The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-12
PILGRIM JOE.
He Looks Out fol. the Heather and
Others rs He Journeys Along.

had taken a tintype at 10 cents a
take OF everybody in the town OF
can Git Home except female with
Leo mar and an iron jaw, when
hitcned up my boss and gamboled on
. 10 md new fields to conker. I had
received fresh supply of Pilgrim
ram Alleviator of which I cannot
speak too highly had a wad of green
backs in my pocket almost as large
as calf7s head, and the clear con-
science beneath my waistcoat inn
PEELED me to whistle and sing and to
murmur to myself:
Honesty is the. best policy but the
teller who don't make it pay at least
10 per cent. while he is about it hath
no head on him.
BE upright and fear not but at the
same time keep your eye on the
keerds as the other Teller deals them
do good to thy Teller man, but
don't do him so much good that he
viii get stiff in the neck and think he
owns the afrth."
was alive and free from the trials and
tribulations that beset the path of
married men, I reached the enterprlS-
In town of Buzzard's Roost to find
most of the citizens gathered on the
public square in discussion. 1t had
come over them that the heather of
Africa was in need of new reading
matter and change of clothes and
they was gathered to discuss ways and
means to provide them. They had no
sooner caught sight of my Venera BILE
Whiskers and benign countenance
than they felt assured of my support
in their good work, and the mayor
came forward and addressed me with :.
4 greet thee, Pilgrim, and I well
come thee to our gates
For which thanks" says
Hast heard of the heather in fa r.
off Africa o. he goes on.
MANY and many a time. His color
is not mine, and he don't wear his
clothes the same way. but I have ever
had a brOtherly feelin' for him IN
deed, have stood ready at any time
for the last five years to make him
a reduction of 20 per cent. on my
celebrated Pain Alleviator which
should be taken accordin' to direc-
lions and kept down cellar under a
Parrel when not in use. What is new
or the heather, may I ask?"
His last winters trousers are fray
ed around the bottoms and his coat
ripped up the back
lis sad and should not be-"
And he suffers in his speerits-ayei
IN his soul. When he would rise with
the lark or lie down with the hen he
hath no more songs to sing his last
shipment of books havin' bin worn out.
wilt aid and assist us to provide him
anew and give him encouragement to
go ahead?''
Truly I wilt, and thou hast made no
mistake Wherever these Whiskers go
1 go with them, and wherever me and
my Wh1SkerS are seen there doth the
heather find comfort and consolashun.
Let US retire to some secluded spot ard
put forth our best Efforts
We retired to his office and locked
the door, and when l produced a ma tx
of keerds and threw down dollar for
a Jackpot he expressed no surprise. On
the contrary, his inward satisfaction
was plain to be seen in his face.
sought to impress it uDOn his mind
that I never handled the keerds except
when the welfare Of 6own- trodden hui
manity was a stake, and he sought to
impress it upon mine that he loved
MS sfelIeE man, no matter how dark the
hide or kinky the hair. and was aIlus
wflIin' to make one raise on him, no
matter what sort of hand he held
/ felt it my duty to lose about five
Tor the cause OF the heather. but alaSi
l could not. It seemed as if I never
held SIGH hands before. Each one of
them was a winner, and at the end of
an hour I riz up with 20 additional dol
lars in my pocket. The mavOr had
smiled affectionately all through the
performance, but when the curtain
went down on it he got red in the face
and pounded the table and yelled at
me:
You blamed old robber. but gimme
back that money OF you'll never get out
OF Buzzard's Roost alive I judged by
the venerable whiskers and benign
smile that thou hadst feelin' in thy
soul for the heather, but I hast Iea,11-
ed better. Hand over, old reprobate :
Nay, but tbs a sacred trust repoScd
in me- l replied. Gimme the address
of the heathen and I viii forward these
winnings and make him happy. I
would that it should be through me
that his songs are sung once more and
that his trousers hath the latest cut
and fashion"
When the man with deception in his
heart found that he could not prevail
upon me he opened the door and turn
ed me loose. but five minutes later I
was surrounded by a crowd which
thirsted for my blood. I lifted up my
voice in argument and protestation
but it was of 10 avail. The heather
of Buzzard's Roost were feelin' so bad
for the heather of Africa that 1 was
pelted with eggs of uncertain age and