The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-07-28
black snakes, knotted ropes, and stove

black snakes, knotted ropes, and stove
pokers, but all in vain. have kicked
you, and cuffed you, and have in every
way tried to do fathers duty toward
his son, but it has been labor lost. My
son, it now becomes my painful duty
to inform you that your case is nope
less. But want to do the fair thing
by you. Here is $500. Take it my
son, and go to California, or to some
far off country, no matter where, and
stay there while the money lasts.
When your money is gone, and you
lind it impossible to make living,
come back to me, and l will send you
to an asylum for imbeciles. Don't
write for money, because you won't
get it. If you must come back make
your way back the best you can
without money. Perhaps that will
sharpen your wits when all other
things have failed Maybe On your
way back hunger will prove All effectu-
al teacher to you, and few hard
knocks on your soft spots may consoli-
date what little sease you have. Now
go, nay son, and take fathers bless
ing with YOU"
Well, Nose went, and staid away a
little more than four years. Then he
came back, but nobody recognized
him. He wore long whiskers, and his
hair came down over bis shoulders,
and his face was bronZed. He brought
with him string of 27 horses, worth
anywhere from so cents to $40 apiece,
but he doctOred them little, and sold
them to his friends and relations for
sums ranging from $50 to $50 each. The
worst one of the lot he sold to his faith
or for $75. He sat in game of poker
with Nat Doublesecisaud Abe Shuffler
the best poker players in Stagnation
County, and he won all their ready
cash. He got the best of Sim Long
tongue in political argument, and in
a fight with Cap Topper he made that
gentleman hoist the white flag after
the second round. Then he had his
whiskers shaved off, and his hair cut
and he looked so much like his former
. self that verybody greeted him with 6
, kindly, "Hello, Nose! When did you
come back?" He had but little to say
, until he reached his fathers house
then, upon being questioned, he admit
ted that he had been in Stagnatior
, County about fourteen days, and hat
been selling horses.
: "Who did you sell them to?" asked
, his father.
"Oh," answered Nose, Il sold one t,
| old man Skinner, team to his son
: in-law, Zeke Underwood, one to Dea
: con Closefst, one to uncle Lige, one tt
: you"
!, "Stopw cried his father. ''Are yol
: the scoundrel with the long hair VIII
sold horses here last week.
. 81 sold horses" said Nose; "but an
/ no scoundrel"
! "Why, most of the horses are dead
! and those that are alive are only goo
. for the sausage factory" shouted hi
q father.
Q "That's not my fault" said Nose a
t calmly as you please; II did not guar
! antee them to live forever. They wer
a good looking lot of horses when
!. sold them, and the smart people @
n this neighborhood bought them bt
d cause they thought they were cheap
n Well, Hiram, there was some tai
= of lynching Nose, but things 500
q qnieted down. He is today running tn
# old mans farm, and is considered on
4 of the shrewdest men in Stagnatio
# County. When Zske Underwoo
q went to Chicago and forgot to com
/ back, his wife sued for divorce, an
q within a month after her suit had bee
J. granted she married Nose, ard peopl
"a say they are as happy as two turtl'
a doves.
4. So take courage, Hiram. There
q hope even for you, in spite of wh;
u Squire Upright and Prof. Humbu
u and the people at your old home
n general, may think about you. Yo
l. may yet have the opportunity to prov
ID to them that time, travel, and exper
10 ence improves most men, and that tt
I'd Saltwater Industrial College ca
l. change the nature of a man, and max
h wise the foolish.
;h Hiram, the well of inspiration hi