The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-11
Old Guide and Trapper Falls in Love With Shake
speare and Gives Y Yoke of Oxen for Book.
JIM BRIDGER.

ing to Bridger for a berth at his lodge,
the old man replied:
off you II herd my cattle I II see
that you re we'll fed. -
With winter coming on apace, the
man was glad to attach himself to
Bridger' s outfit at the terms,
Now it happened that this hired
man had an intimate acquaintance with
Shakespeare, and could quote at length
from his bestknown plays. Bridger
was illiterate, not being able to even
aptness at quotation pleased the old
man, and he compelled his hired man
to exercise his talent to the limit
Books to Bridger were fantastic and
fascinating creations, and he never
tired of listening to reading or quo
tatlon.
In the early summer of that year
there arrived at Fort Laramie, enroute
to California, certain New Yorker
HIS oxen were weary and wasted, and
he applied to Colonel w S. Bullock for
information relative to the purchase of
new yoke. Colonel Bullock sent the
New Yorker up to Bridger s lodge He
found the old frontIernman sitting in
'front.' of his cabin (not smoking, as one
might imagine. as Mr.. Leighton is au-
thority for the statement that Bridger
did not chew or SMOKEY. The ensuing
conversation went something like this:
Short and to Point.
"Good morning. Is this Colonel
Brdger?''
81 m Jim Bridger'
want TO buy yoke of oxen, and
Colonel Bullock sent me up to see
you.'
Bullock ought to know better''
The man from New York realized
that the conversation was not taking
a favorable channel, and, almost in de-
spair. began Il lengthy recitation of his
troubles from the time he left Omaha
until his arrival at Fort Laramie The
continuation of his journey was impos-
sible, he declared, unless be could
buy team of oxen. Bridger had been
harassed so much by pilgrims that at
this stage Of his career he had no pa
ticnce with tenderfoot He slowly
shook his head until the stranger re-
verted TO New York city, when he
manifested certain interest.
''Do you come from New York7n
be interrupted.
"Yes,H replied the New Yorker
eagerly.
Bigger town than st. Louis, Il
hear commented Bridger.
ga shade larger than ST. Louis, -
was the cautious reply.
Ever hear Of Shakespeare sud
denly inquired the old man.
The stranger was astonished. "Do
you mean Shakespeare. the poet7'' he
asked
81 mean the Shakespeare that wrote
book, replied Bridger doggedly.
Interested in Book.
Certainly | have heard of Shake
speare, and have n copy down in my
wagon, replied the New Yorker, i'm.
patiently. for he did not see how this
conversation could ever lead to the
consummation then uppermost in his
mind-the purchase of yoke of oxen,
He knew Bridger had bunch of oxen
ut his place, and he determined TO force
y sale
Why DON YOU sell me two oxen?"
| he insisted,
Bridger replied that he intended to
fatten them until December, and sell
| them to the fort
''Whnt will they be worth then!'|
was the New Yorker S next question
"Ahout 800 piece
"Well, Colonel, | II give YOU 5000 on
| the spot for a yoke of oxen, and you
won t have to fatten them.
The old man shook his head and
there WAS a long pause. Finally he
asked, with just trace of eagerness
in his voice
Is your book j genuine Shakespeare
| book?'
" "Certainly, replied the stranger
..WcN, said Bridgcr, "you go back
10 Laramie. get your book, come back
here, and If my hired man, who knows
| Shakespeare, SAYS your book is
| genuine Shakespeare book, | II give
yoa two good oxen and keep the
| book -
No. replied the stranger, gallant