The Washington herald., 1909-03-21

hold furniture. but our front yard reached
70 Canada, while our back yard was
tapped by the waters Of the Gulf OF Mex
leo.
The next day / went 70 the timber
along the Elk River, three miles distant.
for fence posts. 4 great wind came up in
the morning The little cabin rocked and
groaned in the gale and frightened Mrs
Bristow. She looked very miserable when
/ reached home that night The following
day the prairies burned for miles along
the rim of the northern horizon Huge
black clouds of smoke filled the air. shot
with fame, and ashes, driven by the wind
turned noon into twilight When / re-
turned in the evening Mrs Bristow was
in tears. I am sure / can never Ike Il
here she said. Let US go back 20 Ken
tucky
After that I took her with me TO the
timber I got FISH line and hook and cut
pole in the woods and she caught all the
bass we could eat a neighbor gave as
a venerable dog Inside Of a week he was
an old established member OF the family.
~One afternoon while l was chopping IN
the timber l heard the dog bark and
then Mrs. Bristow call. ran along a
path and met a wildcat Ii turned of into
the brush. Following the wildcat came the
dog and behind the dog was Mrs Bris-
tow with a cornstalk in her hand. She
had never seen a wildcat. you understand.
and thinking II a harmless animal was
driving II down 20 me SO that I could
catch II alive and take il home.
by hard toll and careful attention TO
business We prospered- And know We
were happy. No part OF our life since
has been quite so joyful and wholly sat
isfactory I bought some helfers. and
soon had a fine drove Of calves. Mrs
Brstow brought her saddle from Ken
lucky, and in the evening when our work
was done we would jump on our ponies.
and, riding far out into the prairie, would
bring the cattle in
My first crop was good. and we were
getting along splendidly. But I was am
bilious. and wanted 70 try larger things.
/ was mixed up with debating club. and
had found that / liked 10 argue and TO
think about other subjects than farming.
My father sympathized with me. but said
I couldn't do very much without an edu-
/
village Of Baldwin, and entered the pre-
paratory department OF Baker University.
We had lived about eighteen months on
the farm. had harvested two fine crops,
and had accumulated Sl,60O I'm money and
property We rented two rooms at Bald
win. and lived well, hut economically.
7 spent fve years at the university.
Of my summer vacations 1 peddled books.
walking from farm to farm and village to
village. getting many new Views OF hu-
man nature, suffering defeat and disap-
pointment. but making a good deal Of
money. A printer had started news
paper in Baldwin. BY and by there were
two papers Certain things in the Wiz
lage needed regulating. in my opinion.
and I also thought 1 might improve the
university. l got in the habit. therefore.
Of writing anonymous articles OF sug-
RestiOn and criticism. Near the close of
my junior year / found I could buy bO5a
papers for $1,000 I went 70 a man named
Dunlap-he had moved TO Baldwin in or
der to educate his chIldren-and asked
him 10 lend me the money. II was
brazen thing to do. because could give
him no security. I am not in the habit
OF lending money 10 boys MI Dunlap
said, but I viii let YOU have 81 .0e0 on the
reputation of your father, who is an hon
est man..
7 called my reorganized paper the
Baldwin Ledger: II is still one of the
going cOncerns in Eastern Kansas. In
the autumn. before the beginning OF my
senior year. / sold out and made $500.
Stin I was in debt when I left college
I had organized a Blaine and Logan club
in 1854. and taken some part in politics
Before I was graduated the sheriff of
;he county volunteered the information
that 7 might get place on the next Re
publican ticket as a representative of
the students.
I have had no thought Of Office for
myself. 1 said. but I wouldn't object 10
a seat in the legislature
II wanted an opportunity. you see. 10
make speeches. The sheriff. however. ad-
vised me TO run for county clerk Later
a slate was made at the county seat. and
was compelled to go there with some of
my friends and enter a protest and sound
q warning. I hired a lOng-legged dun
horse and cart Of the livery stable keeper
at Baldwin for SIS a day. payment 10
be made at some unknown time in the
future Ny campaign was personal and
vigorous, and I was nominated. TO the
surprise OF some Of the politicians. on the
third ballot. ! was clerk Of Douglas
County for two terms, at an average
yearly salary OF about S1.S00.
While a student at Baker University
heard young men talk about being
called to the ministry. I had thought of
preaching, but was also inclined toward