Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-24

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! : ! ! n
ksssssessssSssss
oug1z gnaaolat there and md out
Qn man drifted out to Lara.
miea GtAyedat0und for a few days.
ana (TS3kh s0msSSunAccountable within
Bkta3 took d fancy to him and told
him Rome and live with him and do
thSaSY es, He was q kind OF q shift
ElosH and gladly availed himself
oIH Vnvitation@ However. he had
y Sadvantages Of education and
sad3icOnsiderable, and could quote
ideal of Shakespeare. From
day Ito Any Bridger would hear him
quotingssAxtracts from S-hakespeare's
works md finally the old trapper be-
caniesnnuoh interested In 1t. He asked
aboAtNwho this Shakespeare was,
where hd\ lived, and how he came to
write all those pieces.
About the time Bridger had found
out all his man Friday knew about the
gfeat English dramatist, a wagon train
OF Its way west reached Laramie and
Il NAAlC I1OAO IOnt a yOhG VI fOACAs Ills
was a serious misfortune. The man
who owned the train was up against Il
If he could not get another OK team.
He went to the commander at the
fort, who told him that he might get
a yoke of oxen from Colonel Bridgee
that was his only chance to get .
team in that part Of the country.
The gentleman Immediately went to
Bridger's lodge" and walking up to
the colonel, he asked:
"Is this Colonel Bridger?"
That's what they call me"answered
the Bridger,
We'll, colonel, I have lost one Of
my yoke of oxen, and I've come to see
II you will sell me a couple"
mo, / got no cattle to sell"
"But, colonel, / am willing to pay
you your price; I must have the
oxen"
Il told you I had no oxen 10 sell"
said Bridger sharply.
Now colonel. I've come all the way
from New York state with these goods
I've got. and If | can't get them on
through, I'm ruined"
Il didn't send for you," said Bridger.
How much are the oxen worth. col
onel, If you did want to sell them?"
asked the fastener.
1.-TWO hundred dollars" growled
Bridger.
CPL give you 5000 for Them said tho
New York man.
But Bridger was firm and would not
sell.
Finally the New York man asked:
Colonel, a you tell me where I
can get some cattle?"
Then a thought struck Bridger. He
looked at the eastern man and asked:
Where did you say you was FROM"
New York"
did you ever hear Of q man by the
name Of Shakespeare"
20, yes" said the New Yorker.
Did you ever read a book he
wrote?" asked Bridger.
Eyes indeed; I have all Of his works
down in my wagon"
do you mean to tell me-" asked the
colonel, that you have got Shake.
speare's book right down there in ono
Of them wagons?"
"Yessir."
rs 1t the genuine article?"
ut certainly is"
Nov look here said the colonel,
III o will bring me a book Of the
genuine Shakespeare, and this man
here. (pointing to his tramp friend),
says it's the real article, I'll give you
the best yoke of oxen I've got.'''
why Ill give you the $500 and the
book, too" said the eastern man,
highly elated. 5ssSa
II told you what I'd do. bring onsthe
!, book" said Bridger.
: The book was brought, and Bridger
: passed it over to his helper, and asked
!. him If it was the genuine Shakespeare.
! The tramp told him 1t was the Simon
, pure goods.
! Go out and help this man pick out
!, the oxen he wants and then come
!. back here and I'll give you $40 q
month to read that book to me, and
when you get through the first time.
then II | want you to you'll have to
4 read 1t to me again"
He would take no further pay for
. his oxe and the nan went on his
) way, and the tramp for $40 a month
4 and board read Shakespeare aloud to
). Bridger. They would sit around.sth
/, fire in the tent and the tramp would
i read and Bridger would listen with the
Z most rapt attention.
) All went well. the man grew fatsand
brluSeT was absorbing Shakespeare
i daily. Finally one day they came to
5 the part In Richard III where the two
s boys are being put to death, and
3 Bridger called q halt.
Read that again." he said.
The man read 1t again.
do you believe that?" said Bird.
. ger, as his eyes flashed and he began
:. to get all worked up.
! EYES," said the tramp, that is right
.. from the history Of England. That's
! right; they killed EN- sure" 3ai
a Bridger got up from his seat, walked
: over in front Of the man and with his
nerves at the highest tension, he fairly
q shrieked:
$ do you mean to tell me that them
. two little boys was killed-smothered
9 to death?"
! yes. said the man, that's what