The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-06

brings out the bottle and the hopper,
that the inseck is constantly Strivin'
to climb up and push the cork out, but
each and every attempt Is a failure
and leaves him on his back at the bot
tom Of the bottle. So it is in life. We
pore critters are constantly on the
climb and buttin' our heads agin corlxs.
when If we only knew it we are as well
off as we could hope to be. 'Tis thus
that I bring truth home to many
soul befoggled-''
''Durn my catsr' he says. as he be-
gins to grit his teeth but that's play
in it low down on the grasshopper ana
I won't stand by and see it Either
let the critter hop off and seek for pas
ture new or I'll punch yer old gray
head
81 wouldst pass on my way without
enmity."
81 knew We would, but you uncork
that bottle o. d. O. I'm in the Pilgrim
business myself. and I won't see no
inseck put uDon.''
Realizin' that my years was many,
but that might and justice was on my
side. I descended from my wagon and
| removed my hat, coat and vest, and
| moistened the palms Of my hands. My
feller-critter seemed a bit surprised,
but he was broad OF back and had
hands like hams, and presently he
cracked his heels together and came
at me. The conflict was brief. I met
him with my right on the jaw, and as
ne fell down and slept mounted my
wagon and drove on and said to my
self:
He who hath his quarrel just
Can allus 'tother Teller bust"
Nuthin' more happened to me till
reached Dog Hill. There I encounter
| ed crowd of my feller-bein's who had
a rope around a mans neck and was
about to pull him up to limb.
whats the occasion?'' I asked of
the boss of the crowd, as 1 halted.
He stole hoss,'' was the reply.
| "When?"
Last night
Doth he admit the fact?''
AND the color of the boss. my
friendg'
| white"
And might he be poor in flesh and
detected in demeanor?'
| 'sI reckon he might, but q boss is a
boss, and don't you ask any more fool
questions"
"Let me prevent a burden upon thy
conscience" I says, as / gifts down.
Your old white boss feedeth upon the
prairie at the foot of the hill, and the
man hath committed no crime
They soon discovered that I was
right in the matter, and the prisoner
was released. Not without insults and
kicks, however. 'Tis the way with dis
appointed humanity. When they had
reviled him and given him the boot, I
invited him to pursue his journey with
me- and he thankfully accepted.
/
companionable that my conscience al
most smote me when won 81 off him
at poker I say almost, because held
an ace-full to his three kings, and so
the pot was rightly mine.
Twas with a brotherly feelin' that I
made my entrance into the town OF
Angels Rest and prepared to become
an angel by restin' for a couple OF
days. Hardly had I reached the publis
square when the mayor appeared to
bid me welcome and TO inquire:
whats this thing drawin' your
wagon?"
a boss as kin git up a 2:zo gait"
says I.
land that thing under the wagonr'
"a cur dog as kin lick anythin IN
the canine line in Oklahoma"
pilgrim, speaketh thou truly?" he
asked.
"'Tis solid truth. IT'S truth that hath
been tested time and again."
''Then we go whacks. You furnish
the critters and I'll git up the boss race
and the dog fight"
And we did, and when the time came
for me to leave the town of angels the
wad in my pocket added much to my
corpulency and dignity. And I said to
myself:
deceive not thy feller-man, but IL
he deceiveth himself and will not
hearken, then sock it to him the best
you know how."-(CopyEight, 1904, by
&c. B. LewiS.)