Newspaper Page Text
vgl. xvhi.
ATLANTA, GAs, TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL 6.1880.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
iij a. a. nim
AUTHOR Or “THE DENVER EEFBEU,” "ARI
ZONA JOE,” “THE TWO PARDS,” ETC.
reserved I
I.
A cumber of years ago there lived in the
Mexican settlement of Conejos, In sonthera
Colorado, neer the New Mexican line, an
American trader named Charles Wajson, a
widower, with one yonng son, a handsomo bog
of about twelve yean of age. Watson wai a
fairly prosperous man and a great favorite
throughout all the region from Denver to
Bento Fe, He bad retaluod—long as he had
lived on the border—tho well marked ways
and habits of his New England birthplace; so
he was always called “Yankee Charley.
There was hardly a miner in the mountains, a
ranchman in the parka, a cowboy on the range,
or a driver in the trains and the stage lines,
who did not know him by that name; while
of “Mr. Charles Watson” they had never heard.
With the Mexicans, on the other hand, who
thought him the beat Gringo west of St. Denis,
he was always Don Cailoa. As for the boy,
yonng Charley, be Was the pet of the neighbor
hood. Prospectors, on their way to Denver to
sell their claims, gave him ohoice nnggots; the
freighters brought him hooka from Kansas City
and “St. Jo;” “Kansu Dick,” the most noted
driver in Barlow & Sanderson’s line, showed
him how to hold the reins over four-horse and
six-hone teams, and “Panhandle Fete,” the
king of the cowboys, taught him to ride tho
‘ is colt which he gave him on his birthday.
“None ofyer blamed broncos,” said the
donor, “but a reel genooino ‘states' hoes, he is.”
Among all those rode men yonng Charley
grew up, good, strong and manly. To hare
spoken roughly to him wonld bavo been an
unpardonable offense, and a newly-arrived
hostler, who had once ottered an oath in hit
presence, caught a scowl from Kansas Dick
that frightened him nearly ont of his life.
“Don't yer never do thot agin,” said Dick,
when the boy had gone, “or tiler’ll be a cuss
pretty — - badly licked in this ycrc town.
The hoys hez tnk a thine to the.kld, an’ is a
lookin' out fer him. I don’t set np for no saint,
not to any great extent, hnt I allow that when
thai’a a little innercent chap round, thet ain’t
got no mother to care for him, It’s a-playin’ it
down pretty low on him to be lettln’
him hear cussln'nn sw carin’. Now yer know
me—an' thcWflMMM ot ,0 say.”
From Contjosrefanto l’o stretched a rough
road, hsTtnj*».ioic tSTm u trail, And t#”tbts
lonely route It happened tiint Watson, on a
certain autumn day, determined that ho must
jonrney. A consignment of his goods had been
sold in tho anolent city, and a lot of wool
could bo purchased on advantageous terms.
him in the cam of a (friend, and, riding ad no
Bpanieh mule and driving a pack-animal, he
began hie Jonrney, Ho was armed with riflo
and revolver, and, arid- from that, the ele
ments of danger entered not into tho calcula
tions of such a bravo and seasoned frontiers-
He croaeedthe New Mexican line andelowly
traversed tho weary, monotonona level of the
wldc-apreadlng mesa, with San Antonio Foak
rearing its lofty height, domed and wooded,
and in tho far alatanos ahead of him. Fussing
this and twining tho base of a short range of
high bills at the west, ho bad not left this
range more than flva miles behind him when
he saw, to the left of the trail, threo plnnacls-
like rocka rising over tho tops of straggling
groves of trees. Tree Piedraa at last. He had
never traveled by jnat this rant before, bat ho
knew it well from tho descriptions of others
and he counted on entertainment (or what
passed for that) for min and beast at “Frenoh
Frank’s.” This was a home one story high,
built of hewn logs, and containing six uneven
comfortable rooms. French Frank himself
was rather a mysterious character. At that
time ha sraa nearly seventy years old, bat
hale and strong. As his name implied bowse
a Frenchman; bat when, or how, or
why bu had left Franco no onokntw. A man
from Kansas who mat him once In Santa Fe,
said he had lived in the western part of the
state at one time, and had "a real goon-ap-
perin* French wife” and a eon. ‘Thli son was
a first-rate chap,” added the Kansan. “He
married a gall from down Emporia war and
want to live In them parts. 1 alien allowed
he an’the old man didn’t sorter hitch homes
together. 1 heered he had tbo hardest sort o’
luck aftenroide; wife died alter her child wee
horn, an’ graaahoppera come an’ ate his crop.
Folks was real sorry for him, an’ wonld a’
chipped in an’ helped him; hnt ho was kind o'
f rond like, an’ pullcil np stakes, an’ lit oak I
anno where. About a year after that the
old man's wife died, too, an’ho eold out an’
left; and Memo me if I ever see him or heered
from him till I struck him in tho plaza this
motnin’.”
Ho bad married a second wife—or Mexican
woman— bnilt the house at Tree Piedraa, and
lived there a long time. He raised a little hay
in the old crater, had a few cattle and sheep,
and furnished food, shelter and forage to occa
sional travelers. Of conns, the existence of
inch a house of call in this forlorn and desolate
region was soon well known, and the wayfarer
between Oonqfoa and Bute Fe counted with
confidence on a step at French Frank's.
Watson had never aaen the old men, nor was
ha altogether pleased with bis appearance as
ha emerged from hie door. Thcrowasaspecics
of servility in his effusive politeness, which
was by no means pleasing to tho frank and
Independeatman of the border, and an indefina
ble something in the expremion of hie smiling
face to causa distrust. Watson hardly allowed
inch impressions, however, to Inlnenot hie
actions. Afterattendlng to hU&utfmals, boen-
~ atehia sapper with s rel-
of waitin’an’eold it to another feller. When
tered the house and ate
lah. Thru ha took hia lest on a bench outside
the door, lit his pipe, and watched the western
aky until the alter glow was past sad the stare
came ont in the clear atmosphere. Ha thought
of Ms Jonrney, past and to coma: of the good
bargain awaiting him; then of hie boy whom
beloved to dearly, and for whose fits re he
was toiling; then of tbo wife whom he had
never erased to mourn lines be boiled her in
that quiet grave In the foot hills. At last he
rose with e sigh, knocked the eshea from kia
pipe and went to his rode eoueh. Then night,
solemn and still in those wild and desolate re
gions, settled npon the lonely boom at Tree
Bates.
“It’s mighty strange.'’ aid Kansas Dick to s
group of companions as they, one evening, left
Watson's daor.la Conejos, “that we aint heard
nothin’ from Charity. lea the little kid wax
gittin’ sort of onetly tonight; and I didn’t let
on thet Tom Carta come In this afternoon.
Ana Santa Fean’ aid the* Charley hadn’t
__ i thar, an’ the money from Us last
•spec 1 wux a lyin' thar for him; an’ ths greater
thet wui a keepia' the wool fox hia got tired
mlnnit I was struck all of a hap. Say, boys,
of we don't git no word tomorrow, some of ue
moat go an'look fer him, an’ don't youforglt
it! But I hope hell tom np all right.”
Aim! he never did. From the day that Wat
son cheerily bade hie eon and hia friends fare
well and took tbo trail southward, no one of
them ever saw hit face again. Over every
Inch of that trail, and for miles on each tide of
it, did powerful parties,tmckers, keen as sleuth
honnde, stern vigilantes, therm and volunteer
detectives, loyal and sorrowing friends—search
all In vain. Every human being living on or
passing over the road waa subjected to rigid
examination, and among them, of coarse, was
French Frank, With every appearance of
truth and candor, ho testified that a man an
swering the description of Wataon had pawed
the night at hit house, eaten hta breakfast,
commended the coffco of madame, paid what
was dua, and gone hit way. A dozen pair of
piercing, Jealous, suspicious eyes were on him;
the sharpest criminal lawyer in tho territory
waa questioning him; and a detective from
Denver waa searching hia house—all was in
vain. Not a cine waa found; andfoi
mining campa, In- barrooms, on tho
stages—everywhere—In the mountains, men
tallied ot the myatoriona fate of Yankeo Char-
The sorrow of hia poor boy waa almost too
much for oven the elasticity of early youth.
Kanaaa Dick paid hia troubles tho tribute of a
palr of molat eyes and a little choking In hia
voice as ho tola “tbo boys” how the poor Uttlo
fellow bad “tnck on,” and for a long time re
fined comfort. When he waa sent to hit frlonds
in the east, Dick insisted on aocompenyinghim
ss far as “York;” and when he rotarned*Jand
had ooo night been telling wondrous tales of
what ha called "Broadway Gnlob,” and “Walt
Street Canyon," ho quietly remarked:
"I’ll jest tell yer one thing, boya, an' that la
thet that kid’ll never take much stock in life
ontll he’s fonnd ont somethin’ about hit
father."
Eight long years had passed, and to Conejos,
ltd the country south of It had eomo auch
rapid and sweeping changes as only oocnr In
western America. The railroad had climbed)
tho Vets l’ass and gone westward, by For
Car land, to Alamosa; thonco southward,
through Conejos to Antonito, and on toward!
Santa Fe. The iron. hone had replaced tho
mule and tho burro, and reclining chair can of
tho latest pattern were an agreeable substitute
for the Concord coach. There hod been many
changes, too, among “tho boys” at Co
nejos, Eomo of them, like Pan-handlo Pete,
had died with their boots on at ths hands of
their kind; others had aonght bash Holds and
pasture* now; others, again, remained, adapt
ing themselves, at best they could, to the al
tered condition of affairs, and opposing only
a feeble and wholly Impotent rcsutunctrZo tire
luexoiabitsprMIbof rru»«§Ar- Kansu DVik
htatsbin.Ilme by tho forelock. Boeing his
occupation about to come to an cud. ho ns
ho phrased it, “caaght on to thet thar railroad
racket” and become a sub-contractor. One
afternoon he appeared in Goncjoa and eonght
st me of his old “pards.”
“Brara,” said he, "maybe yer know what Fro
come he re fhr end msyho -yer don’t, bat I’m
sgoin’ to tail yer. Some of yen'll romomber
tha kid that poor Yankee Charley left behind
when he passed in his ohecka eight years ago.
Wa-al, hc’sgrmvtd up to ho a yonng feller of
twenty-one, in’ he’s got book lamin’, an'
knows engineering, an’ Mams me of he ain’t
a’comin’ out to work on thli yore road; an’
bo’ll be here tomoarow. He ain’t never gone
back on ire, an'he's been a-writin' mo nil
along, an’ ho alien said that he allowed he'd
light ont an’ strlko the old place Jest as soon
as be could. Let’s drink hia health.”
Tha next day, rare enough, Dick met Char
ley at the station. In face and figure ha had
kept the promise of hit boyhood, rat there ms
a shade of gravity about him unusual in an
athletic youngster. Ho wrong Dick’s hand
with a grip which apoke wall for his muscle,
and bad a kind greeting for all who claimed
hia acquaintance. Dick had been unusually
silent. At the first opportunity he whispered
to tho man next to him:
ef ho ain’t the livin’, brcithin,’ Im
ago of hia ikther!”
Next day tho two started by rail far the
headquarters of the engineers of ths “Alba-
qnrqne extension,” which were carlonsly
enongb, at Tret Pledres! On the way, Char-
asked Dick If this were not Just tho rente
poor father bed taken and apoke with
strong feellngof hta hona to learn something
of hie fate. With this reeling, however, it.wae
plain that aorao other was contending in hit
mind, ond Dick was not long In hearing that
Charley bad met a beautiful young gir 1 In
New York jnat before starting from thonco
and bad come with her for a cootiderabie part
of her westward Jonrney.
“She stopped at Emporia to visit tome
friends,’’ said be. "Her name la Mario Dn-
clicrae. Her father waa French, but her
mother came from that part of tha country.
Sbo told me ebe had an old grand fathor some
where in this region and that ono of her coas-
ina waa going to bring her ont hen, in a abort
time, to hunt him up. Her father 1< dead,and
she thought she ought to see her grandfather,
although aha didn’t know much about him.
Bho baa promised to—well, to write to mo.’’
Instead of the lonely epot of eight yeartbe-
fore. Tree Piedraa was now a buy railroad
station, and between the new iron read and
the old trail were onginecra’ quarters, ware
houses and boarding nooaes, near which had
grown up a shabby and diarepntahla town.Sur-
roondlnga made but little difference, however,
to the yonng engineer, enjoying hia lint ax-
perienca of active field work, and hoping for
the promised letter. One day he and Dick
had been occupied some miles to ths south
ward, and on their return, Dick went alone to
hia quarters. On the way be met an acquaint
ance.
“Hed n daisy picnic hers today,” laid the
latter. “On the train thar corneas pooty
a little galas you ever sot yer eyas on;
an’ the feller that wax with her, hs 1st
on that they coma to see French Frank.
She'went errand to the old fellow’s shebang
an’ he wax everlastingly broke np at satin’
her. Bone of the boya wax a sayln’ that it
wsru’t a sice place for a youag gal. Yeraee,
aance tho old man’s Mexican win died, that’s
a brother of bar’s tbet’s hed him nader
hia thumb like, an* stuck him ter money
all the time. Yon’ve seen the core; Jose
Santee is hta name. He’s a bed lot
from the word Bet' He's the bead of a gang
of greasers that's a goto’ to make ns trouble
afore long. There's plenty of’em; an’I allow
they’re pnttiB’up a job to atart a ofa
riot tome night Ilka tonight, when thar ain't
many of the railroad boya round, an’ to rob
right an'left. They say old Frank's got slot
of money stowed sway in hia house. Wa’al,
•ea yer later. Goodbye.”
Dick walked slowly towards tha engincar’a
office. The toll moon waa JBeIeebrightly,
they hurried acmes the mean. “I allow it’s
yer call to go. All the same, I wish yer were
miles stray from this yore plaoe.”
In two mlnntea more, tho party. Joining a
motley crowd of other Americans, worn In con-
fllct with a large band of Mexican desperadoes.
Dick was In hia element. Ha masaed hia men
and led them in a charge before which the
Mexicans were soon in pelt and headlong
flight. In tha wild rash too panning party
hed just passed in the rear of e largo one-story
Lullalng, when they heard s woman's voice
ring ont therefrom, In a shrill cry of terror,
then several shots. Dick stopped In a second.
“Here, Charley, eomo along with me. yon
and” (be named threo or fonr more.) ‘The
rest ef yon kin jlat drive the Oraaaen Into
the Bio Grande.” Another wild cry rang from
the house, jnat as they reaohed the rear door.
Dick sot hia shoulder against It and, with a
mighty effort, burst it In. From It an ontry,
with a door on each side, led to a large room.
At ono of theto doors Charley aaw s white-
robed figure appear—then shrink baok—as
they rushed pact. Jnat as they entered the
largo room two or three men succeeded In ee*
caiilng by the front door. Another rose from
a kneeling position, and, quick u lightning)
fired at '
fortune' .
fell dead before the revolvers of two of tha
men. It waa a torrlblo scene. Bj
the aide of • largo chut whlcl
hod been dragged from under hie
hed and broke open, and In defending which
he had been mortally wounded, lay French
Frank, Reaping painfully. In tho open chests,
over which the dead ruffian had been stooping,
were money and Jewelry. Charley ran to lift
the old man, whoso eyu were cloeed, Dick
bad bent over the dead man, when, with an
exclamation—half aery of mrprlso—ho aolsod
n gold watch which lay Jn tho chest. At that
n gold watch which ley in tho chest. At that sjis* sho sHdcsnlong.’"
very mcmc^il^Vuiikouaitod his eyes, Uoj . “.yIt, Mill belay !o".v rn watch. Mr. Blsok
f hdiHJ iiiid*ho t»i»akc ciojio'lung, iio dirt, on biiucl*/ no uoiW
pc* abort, struck his hand on hh side aodb*
gan talking audibly and vehemently to him-
•elfi
Tvs got It,” said he, “an’ a earned fool an’
idiot I wax not to have caaght on to it baton.
This is the little gal, dead rare, that Charley
met an’ got ao darned mu hed on. Thet that.
| INDISTOfCT PBIHT
chap from Kansas told na that old man
Frank'a son married down to Emporia. Mario’e
a French name. She’s an orphan, aha wanted
to find her grandfather, an’she's come ont to
this one-lione railroad camp, toll of greasers
an’ gamblers an’ wnaa—an’ she's foundFreneh
Frank! An’ Charley ain’t a hundred yards
away. Wa’al I’m if hero ain't a pretty
cirena!” He entered the office, hie honest face
unusually sober; so much so that Charlie ral
lied him on it.
Another hoar had passed, and thoywero
busy with mapa and estimates, when they
hcaid tho reporti of revolvers Before thaw
had reached tho door, It waa thrown open ana
one of their men harrledly entered.
“Turn ont hoye,” he cried, “the greasers are
taking the town!”
In that Ufa emergencies were frequent and
men always ready tor them. As a matter of
maao lor ine near, iocs
Charley at hia lido, he etc
then, almost with a algh,
the thsolder and took ths
THE HACK SNAKE AID THE WOLF
A Plantation Legend.
RV JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
(Copyrighted, 1880, by 8. 8. HcCIoro.]
“One time,” (aid Uncle Bemus, pitting the
“noses” of tho chunks together with hia cane,
so aa to make a light In hia cabin—“one tlmo
Brer Babbit en ole Brer Wolf was gwino
down da road torgo’er, en Brer Wolf, he ’low
dattimrewnz mighty hard on monoyaknee.
Brer Babbit ha ’gran Tong wid ’In, he did, dat
timeswus mighty tight, on he up on asy dat
’twna'ln about much ca ho kin do tor tor make
bofe sen's meet na’low, he did—’’
‘"Brer Wolf, youer gittin’ mighty ga’nt, en
he clapped him on j| 'iwont be so mighty long fo’ we'll hatten be
the lead again.
J tnck up aa pot In ie po’-honac. W’at mako
die’, sex Brer Babbit, scree, T bo Mesa ef I kia
tell, ksxe yer er ell ao crcetars gittin' gs’nt,
wiles all do nptaica la a gittin’ seal fit. No
longer'n veetiddy, I as cornin’ along thoo do
woods, w’en who should I meet bnt ole B"*
Charley, tho “HvlDg, breathing imago'
the unto who had worn that watch eight
years before, when ho rodelato Tru Ficdras,
With a cry ot despair, and the oonvnlalve
strength of a dying man, ho tore himself from
the yenng ftUow’s supporting arms and rose
to hia knees.
“No! no!” ho almost ahriokod, “not mo! not
me! Listen gentlemen for the lore of Ood, lets-,
ten, Uestcn, good gontlemon! It vas ’e, ast
Fc'olo’rnt who lie thoro—Joso Santos. ’E vas
[rre, In als ’ousc, vcnUonsIorCharloycomo.an’
mo too, cef I say cvalro ono vord. Eight you,
I know not peace. Every day, every night 1
om in terror. Now’s come rob mo,'o shoot
mo. Hclas! je incuts. Pardon—pardon—pries
pour mol! pries! —
Ho fell forward and wasdead. From behind
him came a long drawn algh. Dick looked np.
* Great God!” he muttered. “She mult havo
heard it all!’’
Charley turned hia head. There) in her
youth and twenty, but with hands elapsod, and
eyes fixed and staring, and an expression of
terror on her face, was Marie Dneheene! Four
fellow, bo was shocked, stunued, dosed, but
he moved towards bar.. With a cry sho waved
him off and fled from the room.
Dick roso to tho occasion.
’'Boya/’eald he, “honor bright not a word of
bis. Yer ain’t seen nothin' an’ yer ain't hserd
cthln’. Chuck a blanket over tho poor old
hap, dreg thli onsa's body away, an'atop ont-
side. Don’t letno ono eomo In.” Then (he
turned to Charley, who stood with his faco
everted and bis band ovor hia ayes. Dick put
hia arm over hia shoulder* and spoke with a
rode, bnt Infinite tenderness.
“It's mighty rough on yer, my boy,” said
he, "hut yer mnst brace ap. Yer must remem
ber thet yrr father— who wus ss whit# a niaa
ca the good Lord ever nude—ha went to glory
H year ago, and tho cnaa thet klllod him—tor
the old man hedn't no call to lie when he wua
a’djln’—bo’a passed In hit chocks. It’s tbs
or little gal yer want ter think about. Old
ank was the grandfather lbs come to find.
In this blamed rough place. Her father an'
mother wnz ex good ex gold—I knowed ’em. I
allow sho heard what tho old man said, an'
►he’ll Jeat go an’ break her heart over It, poor
little thing, onlesa ye’re mighty tender with
her. Jeat yer go now an' spsak to har. Kind
o' comfort her, es yer might any, an' I’ll sand
ono of the boys tor my partner's wife; aba’s a
good woman, an’ she’ll coma an’ taka her
home.”
Charley turned round and claepod Dick’s
hand In both of hia.
“God bless yon, my dear old fallow,” he
said, with hia heart In hie voice. “I only
bore she’ll listen to me.”
III.
A few yean ago, when I was rapidly riding
in the general manager's ear, over' a western
railroad, I asked him to whom was due tha
credit of constructing a splendid viaduct.
“Our chief engineer,” said be. "IVation it
hia name. Yon met him at my honae.”
“Do yon mean the man with that lovely
wife,” I asked.
“Yea,” be replied, "and aha’a as good aa the
to pretty. There waa something vary carious
stoat their acquaintance and marriage-
something about a diced strange affair at
Tree Piedraa.”
How Private Raymond Escaped.
Frc-m a Washington Letter.
I heard a story the other day about the late
Delegate Raymond, of Dakota, who died early la
tha yew, which to quite romantic. Ha waa Iba
last man to ass General McPherson alive at the
battle of Atlanta. Be was lost in the act or deliv
ering a message to the general whan a party of
confederate horsemen came npon them, and Mc
Pherson was riot down and Raymond was taken
prlfoner and lent to Andenonvllle. After he had
bean than a yew or ao than was an axehangaof
prisoners, and the whole body ot men In tha prison
were asrsmbled In line to haw read the 1W of
those who ware to ha eachaagad. Those whose
names were rtsd were ordered to answer “Here.”
and step forward. Whan the officer In charge was
sotng over the roster be called oat the name otooe
who had died the night hefts*. Raymond had the
presence of mind to anaww "Here," In.tba glace
of the dead man. sad stoppedJoewwAaad eD
^^iellCTpSoD^toWweteanMoaenerooa
togivt Man away. He was exchanged nqder the
name of bto deal eeaundr, rammed aesth and re
entered the army.
wid der riba growia’ torgo’er, wilee da reptnlec
layin’ up In do ran dee nattally fattenin’ on
der own bslneia. Ycssar, dat what I ’lowed.'
“Brer Wolf, ho say, be did,dat ef do reputes
sms gittin’ do ’vantage er de creature dat
away, dat bit twna ’boat time fer dw clean oat
da reptnlea er leaf de country, an* he ’low,
toddermo, dat he already fer ter jiao In wid
de patter-rollers en drive mn out
“Bnt Brer Babbit, he ’low, ho did, dat do
lies’ way fer ter gtt ’long wnz ter fine out
whar'boats de reptules bad dorimoko-’oase en
go In der en git some w de vittlea w’at by root
rights b’lonffo ter do crcetars. Brer Wolr say
may ho dls do bos’ way, kare of do raptorial git
word dat da patter-rollers to a cornin’, doy’ll
take en bide der ginger-caEee, en der aimmon
bear ea dar watalraamea, so dat do erectors
can’t git uro. By db time dey corns to do forks
trde road, en Brer Babbit ho went one way en
Brer Wolf ho wont de yother.
"Whar Brer Wolf wont,” Undo Bemus went
on, with increasing gravity, “do goodness
knows, bnt Brer Babbit, be wont on down da
road todra he own honae, on wile* ha waa
lippttln’ long, nibblin’ a bite yer en a bite dar,
he year a mighty knao foes In de woods lie
lay low, Bier Babbit did, on llsaon. Ue look
sharp, he did, and bimehy ha kotoh a gllmp or
ols Mr. Black Enako gwino long thoo do grass.
Brer Babbit he lay low an witch him. Mr.
Black Snake crope ’long, ho did, doa llko he
’nz gram . Brer Babbit ssy ter bisao’fi
“ ’111! dar goes one or de reptnlea, en-ex sho
whar Hey wnz a groat. Mg poplar trea.
Babbit, he cropo on Iris bully on follow long
utter. Mr. Dlsrk Bunko tuck’n circle all
’ronn’ dc tree, cn don ho stop cn sing ont;
“Watsilla, wntollla,
Con ssrto wo!
Wits! I la, watnlllo,
Conurlo wo!’
“En den, moo’ fo’ Mr. Babbit kin wink hs
eye, a door srat wna in do treo flow’d open, en
Mr.Black8nakotuckin’crawlin- Brer Bab
bit Tow, hs did:
“Ah-yi! Dar whar yon stay! Dar whar
yon keep* yo’aimmon bcori Dar whai yon
hides yo’ backbone cn amr’ ribs. Ah-yi.’
“W’en Mr. Black Snake went In tha house,
Brer Babbit crope up, hs did, en linen far ter
•eo wat ha kin year gwino on In dar. Bnt ho
ain’t year nothin’. Blmoby, wiles hs acttln’
’roun’ dar, he year do same song—
’"IVstellta, watsilla.
Con ssrto wo!
Watsilla, watollla,
('Ontario wo!'
“En moa' 'fo Brer Babbit kin hide In do
weeds, de door hit flewd open en ont Mr.
Black Snake slid, lie did ont, he did, en (ltd
off, cn after he git ont er right. Brer Babbit,
be tnck’n went back ter de poplar tree for ter
see ef be kin git In dar. Ho bant roan’ en he
hnntroan', en yet ain’t fine no door. Den he
set op on ho behind leg», olo Brer Babbit did,
rn low—
“ 'Hey! w’at kinder contrapshun dish yert I
seed a door dca now, hut dey sint no door dar
now.’
“OIo Brer Babbit scratch ho head, ha did,
cn bimeby hit come Inter be nilno dat maybe
dc song gat sump'n n'ar tar do wtd It, on wid
dat, be chnncd up, be did, an ring—
“‘Watsilla, waMlls,
Dandailo. wo-bsw!”
Time hsaay da fit*’ pert de door aorter open,
hut we’n be lay da las' part hit slammed shut
agin. Den h* enne up eomo mo’;
“‘Watsilla, watstlla,
Bandailo, wo-haw!'
'Tima ha eay do foe' part da door open little
ways, Lnt time he ray de las’ part hit slammed
skit again. Dcuttrer Babbit'low he’d hang ronn’
dsreuflno out wat kinder hinges dat ardoer
ear. a twingin’ on. So he stay’s round’dar’
dedhl, twcl bimehy Mr, Mask Snskacamo
'loogback. Brer Babbit crop* np, h* did, on
he jt ar ’im ring de aong:
”‘Watsilla, watsilla,
Conurlo wo!
Watsilla, watsilla,
Comarto wo!’
Dan de door open, an Mr. Black Snake, he
slid in, in Brer Babbit, he lipped off In de
nnehca rn rang de aong by hiasc'f. Drake
went home cn tuck acme res', en sex’ day he
went heck, cn, w'en Mr. Black Snake come ont
rn went off, Brer Babbit, he tock'n ring da
song, en de door flewd open, ca in be. want.
He went la, be did, en wen be got In dar*, he
fine loteer goodies. He fine cakes m ■usages,
mill sorter nice .loin's. Den he eomo ont.
cn de nex’ day be went en tote Old Brer Wolf,
rn Brer Wolf, he Tow dat, bein’ ea tlmec to
bard, be bTlcve he’ll go long en aample some
s r Mr. Blacc Snake doin’*.
“Dey went, dey did, an soon esdexfinsdet
Mr. lliack Snake Is gone. Brer Babbit he sing
de song, rude door open en In he went. He
went in dar. he did, an be gobbled np bis bal-
Jytol, en wilee he doin’* dto Brer Wolf he gal
lop ’ronn’ cn 'roan', tryla' ter ter git In. But
de dear done riamchct, en Brer Wolf ain’t
know de song. Bimehy Brer Babbit he com*
out. be did, lickin’ 1>« chepc en wipin’ he rant-
tub, en liter Walt ax Tm w’at de name er
goodness to da reason baain’* 1st Tm go in
'Jong wid 'im.
“Brer Babbit, he vow, bsdid.dstheapeckted
any gump 'ad know dat somebody got tor stay
outride cn watch wilesde yuthcr on* wus on da
Inside. Brer Wolf aay he aia’t thunk ar dat,
rn den k* ax Brer Babbit far ter 1st Tm in, an
please be so good er ter stay rat dar en watch
witos he git come cr de goodies.
“Wijd dat Brer Babbit, h* rang de rang:
’"Watsilla, watsilla,
WataUia, waurito.
“H* rang de aong. he did, an de doer lowed
open, cn Brer Wolf he lipt In, on ’gun ter gob;
Me op da geedlee. Brer Babbit, he stayed
outsidr.cn make like be gwino ter watch.
Brer Weit, be e’t en he •> tn he keep on a
ratin’. Brer Babbit, he tack he stan’ off la d*
bathe*, rn bimeby be year Mr. Black Snake
a-riidia’thoo degrees. Brer Babbit, h* ain’t
aay nothin’, lie low ter htoaolf, he did, dat ho
woe dar to watch, cn dat wnt he gwino do ef
do good Lord spa’r Tm. So ho sot dar en
watch, an Mr. Black Snake, he come a-rildln’
up ter da honae en ring dc cong, en de door
flowed ofeen cn In he went.
"Brer Babbit act dar en watch ao hard, hs
did, dat it look like ho eyes wna gwino tor pop
out. Twant long ’fo* hu year aump’n o’er llko
• scnfflsgwlneonln poplar tree, on, fas’ news
yon know. Brer Wolf come tamberiln’ ont. Ho
eomo tumherlin’ ont, he did, on down ho fell,
hare Mr. Black Snake got ’im tied hard an fast
so he ain’t bin ran.
“Den, utter so long a time, Mr. Black Snako
tnck en tie Brer Wolf up ter a Urn’, en dar dat
erector awnog ’twlx* de hevin en de yeth. Ho
swung en (frayed, en eve’y time be strung Mr.
Black Snake tuckTi lash ’Im wid be tall, in
eve’y tlms he lash Tm Brer BabMt hollar ont,
he did:
Serve Tm right! aarve Tm right.’
. “En I let yon know,” arid the old man, re-
filling hia pipe, “dat w’en Ur. Black Snake
glttboowid ' *"
goodies."
I dat creator he ain’t want no mo’
GROWS THE WILLOW.’
A Pastoral In Prose by a Laay toibr.
‘^WfifPn&hyS ^ U ^’
Stole my true love, steal hsr back agaiu-
Orten growl tho willow tree,
Green grows the willow."
You probably never heard that rude pastoral
sung. Wall, than is very Uttle in It, I moat
confess, hut tha lut line has something about
It that touches a tender chord in my rasccpti-
bio heart. I have heard It rang when Jeat and
song treat merrily round; when bright eyes
and happy faces held high revel in the aoUtnds
of tha great pine forest, and tho lightwood
knot fin biased and crackled right merrily.
Happy creatures! Dancing like motes In a
sunbeam, they had their day, and for aught I
know they are still swinging around the same
sweet circle.
“Green grows tho willow trea.” It reminds
mo of a llttl* Incident. 1 hav* a very doar old
friend, who Uvea In a Georgia city. He did
not always slave st % desk, however. One day
not many months ago ho asked me If I had
read a certain book. Quito odd, hot t had not.
Ue urged me to read It, and I did so, and whllo
I havo a general Mon of plot uml characters,
and tho other paraphernalia which men cm*
ploy to esprere their opinions, j don’t know
that I could tell much about it. But there li
one line that ocean and recurs In that Uttlo
vulnmo that la ringing in my sanl today, and
I can never target that line. Very el raple, loo,
tho young maiden sighs:
"Western wiud, when will you blow?”
Oh, what a world of hops, roar, anticipation,
world, r and spcrrihttioM -s involved in ftmt
simple qnrsttoii. Somethin!- good or hod -
will happen when tho “western wind" bogins
Mewing. 1 eaivaiiuiwtM* Iter as aim hum on
the ola rickety K*to. xaso* down, thp tone
beautiful, Mtii-.eyed apring is tin-"sweet vat
jilt' u of lire tm-pllig willow Unit standi down
at tho id go of tho deep wood, and with half-
rioted eyes fhonat.inds and dreams of tho
wt nder that la slowly unfolding, m.d she d.irta
and alghs;
"Western wind, when will you blow?”
Very few dty folks know how the willow
tree gnwtgreen. All the loog,"drear winter
its trailing branches sweep the aodden earth,
and wild winds torn and tear Its tender treaios.
All tho long winter itc rough brown trunk
atendc bare and unlovely, down by tho low,
dank roarthta.
Bnt by and by tho yonoji queen regent ap
proaches and her loyal ratileeta must appear
In fill! dress uniform. It must be of new ma
terial, ssd It muat be without spot or blemish.
Tho willow ponders and pore* over the
knotty problem. The elm, hasty frllow, or
ders hia dreas, gets half of It on, and then
something happens to tbs tailor, and Sir Elm
standi shivering In tho nallld sunlight, and to
buffeted by all tho rads galea that pass at
camp followers foraging In tho rear of King
Winter’s retreating army,
The nine tra* la a grim old veteran that
care* llttl* for style, yet be brashes up bto
rpaalettes a little.
Lord Chancellor Oak orders bis splendid
robes of state; and even tho marlnos, High
Admiral Magnolia, Commodore Ash, and Cap
tain Beech, nil leave their orders with tho
tailor, and the common sailors, tha rough old
gum trora, brash the mod off thair (root* and
smooth their ehaggy lialr.
Bnt tbo willow—"Green Grows tho Willow
Tree.” Tho willow broods over Its tronblas.
It to to bo a pago to her msjesty, the qoeen
X t. Bnt there Is no one near to help tho
v ont of Ita troubles. Tho Ikvorito pago
seldom enjoys Immunity from envy and per
secution. So tho willow has lived apart from
Ita fellow*. Day by day ths sun climbs a
little higher, and hie eye growa brighter a* hia
strength Increases. There standc the willow
trembling with anticipation. Tha banilda are
rommg. Moat anxiously the willow whlspare
to itself, "Western wind, when will yon blow?"
For It knows that when the weet wind blows,
It to the signal of tho arrival of the young mis-
tress.
At last It cornea, Not in the day, while tho
birds are rehearsing, ao that the orchestra may
ha In perfect harmony, but In the deep
and dnsky light that divides tho day from
the night, comee the first faint murmur.
There to n distant hnm of many voices.
There la the flatter of eomo dosing warbler,
and then tha soft, sweat await of tha western
wind. The qneen Is coming, and thn palace
most bo Illuminated. In tha bine domo of
hraven or* bang ten thousand glowing lamp*
and through the dark woods tho lira Aloe go
flitting hither and thither, and
’Green grows the willow tics!”
mortal* wake In the morning and are astern,
ished at the light and beauty that pervade* the
earth. Kaver before havo the birds rang a*
sweetly; never before hae nature opened her
treasure bouses and displayed sneb a dueling
array of crown Jewele; never before has tho
air been ao richly laden with delicate odors.
Death and desolation ar* banished and Ilfs
and light arc tha chief counsellor* of th*
yenng qnaeo,
-How was It, done? In what mtnner waa
tho ri>*ago wroogbtr’we ask and there to none
to answer.
We little dreamed that whll* mortality
slept the spirit# were bailed in making inch
rapid change*. We look abroad, and there la
the elm, and th* ook and tbo plot awl all,
half arrayed In their holiday dress, nodding
and smiling, and down by thn marsh stands
our modest price, ear willow treo, with a fall
dress of dolfetto green And thn west winds are
lingering near,and th* bias-eyed queen regent
from her throne on tho bill, emtlee her royal
approval an Ihto, the moat fkitbfni of her •ob
jects.
“Green grows th* willow tret,
Grain grows the WIBow.’’
Macon, Oa. M. M. Fouom.
A New York reporterwent ont to tnterviow
several aldermen. We extract tho following
sentences from hia report.
••Alderman rtnk was found In a wine room near
W “AUteSn*n Shields was found In onaof hia liquor
“^Mdeiman Farley was found In bto barroom la
IhoBoweiy."
And ao on.
A NIGHT OF TERROR.
By Frank Park.
[Copyrighted, 1888,by 8. & McClure.]
The chief sufferer of that torrlblo night,
though dead these ten year*, waa a lifelong ac
quaintance of my father, to whom ho related
tbtoertotoof bto life shortly after Ita occur
rence. The man In question, Mr. Caldwolt,
was then a man of family, twenty-sovou years
old, with hair aa black as the raven's wing. Ho
held the poeition of arardon of the sis to insane
asylum at vllle, a placo filled with patient
of every degree of Insanity, from tho raving
maniac to the babbling idiot.
Ono cold evening In December, ’SI, i reform
officer drove ont to tho long, low brick build
ing, and pinned ftt th* keeper's ebargoamld-
dle-egid lady,privately tcIUnghlmtiiatthough
at times apparently aanc.os aho appeared then,
eho waa really a dovil Incarnate, and was not
to bo treated for an instant. Tbo koeper took
the lady, and placed her in n strong cell, In
spite of lier earnest protostations of sanity, lire
inrfirifildo characteristic of ponons similarly
affected. Seeing that sho was aocuro and wall
provided for, he returned to nia friends, and
passed tho remainder of the afternoon laughing
and talking with hia wlfo and threo little chil
dren.
At six o'clock the old, colored waitress, in
whom every confidence was placed, began to
make tho rounds of tho colb, to minister to
the wantsof tho Inmates. Unfortunately she
had not been cautioned in regard to the new
Inmate of cell 13. Nearing that room aho hoard
lamentations of the moat pitiful kind, and was
told between smothered sobs that
the Inmate waa "dying for a Uttlo
fresh air, and for (tod'a s iko to lot her
draw ono pare breath.” Moved by suoh
entreaty, tho old woman cautiously unlocked
tho door and Opened It a llttlo. Instantly sho
was seised by tbo throat, Jerked Into tho cell,
clinked and beaten till apparently dead, roll-
bed of her keys anthloikcd in by tho straugor,
who now by her fuumiug mouth nml savugo
expression showed tbo real demon, (Uniting
over her lucreaslhl treachery, abn moved noise
lessly among tho cells, unlocking them and lib-
erntirg their fiendish inmates,svim, fustic tivoiy
catching her dosigti. with doathdiko silouco
crcptflnto (Hits dimly lighted hall, and stood
eagerly watching her aotmn. Whon aho had
liberated somo forty or fifty of those sverso
than ravage brutes, alia led them along tho
upi>or hall to the head of tho stairway, whoro
sho stopped ns If puzzled.
While all this was going on, tho unsuspect
ing warden was enjoying tho poaco ami cool-
foit of hia cheerful Aresfdo. IIu sal fondling
his youngest child un his knee, stroking hta
curls and patUngkiaroeyjlheeka while the
Huddciijy hd rose to
pln(m,g tho liuio oiro ,hi ltd mothor’s arms,
stood intcntlyiiatonlng whito a deadly pallor
ovi ror-r, ml Inn fin e.
“John, in heaven's name, what to tbo nut
ter?” asked tho astonished wlfo.
Sho needed no reply, for at that instant tho
shuffling clank of dragging chains on tho half
stain smote her rata; and eatchiog its awfitl
meaning Instantly, with "God save na!” on
her llpe, she clasped her children to het bos
un and sank on tho floor.'
Her husband, aware or the manlao'e intonso
hatred and dread of hia keeper, knew they
would not pass hi* door without a furious at
tempt to destroy him and bto family. Ho
quickly donhle-locked and barred tho aplkod
cakan door, and with bto revolver in ono
hand and an ox In tho other, atood anxiously
waiting.
The maniacs moved clowly and with ns llt
tlo noise as possible till they reached tho wsr-
den’edoor, when euddenlr, by grasping thn
knob, they turned it quickly, and throirihem-
leivcs violently against It several times. Find
ing It secure, their fury know no bound*.
Some dashed madly at tho wall, othars beat
the spiked door with their clenched fists,white
some of tho more vicious and cunning second
a long I-cam, which they rammed against tho
door. This action waa hailed with tho wild
est cheers, and all made way for this moro
promising venture, and aa on* foil oxluuatod
anothsr would spring to bto placo. Finding
their ulmoat endeavors, however, unavailing
to bnrat open the door, they turned tho
keam agrlosttha brick wail, which after pro
longed hammering, began to crumble. Aa
brick by brick was displaced they manifested
their biood-tblnty eagerness by redoubled
yells and more desperate efforts.
Meantime, behind the warden on tho door
knelt bto wife; Imploring heaven for deliver
ance, before him struggled a raving hand of
demonr, with nothing hnt a fast crumbling
brick wall between. With a faco of mar
ble he atood watching tho place where tho
beam ws* doing Ita work. Presently tho
beam shot through tbo wall and waa
Instantly drawn hack with a mad ahrlelc of
victory. One of tho meet daring of tho baud
appeared in the opening and leered tauntingly
in on the keeper. Presenting bto pistol to tho
madman's fare the warden fired. Tho nub
Jerked hack the wounded man, and another
immediately epneared striving to force hta
way through tha opening. Ue was dispatched
in the same manner, and after him a third
•ndafoaitb. The demons hail enough run
nlnglefttoMotbeflitUltyor alt this with
out larger opening. So again they slow tbo
ram and continue their pounding.
Bnt when their object la almost accomplish-
ed, they are suddenly Interrupted by the ap-
psaranre of tho militia on tha
scene. There ia Instantly a
complete loll; flothlng can be heard hnt tho
tegular tramp of tho saldlers aa .they file into
the hail. Ths maniacs have either scuttled
hack to their dens, or an lying cxhanded be
fore the opening they have made. -
Tho militia enter tbo warden's room, and
find him limp and motionless on tho floor,
Hiafeatore* are withered and juiIo, and his
once raven-black hair I* a* white as snow.
Henry M,Stanley on Crocodile,.
From the Outing.
You ico ft man bathing In tho river; ho fo
standing near (be thorc laughing at yon. perbap#,
laughing Id the keen enjoyment of tho bath; tod*
dculy ho falls over and you sec him no more.
A crocodile has approached unseen, has struck
him a blow with Its tall that knock* him ovtr.and
bo la Instantly seized and carried off.
Or, it may be that the man fo swimming, ho is
totally uncontclous of danger, there Ii nothing la
light to stir a tremor of apprehension; bnt there,
In deep water, under tho shadow of that rock,
or bidden beneath the shelter of (ho
trees yonder, fo ft huge crocodile; tt hae
spotted the swimmer, and fo watching its oppoc
tnnlty; the swimmer approaches; ho U wltnla
striking distance; stealthily, silently, nnpcwived,
the creature make* for Ita prey; tho man knows
nothing until he fo seized 07 the leg anrtl'IWjJ
under and ho knows no more. A bubble or iwo
indicate the place whero ho has gouo down, and
ll Fora*dread, unspeakable horror, there U no
death hr wild beaata like that J
crocodile. Jt fo worse than being klileA by *
ah ark* tor the shark most c<n»elou»ea«irCace ai»d
let Itself be seen, whereas the CWWdUft iUlkeft
unseen snd ftom below.
4
.9
J