The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-07-21

NCLE ZENAS PARTRIDGE had
always declared that he wanted
to be buried in the hills
"Its no use talking" he would say
between whiffs at his black pipe. this
here valleys doomed You can't keep
out them floods. though you go on and
spend your last cent leyeling. Shows
bound TO pile up in them Sierra Ne
yada's every winter, ten or twelve feet
high. and it's got to come down, and
twill bring the slickens with it; then
where's your country?
II don't say twill be In my time.
but it's bound to come. Them noun
their side l don't blame 'em. It's
mighty hard to set down and starve
when there's a fortune most in your
dooryard already for the washing out.
Its human nature. What's one
mans food Is another mans pizen.'
And we're the lowest down. and the
under dog this time. They'll get out
the gold, no matter how you injunct;
and them there restraining dams they
make so much of will be like a sand
bar when the heavens are opened and
the floods come down.
when it's time for my burying /
want to be put up in the Buttes where
it's high. l always liked to be among
the first when things were going on.
and so l do in the resurrection. Give
oh frxh
solder me into one of the tin-lined cof-
fms; let me get out quick so l can take
in the bigness of the thing"
Now Uncle Zenas was dead and his
children, grandchildren, nephews and
nieces had come together for the last
duty OF laying his body in the high
place he coveted.
The chill fog OF early winter had set
tied down In the Californian valley,
and almost hid the spring wagon that
bore the coffin from the long file Of
buggies and rockaways that followed
slowly through the mud behind it.
After long. tiresome drive they be-
gan to wind up through the Buttes.
that strange elevation In the center of
the valley, whose pink and gray shad-
owy outline Of the distance had
changed to reality of rugged sleeps
and stony declivities, with here and
here cosy homesteads nesting In
brown depressions. which would soon
urn into greenness-
They had to come near the stop !
ping place on foot. the bearers carry
ng the plain coffin. destitute of flow |
IT'S. as had been the old mans wish.
''They do for women and children"
lie had said; 'nowise for old folks.
live me a sheaf Of grain"
1t was lying there now. tied with |
leep purple ribbons. a symbol Of the
ruits OF a good mans life The sun
anne out and rested on the rounded
mound, and the mists rolled away into
White clouds. Uncle Zenas could rest
D peace; he would rise from the hill
ops.
You can't think how I dread going
ONE across that tule, father" Mrs.
Iriggs said to her husband, as they
toward home. II know it's
sight nearer. but how can we tell
ut the waters backing up and cutting
5 on; we've had sight of rain Late
r."
Don't you worry. mother, it's all
ght"
But i just believe the fog's going
} settle down again. 1t looks so misty
yer there. 1t was right pretty just as
'e laid Uncle Zene in his grave. Ka-
e, isn't that John Hanlon over there. {
ok. on that curve. in his new bug
~
The girl gave a quick glance. s
YES" she answered shortly, and S
'tting her lips tightly, turned her face |
Ie other way. T
The Briggs were crowded In their
ring wagon. Katie. her mother. 1T d
= Johnny and the baby had the back II
at while the father and two boys b
ere on the front. o
Six months before Katie would '
i've been riding IN the new buggy in 4
e rear, snugly covered with the r
ange and black plush robe; for six b
onths ago Kate and John had been b
vers. Now the girl turned her head 8
vay as IL the sight OF that big SIX d
oter was hateful to her. G
She wondered why he hadn't q
ought Mary Higgins; 1t was lone b
me riding so far alone. Perhaps he I
,uldn't, seeing 1T was Uncle Zene's z
neral John always thought 4 lot