The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-11-28
Thanksgiving at Rinsman's
Ranch
Continued from thtrd. page

C0nCt3l1te0 from tRtTU page
The boys did ample justice to the
dinner and after an hour arose from
the table with a unanimous vote
that it was the best ever. After the
wreck was cleared away, they sat
down to game of odd SIedge."
while they smoked Bills choice ci-
CARS; then they sang songs, Tony
entertaining them with some old Ger
man melodys accompanied by his old
wheezy accordian with the two ST.
lent keys. Bill sawed few old fav-
orites on the violin, like the Irish
washerwoman," Devils Dream"
and Haste to the wedding;" Dan
ny, Bud, and Joe, gave them some
fancy clog dancing, and then to wind
up the day properly they decided to
have each one give them story
fro m his life. To men like these,
when they were compelled to
furnish their own entertainment, a
good story is always in order, and
most of these men were good story
tellers, and had seen enough of the
world to make it interesting and still
not exagerate. Springer, the fore
man al Breeders was selected to act
as sort of toast master or moder
ator, and Immediately called on
The Sphinx" for the first story.
Lawrence tried to beg off but after
vainly protesting against the unani-
imous call of the crowd finally con-
sented. The boys all knew he was
an educated man, and had often
tried to get him to speak of his past.
but they had never been able to
draw him out, and especially had
there come no hint of his past, and
they were eager to have him COM
menoe. "I'll just add another chunk
to the fire and light the big lamp
and then we'll start the program, y
said Danny. Mo-, said Lawrence,
don't light the lamp Danny, for there
are some stories that are better told
without it, and this is one, besides
you might be very much disappoint-
ed in the story, and [ should not
care to have light enough to read
the look on your faces if the story
disappoints you. Boys, you often
rally me on my silence, my quiet
ways and lack of sociability, but
that is not my natural disposition.
l am naturally sociable. but have
felt as though | ought not to cult
vate the trait, when [ knew i was
not a good or safe companion for
any man. am not steadfastenough
to be either guide or leader; [ have
lost trust in myself, and dare not
risk myself in social way. Instead
of being strong friend | need the
safety of harbor, of strong, staunch
men, and the heavy anchor Of true
friendship. My father was a we'll
TO do manufacturer in a New Eng
land State; my mother was all that
any boy could desire in a mother,
and / was their only child for
whom they worked and planed, as a
good fathers and mothers always
do. At twenty>1 was sent to college.
and entered the course with all the
confidence and prospects for success
that any young man ever has.
Strong. healthy, high spirits, | had
great powers of application, and
was social favorite whenever l
chose to mingle with men and wom-
en- had such an abundance of ply
steal resources that | lived freely
and carelessy without regard to
the future; [ was always included in
the makeup of the athlets chosen
to represent and hold up the good
name of the old college; was leader
in all the social gaities and yet kept
ahead of my class. Thus passed my
first two years at college.
/ have often wondered since why
we should be so buoyed up with ig-
inorant hope and confidence in the
beginning of our livesr and then left
in our ignorance to make mistakes
which can never be redeemed or
rectifed. / was 80 sure Of myself
though my health and strength was
inexhaustable and that could carry
any weight that could be put upon
me. But the drain on my life, in my
wide awake resistless course, put
such a strain on my nervous system
that undertook to sustain it with
the use of stimulants,an in their use
began the habitual overdraft of life's