Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-04-01
CHAPTER ONE
which Introduces the Shepherd OF
the Birds.

-
The day that Henry Smix met and
embraced Gasoline Power and went
up Main street hand in hand with 1t is
not yet forgotten. Their little journey
produced an effect on the nerves and
the remote future history of Bingville.
They rushed at a group of citizens
who were watching them, scattered it
hither and thither, broke down a sec
ton of Mrs. Risley's picket fence and
ran over a small boy. At the end OF
their brief misalliance, Gasoline Power
seemed to express it's opinion of Mr..
Sink by hurting him against tele-
graph pole and running wild in the
park until 1t cooled Its passion in the
fountain pool In the language of Hi
ram Blenlsinsop. the place was badly
"smiXed up" Yet Mr.. Sink was the
object of unmerited criticism. He was
like many other men in that quiet viii
lage-slow, deliberate, harmless and
good-natured. The action of his in
tellect was not at all like that of a
gasoline engine. Between the swift
ness of the one and the slowness of
the other, there was a wide zone full
of possibilities. The engine had ac-
complished many things while Mr..
Sinks intellect was getting ready to
begin to act.
In speaking of this adventure, Hi
ram Blenkinsop made, wise remark:
'My married life learnt me one thing"
said he. IF you are thinkin' of hitchin'
up a wild horse with a tame one. be
careful that the tame one is-the stout
est or it will do him no good"
The event had its tragic side and
whatever Hiram Blenkinsop and other
citizens of questionable taste may
have said of 1t, the historian has no
intention of treating 1t lightly. Mr..
Sink and his neighbours fence could
be repaired, but not the small boy
Robert Emmett Moran, six years old,
the son of the Widow Moran, who
took in washing. He was In the ma
ture OF sacrifice to the new god. He
became a beloved cripple, known as
the Shepherd of the Birds and alto
gether the most cheerful person in the
village. His world was a little room
on the second floor of his mothers
GUlldEC ONCLlVOAAn5 SAAC OAS AAO"CA EnA
den of Judge Crooker-his father hav-
Ing been the gardener and coachman
of the Judge. There were in this room
an old pine bureau, four-post bed
stead, an armchair by the window, q
small round nickel clock that sat on
the bureau, rubber tree and very
laxative little old tin soldier of the
name of Bloggs who stood erect on q
shelf with a gun In his hand and was
always looking out Of the window. The
day of the tin soldiers arrival the boy
had named him Mr.. Bloggs and dis
covered his unusual qualities of mind
and heart He was wise old soldier
it would seem, for he had some sori
of answer for each of the many ques
lions of Bob Moran. Indeed, as BOf
knew, he had seen and suffered much
having travelled to Europe and bacl
with the judges family and been SUM
for a year In a frog pond and beer
dropped in a jug Of molasses, bu
through it all had kept his look o
inextinguishable courage. The lionel,
lad talked, now and then, with tn,
ound, nickel clock or the rubber ire.
re pine bureau, but mostly CAV
ndfnces to the wise and genia
q. When the spring al
arden, with its birds an
me a source of Joy an
for Sthe little lad. Sii
n window, he used /
gho was gettin
sowing. Late
al