The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1909-09-09
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FROM THE FIELD.

Door little farm in one of the New
England states, when he crossed over
the line dividing boyhood and man
hood, babe his mother fearful good
bye and went out into the world to
seek fortune for himself and to pay
off the mortgage on the little home
stead. We will not attempt TO follow
him In his wanderings, his success
ses and failures, his joys and his
sorrows, the comedies and tragedies
of his career, nor is it necessary for
the purpose of this story to describe
his appearance or analyze his traits
of character, for there is a sameness
in human nature almost monoton"
Gus, the only notable exceptions be-
ing the imaginary heroes of fiction
and the Partially of the hero wor-
Shipping biographers OF the supposed
great actors in the building of the
worlds history. Suffice it to say
that Joe Baxter on one afternoon,
whether in "a slow driving storm Of
winter or when the bees were sip
ping nectar from the fragrant flow
ers of May my informant does not
say, unheralded made his appearance
at a little mining town in the great
fresh west. No one knew from
whence he came or whether he had
any antecedents He announced that
he was broke and obtained employ
ment as a bookkeeper at the leading
store He made no friends nor did
he give or ask any confidence. Was
hectic flush of his cheeks it was seen
the great leveler had marked him
for his own. One morning he was
late in arriving at his post of duty
and explained that he was not well.
In a day or two he was better. Again
was late and it took him longer TO
rally, gradually grew weaker until
he resigned his position because
unable to do the work. He took liSh-
ter work in another store and finally
had to give up. Unable to do any
labor and with no home he sold his
watch and ring and wooed the god
dess of fortune at the card table.
Night after night his little all dwin-
died away until one night when he
drew to his hand, seeing discard
was what he needed fumbled over
the card dealt him and took the dis
card. He showed four aces and
reached for the stack of chips but
the player who discarded tho ace he
got reported. Joe reached for his
back pocket and coughed slightly
His antagonist thinking it a move for
gun shot him in the forehead. Elk
animation revealed the fact that he
had no gun but was reaching for his
medicine.
A letter full OF motherly love and
confidence was found in his pocket
1t showed that he had been game tc
the last, having reported good health
and prosperous business, but reveal
ed the fact that the interest on the
mortgage on the little home must be
paid soon or a toll bent old mother
would be forced out into the cold
unfeeling world.
When this heayen-laden out-pour
ing from a mothers heart was reaC
over the dead body of her boy it wa'
more eloquent and moved the hearts
of those rough miners and gambler:
AIT fto N-fe
the body of Caesar.
The slayer Of her boy contributed
all he had and others added to it un
til they made up neat little sun
and this is the letter they posted
with the draft they sent her:
Dear Mistress Baxter: AS yor'
suns executioners, we hereby Il
sendin' you the sumb Of $2,194.7'
which is his estate to date. We want
to brake the noos to you gentle st
we hereby tells you your sun Is ded
He was the most universal lovet
gent in this heer community and h
dies most heroick, saving of tn
lives of 3 females an fore kids in
terrible fire what devastated tn
largest saloone in our sitty. We ha
rlanted him with the hOnors of wa
an we drinks to him an an to yo'
most respectfully every evenin' arte
the mines is closed. We hereby not
ifys yer further that yer sun ha
money invested here wich vii
amount to sumb fifteen or thirt
dollars a weke witch will send We
accordin to yer instructions. We
a., well here except for bad drou
an hope you is enjoyin the sam
CRATE blessns so no more at presen
from yours trooly,
Compare the above letter with tn
following:
Mrs. Salhe Baxter, Dear Madam
Your son came here few month
ago and obtained employment as
hnolyLaener for one OF our leadin