Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-03-04
THE RECOGNITION
OF JESSE BADL[IGH
BY II. II. GREEN

ming of the runaway he had started
for town with the potatoes already
referred to and string pillow which
was needing some repairs; at the
moment Petersen was approaching
the curve the pillow was swung over
the side of the wagon and fell to the
ground with grinding sound which
startled the team, they sprang for
ward on the instant, the lines were
jerked from his one hand and Peder-
sen was violently hurled from the
wagon at the turn necessitated by
the sharp curve in the road. The fall
had stunned him so effectually that
he had not yet come to his senses
when the boys found him. Jesse ran
to a creek near where the accident
had occurred and filling his hat with
water ran back as fast as he could
and poured it over the face Of the
unconscious man. Soon his eyes
opened and he sat up rubbing his
head and wanting to know where he
was and what had happened.
The boys helped him into the wag-
on and then they all proceeded on to
town where they left him at Arm
strOng's store.
Olaf Petersen was not a man OF
many words, he quietly thanked the
boys for what they had done for him
enquired their names and where they
lived, then passed into the store while
the boys fastened on home.
CHAPTER VII.
why, Jesse!" cried Mrs. Badleigh
as soon as she saw him-"where in
the world have you been to? I've
been mighty nigh frightened to death
about you; you went away soon as
you'd eat your breakfast, without
sayin' a word where you was goin'
an when you'd be back again, an
here it's nigh three o'clock. Where
you been to my boy?"
Then Jesse made her acquainted
with all that had occurred during the
day; how he had thought to please
her with the big sack of nuts he was
expecting to gather and get back with
before noon; the dust cloud in the
distance, the runaway horses, the
stopping of the team, the finding of
Olaf Peterson, and finally, the re-
turn to town. She was highly elated
with Jesses story, thankful that Hi
ram and her boy had been able to
stop the horses and perhaps save the
mans life, though it had involved
them in considerable danger which
might have proved serious as they
were only boys, and not as strong as
full-grown men.
If she, or either of the boys ever
hoped to receive any reward from
Petersen for what they had done
they never made any mention of it
to any one. To them, what they had
done was the most natural thing in
the world; therefore the incident was
closed and no further thought was
given to it,
In the evening the boys went back
to the woods after the nuts they had
left, and with them on their should
ers returned to town very happy that
the day had been so well spent.
1t must have been nearly, if not
quite four weeks later, as Jesse was
passing the store where the postoffice
was kept, the postmaster called him
in and handing him letter, said, Il
think this is for you, Jesse, just ex-
anime the address and see what you
think of it,"
The boy took the missive and after
closely observing the superscription,
said without any hesitancy-"I think
it must be, Mr.. Barnes, though the
spelling is not quite correct"
''All right, open 1T right here and
see if it is meant for you, and if it
is not we can seal it up again and
hold it for whoever it is intended
for"
Upon the envelope which looked as
if it might have been exposed to
damp and dirt for considerable
time, was written in characters, not
very legible-Jesse Badlie
Decora
The letter itself read as follows
Jung Teller
Ven ju an dot odder Teller got
holdt my horses ven de run away an
| ju find me sensles by de road side
and bring me bake to mine senses an
take me to tawn Diet time, tink ju
tn ban guide fellers, an je got ju guide
rifle an him shotgun witch je hope
ju vii like dem. ju vii find dem a
Armstrong; store.
Olaf Petersen
AS soon as ne had opened ant
read the letter Jesse fastened to thu
store where he was heartily greeted
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