your name
was Gibbs, and that you come
from Victor, Tennessee2"
The lad addressed replied af-
frmaliyely when the other said,
almost brutally, the words sound.
ing on that youthful singers heart
like a trip.hammer, "l'll bet this
is your mother what's dead. The
Globe says that Mrs. Kate Gibbs,
wife OF former Judge Gibbs, died
this morning after a short illness
a sufferer from dread pneumonia,
and the dispatch is dated fro IN
Victor"
A deep cob broke from the bot.
tom Of that boyish heart and be
turned to bury his face in a small
pile Of loose straw in the car.
Nothing could be said to assuage
such genuine grief and all re-
NAMED respectfully silent.
In few moments the lad re.
covered himself and with broken
voice deplored his conduct. Hall
sobbingly he declared that his
mother was surely at that moment
singing sweet carols with the
angels and that il was her heaven.
ly influence that then determined
him to 90 home and settle down
aud that, although desd 20 earth,
she could yet be happy in watch.
ing his future. "She taught me, u
he said. "to kneal and reDeal