The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1902-11-05
OLD PILGRIM JOE.

ertyvllle toward SANDY Hill. nae
a clear conscience. a fighting dog
under the wagon and $40 in cash
and it did seem to me as if the pro-
fits of integrity was at least 200 pei
cent. on the dollar. By and by as
1 rode onward ] came upon a grove
of cottonwocds on the banks of 3
streamlet and seated under one OF
the trees was a critter who was
weepin'. l halted and descended
from my wagon and after viewin'
the disconsolate for while 1 says;
stranger, why these tears2-
What great sorrer burdeneth thy
hearth"
sit is that / weep fur the wick
edness of mankind" he replied as
he looked up. at is that I wouldst
hy FIJI. fur away and be done With
earth forever more"
"Hast man deceived thee?"
"He hath. He hath held four
aces ag'in my full house and taken
away my COIN
Hath woman beguiled thee?"
"She hath. She hath married
me while she had two other hus-
bands living"
"Hath the world used thee ilI?"
"She hath. She hath sneered at
my ambitions, fouted at my integ-
rity and given me the grand guy
because of my conscience. AS /
said I wouldst leave it and go hence
Wilt thou kindly pass the end of
this rope over a limb and aid me to
hang myseIfP l would not ask il
except that 1 have a wooden leg
and cannot ascend the tree"
"Feller man." says 1. after gain
upon him awhile, "'tis the lot of all
to be deceived and cajoled and
brought low with sorrer, but the
good man riseth up after calami-
ty and goeth ahead anew"
"Alas, but 1 have fit my last
fight" be walls ont as his tears fell
ag'in.
Say not SO. Brush away thy
tears and square around here while
I strengthen thy heart for another
struggle with the world. Hast thou
dollar or SO left over"
"Just an even dollar. 1 was
wisbin' L could send it to the
heather before 1 went hence"
L made change for him and
brought out the cards and we cres-
ted jackpot. There was almost a
dollar in it before it was opened
/ could have stood pat on a flush,
while he had to draw to a pair, but
I dissembled and let him win to
bring back his ambition. 1t was
80 again and again, and it was only
after 1 lad lost 81 that 1 rose up
and asked1him if he felt better.
burned if 1 don'tv' he replied
as he laughed and slapped me on
the back. Yes, sir, old man, there's
a new song in my heart, new hopes
in my breast, and want to live for
the next thousand years"
When l left him he WAS singin'
a song of glsdness and feelin' that
it was a good world to live in and
my approvin' conscience also filled
me with exulstion. If the world
at large would only lay down lis
pat hands and permit the sorrerin'
and discouraged to take the pots,
who can tell how much grief would
be turned into rejoicin? 1 was
thinkin' thus as my old hoss amb-
led on and the sun continued to
blister the end of my nose, when l
reached the sod house of pioneer.
The pioneer wasn't at home, but
a woman sat on the doorstep and
scbbed sich sobs as are only to be
heard in Oklahoma territory at the
end of three weeks dry spell. /
realized that it was another case
where it was my duty to bring sad
ness out of sorrer, and 1 got down
and stood before her and gently
said:
Woman, thy griefness teches
my heart. Hath death invaded
this domicle that you weepest like
the skies of April?"
"No-nobody dead" she ans.
wered as she looked up.
"Is it that there is sickness and
want?"
"There is nobody in there to be
sick, and I've got -four and bacon
left"
"Then what has occurred to cause
All. oInI.k;1,, oE aor-o-O WI i