River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-19

rode over the divide and down Bear
creek. He rode all day through the
widest. toughest country he had ever
seen, and at sunset turned up Pinto
valley on a trail so stiff and narrow
that more than once he elected to get
off and walk.
1t was II o'clock when he dismount-
ed before a log cabin and was greeted
by the baying of two huge deerhounds.
Then Pat Glendon opened the door, fell
on his neck and took him in.
81 knew ye'd come. Sam. me boy,
said Pat the while he limped about,
building fire, boiling coffee and fry
ing bear steak THE young I'm amt
home the night. We was gettin short
of meat, and he went out about sun
down to pick up deer But I'll say
no more Wait till We see him. He'll
be home in the morn, and then you can
try him out There's the gloves. But
wait till ye see him.
LAS for me, I'm finished Eighty one
come next January an pretty good for
an ex -bruiser. But never wasted me.
self, Sam, nor kept late hours an burn
ed the candle at all ends. had
dashed good candle an made the most
of it, as you'll grant at lOokin at me.
And I've taught the same to the young
un. What do you think Of lad Of
twenty-five that's never had drink in
his life nor tasted tobacco? That's
him.
Hes a giant, and he's lived natural
all his days. Wait till he takes you
out after deer He'll break your heart
travelin' light. him a-carryin the out
fit and big buck deer belize He's
child of the open air an winter nor
summer has he slept under roof The
open for him. as | taught him.
1.-THE one thing that worries me is
how he'll take to sleepin' in houses an
how he'll stand the tobacco smoke in
the ring. IT'S terrible thing. that
smoke, when you're fighting hard an
gaspin' for air. But no more. Sam, me
boy. You're tired an sure should be
sleepin'. Wait till you see him. that's
all. Wait till you see him."
But the garrulousness of age was on
old Pat. and it was long before he per
mitted Stubener's eyes to close.
"He can run deer down with his
own legs. that young un." he broke
out again. "'Tis the dandy trainin'
for the lungs. the hunters life He
don't know much of else. though he's
read few books at times an poetry
stuff. He's just plain pure natural. as
you'll see when you clap eyes on him
He's got the old Irish strong in him.
Sometimes. the way be moons about,
it's thinkin' strong | am that he be-
lieves in the fairies and such like. He's
nature lover if ever there was one,
an he's afeard of cities. He's read
about them, but the biggest he was
ever in was Deer Lick He misliked the
many people. and his report was that
| they'd stand weedin' out That was
/ two years agone-the first and the last
time he's seen a locomotive and train
of cars
Sometimes it's wrong I'm thinkin' |
am, bringin him up natural It's
given him wind and stamina and the
strength OF wild bulls No city grown
! man can have lOok-in against him
I'm willin' to grant that Jeffries at his
best could "a worried the young un a
bit. but only a bit The young IN
could "a broke him like straw An
| he don't look it That's the everlasting
4 wonder Of it. He's only fine seem
ing young husky: but it's the quality
of bis muscle that's different But wait
tiII ~, coz, him fbaf,c oil
"A strange liking the boy has for
posias. an little meadows. a bit Of pine
with the moon beyond. windy sunsets
or tue sun o. nurns from the top of old