The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-03-10
AND THE WATER
AGURGuNG :.

p9yyyfN KIND OF dry hollow and were
ExSj separated from each other
by a nigh rail fence. That fence.
as well as the hollow, ran due
east and west. To the east was Tom
Lamkin's pasture, whose land Joined
ours, and whose fence ran in directly
the opposite direction. The hollow
from Lamkin's land down to the west
ern extremity Of ours was quite de-
Bcending; and in the lower corner, on
Johns side Of the fence, was one of
the largest, coolest. and most invig-
Grating springs | ever saw. writes
David Hill in New York Times.
If do say it l always envied John
that beautiful spring.
Finally an idea entered my head
that, If | dug into the ground on my
own side of the fence, Just few rods
above Johns spring, | might tap the
vein that furnished the supply. and so
convert portion of that water to my
own use.
So | went at it.
And my success was greater than
my expectations.
For, in less than four feet of soil |
struck vein Of water that boiled up
like a miniature fountain. 1t rose
higher and higher. and dubbed and
gurgled, until finally it overfowed the
hole and went pouring down the in
cline like young spring freshet.
was in ecstasies.
The elation over my good fortune
m Fn OF al I'll.
Just to see how the two compared for
quantity and circumference.
Well; bless my souli Judge of my
establishment when found that Johns
spring was dry as the table lands of
New Mexico. | had cut on the main
channel connecting the water with
his land. and had converted the whole
OF that magnificent spring into one of
my own.
| quickly realized there would be a
cyclone when John found it out, and
there was.
He danced a fishers hornpipe on his
own side of the fence and swore he
would have me prosecuted to the full
est extent of the law.
John said. compared with myself
and some of my contemplate acts, the
devil would make a good citizen.
invested $25 in cut granite, fitted
the spring up to the best of my ability.
and-the water kept right on a gurg-
ling.
John salo he pitied my mother, but
had more genuine sympathy for the
wife who was compelled to drag out
her existence with such a miserable
wretch
put stone curb on top of the gran
lite, ornamented it with an iron pal
ing, erected a sign called Crystal
Spring" which faced toward Johns
pasture. and-the water kept right on
a gurgling.
Then the same idea occurred to
John that had occurred to me. He
went few rods above my spring, on
his own side of the fence. of course.
and dug into the ground exactly as
had done; and when he had finished
you can use me for a cancelled post
age stamp if the water in my spring
didn't refuse to-gurgle.
He had cut off the main channel in
precisely the same manner as 1 had
done and had stolen the whole of that
spring back.
Well-or-or-this may seem funny
to some; but l could never quite real
ize Just where the fun came in.
In the first place, didn't steal
Johns spring-not intentionally-it
was a case of pure accident But
John-why-wh John done was an
exemplification OF spite on the face
of it.
And | told him sol
What did John say? why-the-th
old cripple! He said if would toss
that iron paling and cut granite over
the fence to put around his own spring
he would give me 20 cents for it.
Think of that
Insulted me right to my face. Said
I, You old hayseed! If l had you
over in this pasture / would mop you