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KIRKSV1LLE MISSOURI
AY, JUJUE 14, 1889.
VOL 2. 2T0 9.
Ss;
vs - a;
r 2 IV
WEEKLY ' B
J. fv
MORNING AND EVENING.
IXSCltlBEb TO W. T. NASOX.
Vro-h and bright the morning greets on
With Its sky of clocd'ets bine.
An J the flah of light th meets you
Brooks no vision t'irk, untrue
Ilestlea. throbbing, eager ever,
Jn the Joy of first endeavor
Is the heart that finds Its duty
Vlldthedawnlng's early beauty.
Dear the faces blithely smiling.
Glad the voices on the air,
Hope and love each thought beguiling
Into dreams so woml'rous fair
Tancy'a blcesom richly painted
Sodding, swaying, puTc, untainted
As the fountain's crystal measure
O, the sprlnstlme -with Its pleasure!
lint the sun with flight unbroken - c
lUsiedon Its waytoo soon,"" -.
And Its beams with mcll w token
JIark the hour of afternoon,
Vt 1th the wild, exultant motion
Of yonth's surging, swelling ocean
:ank to rest the waters lying
Calm and still, the -winds defying.
And the mem'ries of the faces
That were bright with happiness
Linger now with all their graces,
That will live to cheer and bless
Hcrce the heat that swift Oescended
On the flowers Wed and tended
Till they blightei fell, theli brightnest
Chaogcd alas! topalld whitntsa.
But the life tLat knows no Io6Bes,
Feels no touch of sorrow s sting.
Fights no battles, bear" no crosses
Poor the treasure it must bring.
Strength is born or pain and trial.
And the soul that meets dedal
Nobly, finds a peace outweighing
All tiie loss-a blest repaying.
And the light now softly streaming
t rom the ercnmgs tranquil glow ,
shows a glory in its beaming
Sweeter than the morn could know
Xtar the line where care and dut
Merge into a fadeless bcantj .
Near the night" Nay, mj friend, 1 say
Just niai the dawn of endless das .
And to v ou who nobly tan ght us ,
Lessons w e w ill ever hold
Priceless, as a girt that brought us
ltlesslngs gTeat and manifold.
We would send this losing token,
Simply though, the thought be spoken.
With the wish of tender J taming
That Joj may bless this day's returning.
ANNA WILSOK.
r b sleivo he has firmness enough,
. do it."
"Well his father had firinne&s,
e tough, too much," answered the
S-vamp Hermit
"What, do you know his father?'
"I did, but I don't now, I know
n thing about him or his family,
n r do I want to know anything of
tl em. I wish we had not come
after him.
Bcv. Samuel Gross cast a dis
a pointed look at the old man,
wnose kindly face and manner,
had won his heart Mr. Wayne
noticed his 16okand;inixviee
showing some penitence said:
"I didn't wish him any harm.
God knows I wouldn't harm a
hair of his head, but, but, but
you can't understand me, and
there is no use to try to explain."
Eobert btood gazing at the men
before him in open mouthed won
der. His bewilderment had assum
ed stupidity. He was not able to
walk alone, and one of the men got
on either side of him, and thus
THE SWAMP HERMIT.
BY JOHN B. MOSICK.
Author or "Herbert Orion." "The Banker or
Bedrorl," "Brother AgalnVBrother,'
"Orland Hyde," 'Calamltj How.'
etc . etc.. etc.
"Oh. they don't die so easy in
that fix," the old man answered.
v'iUm-y a one have I pulled out of
the mud, to be cursed by mm tue
next day. I tell you Mr. Gross,
you have n hard undertaking be
fore jou. The Nation I fear, wil1
nivir he converted. It will take
beveral generations to do it any
way."
They had come near enough to
bog the hog's bed in the fence cor
ner, and a man lying beside him. It
was a sorrowful sight when the
shattered rays of the old tin
lantern were turned upon the
drunken vouth. His eyes were
closed, and his clothes smeared
with mud. His fare and hands
had been fearfully lascerated
by bush and thorn and his cloth
ing sadly torn.
'Conie, get up," ..aid the kind
gentle voice of Mr. Gross who
took Eobert by the shoulder, and
tried to lift him to his feet
"Eh, what will you have sir,
what will you have?" Eobert
abked.
"Get up, go to the house and to
bed?" answered the minister.
"Oh thank you Bir, I am in
bed."
"No you are not, you will die
with cold here."
"Oh no sir, I am. n,ot, I am in
bed sin I am very comfortable
here, indeed I am."
"Get up. youngster," Baid the
old man, "you are in a hog's bed.
"What would Nelson and Martha
Burk think if they knew that their
son was making a hog his bed
fellow?"
The strange words of the man
startled Eobert from his drunken
Btupor. Those words even in his
intoxication, entered his heart
like a knife. He arose, staggered
backward a step or two, and fixing
his bleared eyes on the old man
said:
"Who who are you?'
"I amfcober, and you are drunk?"
;'Ph Jf know it, but stronger whp
ever you are," and he made a great
effort to stand, "I swear that I
have drank my last glass,"
Many a fellow who has said that
has broken his oath in less than a
month," answered the Swamp
Hermit
'iBui many have kept it, ''inter
polated the preacher. "And let
us hope and pray that this young
holding him up, led him to the
house.
When he reached it. he was
considerably sobered, and the tor
tuies of shame began to take pos
session of him.
"You must go to bed at once,"
said Mr "Wayne.
"But I am all mud," he answer
ed looking down at his soiled and
torn clothing
"Betnove your clothing, and I
will get you a bath, and leave
your clothing to dry. The swamp
mud is mostly sand and it will rub
off nicely when dry.
In a few moments Eobert had
been bathed, ami lay between two
snowy sheets, and sank into a
slumber.
"You hnow him?" said the min
ister. "Yes."
"Who is he?"
"The school master, who has
jush commenced the Elm Creek
school." '
What! My God, can it be so?"
cri d the minister. I was recoin
me ided to secure his assistance. I
we ? told that he was a moral and
evm a religious young man. His
incdierisa very pious lady?"
' I hae heard that she is."
' And I haye heard that the son
we ."
' He may havo been, but he is
we ik. It takes the strengtli of a
sai ipson to resist the temptations
tbi t lav in wait for people heie. I
fei. ' that your work will be in yain,
Mr. Gross," said the hermit with
a peculiar sadness in his ton?.
"No, it shall not. I came away
with the promise I made to that
mother that I would look after her
sou and help him keep from temp
tation, and that I shall do if I fail
in every other work."
"It is late now, retire, and I will
go out and put away your horse.
You all need rest." In a few mo
ments more the good man had
said his prayers and fallen into
that peaceful, quiet eleep, known
only to the righteous.
When he awoke day had long
since dawned. The old man was
up and assisting some girlish
like figure in the morning house
hold duties. His first thought was
of the young school master. He
rose and hastily dressing himself
went out to where the old hermit
and Lorena, his grand daughter, a
beautiful girl of sixteen, were pre
paring breakfast.
"Is he up?" Mr. Wayne asked.
"I don't know, I will go and
see."
Mr. Gross went to the Bmall
apartment i a which Eobert had
passed the night. A very careworn
youg man, whose haggard face but
half expresssed bis mental suffer,
ing, met him. at tLa door. His
clothes hqd been brushed clean of
the Bandy mud, and the rents
mended by somn careful hand, be
fore he ha waked from his drunk
en sleep.
"Good morning sir," said Mr.
G oss, smiling kindly on the
young man.
'Good morning was the answer,
foe Eobert half expected a reprov
al for his conduct His mind re-
cr .led a part of what had passed
lious spirit had beeu trying
to fortify him againwt an at
tack from any silly moralist
' You, are Mr. Eobert Burke, I
believe?"
"Yes, sir," answored Eobert
with a faint glor of phame on his
face. Why was the minister ask
ing his name unless it was to re
prove him, or report his conduct
to his parents.
"I was at your father's liouso a
few days ago, and told your pa
rents that when I came here,
Lwould form your acquaintance."
J.S whs uuimni; muro mau iioiiuni
that his mother should be anxious
about him, and that she should
request the pastor to call upon her
her son and form his acquaint
ance. There was quite a chango in
Eobert since the night beforo
when he was making his bed with
the swine.
Mr. Gross said nothing about
the debauch. He saw that the
youth was penitent, and knew it
was not best to mention the mat
ter just then. Kindness would re
deem him, but harshness never.
Eobert realized that ho was the
involuntary guest of tho swamp
hermit who had so mystified him.
He entered into a conversation
with the preacher on various
topics, though ho was by no
means at his ease. It was
useless for the young school mas
ter to attempt to forget the past
It was deeply engraven on his
mind. He was thoroughly sober,
and deeply penitent Ho wished
that somebody would reprove him
and abuse him, that he might
find some cause for sympathy
with himself. But the reverse was
the course of action. Breakfast
ready, and his strange host seem
ed to trsat them with the same con
sideration as the minister. But
when he met the sweet face of
Lorena, Eobert blushed. He had
always known that she was a re
makable girl, but never had her
loveliness seemed so apparent to
him, as when he, bowed down v ith
shr.me. met her in the bin sh
ine sunlight of that morning.
She was very kind to him, and
did not intimate by word or look
that she knew anything of the
night before. Was it possible
that his disgrace had been kept a
secret f lorn her? he asked himself.
But he could not hope that it 1 ad
His manner, his face, as reflected
in the mirror, told the story of a
night'B debauch.
after a terrible ni
He made no nnsfl
patiently until
nfmlprif nE Elm Cffl
" .. . -"
ready for tue jounu
It was a beautiful
ing. The bills
afar and near Tver
with golden ripeuosa
not yet turned brov
peculiar colden "hi
nuts were ripenings
ii tii -
yus ueguu uiau.
the hermit up the hi
annlS k&stiUmi&xml.
SmaFSSiwp
debauch? same time
Rbut waited
ImyBteiious
Jecliool got
imn morn-
elds from
esplendent
Che leaves
assessed a
The
had not
lie field of
Atnere were
.',,
keep down a terrible
crimo that was blighting her
own life and the lives of her pa
rents. Day after day Eobert saw
her make her way along the wood
ed path to the plain little school
house. Meeting her wastoliim
like beholding a vision of another
and more perfect world. Clad in
her simple woodland garb, her
bright smiling face, laughing"
eyes, and piquant grace made her
more baautiful than the handsom
est belle'be had ever seen. Her
handst and feetx,reresuoh. as.
about that It's yer dancin' that
takes ther eye uv every body. I
tell ye Bob ye don't know how
popular ye made yer selt"
"I wish I had never gone there
Budd," he answered somewhat
regretfully.
"Oh shucks," said Budd thrust
ing his hands deep into his pock
ets, and laughing in the face of
the penitent school master. "That
haint nuthin' at alL W'y it's so
common fur a feller ter git full,
that no one don't think any think
nextemriUi'Xraxatft take ernnff
CHAPTEE VIII.
A MEW EMOTION.
"You are going from here to the
school house, are you not?" the
Swamp Hermit asked, as Eobert
having finished his breakfast
pushed back from the table.
Yes sir," he anstveied aftei a
moment's hesitation, though he
had not thoucht of school before.
A man after a night's debauch, is
in no very good plight to teach
Bchool. While it required very
little intelligence to conduct the
school at Elm Creek, it required
someamountof shrewdness to meet
the cunning wits of mischief ma
kers among the young savages of
the Nation.
"You don't know the way."
"I can find it I think."
"No you can't," the old man an
swered. There have been many
persons who thought they could
make their way out o' this swamp,
but unless they were acquainted
with the country they)always fail
ed." Eobert cast a helpless glance
about He was weak, and sick
this morning, and did not feel like
making a iourney.through the
swamp, with the prospect of los
ing his way. The Hermit seemed
to understand the youth's perplex
ity, and said:
"Lorena is going to school this
morning, and she can show you
the way."
Eobert raised his eyes until
they met the thrilling orbs of the
innocent girl before him, and then
hi3 own glance fell. Was she to
be his companion through the for-
man may bo of that number. iUhenight before, and his rebel- est on that morning, the first day
everywhere. The sun in rich
splendor fell upon forest and glade.
Then as the road wound around
the swamp,of which they occasion
ally caught glimpses, the beams
fell in melting tendernoss upon
tho mist rising from it's dark and
mysterious depths. Afar off be
yond the river which cut off the
Nation from the rest of the world,
could be seen that other portion
of that habitable globe known as
the settlement Eobert cast his
eyes in that direction and saw
hills and farms, and fields . He
had had enough oE the Nation
with all its romance, and hb Bigh
ed for the land oE his fathers.
Walking along by his side, was
the peculiarly bewitching littlo
creature, whom lie had always
callod his mysterious scholar. She
was quiet this beautiful morning.
Her pure gentle soul seemed to be
taking iu all of the bounteous feast
which naturo spread. As he
glanced at her rose tinted cheeks,
her sweet calm face, and alabaster
brow, he wondered how she could
associate with him. Unable long
er to enduro the silent torture, he
said:
"Lorena, are you not ashamed
to go with me?"
She turned her gazelle like eyes
to his and with a look of wonder,
and answored:
'.'No sir." ' v'
"You know of la3t night?"
"Yes sir "
"Your grandfather told you?"
"No sir. I was awakened b j the
man who came after grandpa to
help bring you to the house."
Then her grand father had not
said a word to her about it She
had heard it all, had seen him
perhaps when he was drunk and
silly. At this moment attracted
by tho grunting of a hog at the
road side, he turned his ayes in
the direction, and beheld the
swine that was his bed fellow of
the night before. He recalled but
dimly some of those events, yet he
recalled enough to overwhelm
himself with shame. Why should
he who made his bed with beasts,
be permitted to associate with
the pure and innocent He could
hardly deem himself fit to even
speak to this pure, good girl. But
she seemed as gentle and as for
giving as the preacher had been.
Oh, to regain his formermanhood.
To take a place in his own estima
tion and in the estimation of others
he once held. But he had lost his
station. Do what he might, he
could never place himself on ex
actly the same high plain he had
once occupied A strange new
emotion was taking possession of
him, one that he had never experi
enced before. Why should he care
more about this girl than all the
world. Why should he wish to be
perfect and upright in her sight.
There is no longer any need to
conceal the condition of Eobert's
heart He was in love. He hardly
knew it on this bright autumn
morning, but he was destined to
make the startling discovery, and
feel all the keen pain of a doubt
ful and disappointed lover. He
was to learn that a man can not
make a beast of himself in any
country, without feeling the force
and effect of it, upon hiB life.
In love with Lorena Wayne.
Well who had ever seen her, who
did not love her. Even the half
savage men and boys of the Na
tion all loved her. She was the
loveliest worn in Eobert had ever
'met. Not a society lady with all
tho nonsensical accomplishments
of a woman of fashion, but an
humble, meek Christian, who amid
a world of coarseness was trying
to live close to God, and at the
create. Mer race. Un sucn a face
il was, so pure, so noble
and so exalted. It was the face
of a woman contented and peace
ful in mind, healthy of body and
gifted with a trusting faith that
illumines like a light from Heav-
Her eyes the windows of a
en
sinless soul had such an expres
sion that a glance from- them pen
etrated the heart like a ray
from above, filling it with a
strange sense of unworthiness and
a vague longing painfnlly pleasant.
On such a creature no man
dares look with a base desire. Her
innate virtue disarmed passion,
and to Eobert she seemed a beisg
too good for this wicked world.
Piom that day forward betook
a strange interest in tho new
pupil at Elm Crick. This new in
terest became a pleasure, and
when the boys were on the play
ground one day, Billy Buttons
made bold to tell Tommy Miles
that the school msster was in love
with Lorena.
"Wall I guess I don't keer,"
said Tommy. "Dute thought she
had him, but I guess she's mista
ken. "I don't believe th' master keers
one bit fur 'er," said one of the
boys.
"Dunno Noah wouldn't be sur
prised if he did," put in Zeke
Wilson as ready as usual to bear
witness. "I seed him, erlookin
down the road, kinder wishful
like."
"Thar goes the bell boys, come
let's skip," cried Tommy Miles.
Both large and small noticed
the changed manner of the school
master. When he entered the
school house the next day after
the dance at Skagg's his face
showed some signs of dissipation.
His head ached, and his eyes were
dull an.1 heavy. He found him
self so dizzy that he could scarcely
stand. The larger boys and girls
who had attended the dance, came;1
late that moraine In fact soirie
of them never came at all.
Budd Spence came in at noon,
having spent the forennoon in
bed. Milt Bunce, Hi Chatterton,
and some of the others did not
come at all. Budc noticed the
changed expression upon the mas
ters face, and not knowing the ef
fect of remorse attributed his mel
ancholly to other causes. As soon
as he could get an opportunity,
the youthful hercules said:
"It's all right."
"No it is not, Budd," Eobert an
swered. "Oh yes it is. I stayed with old
Skaggs until ho got sober, and I
talked to him. It's all right Ye
spiled a little f nu fur us, Bob, but
I like ye fur it."
"I can't soo what I did last
night to make anybody like me."
"Oh ther way yer come ter help
that ar' preecher out, kinder made
me feel good all over."
Eobert bowed his head in bitter
reflection. School had been dis
missed, and nearly all the children
had gone home. He an I Budd
alone remained in the room.
Eobert stood leaning against his
desk, his face was very pale and
haggard. After several moments
he said:
'Budd, I made a great fool of
myself last night."
"Oh p3haw, that's nuthin',"
Budd answered with a laugh.
"We're all liable t' git a little too
much sometimes. But I want
ter tell yer Bob ye made a hit
last night"
"How," he asked. "By getting
drunk and making n fool of my
self." "No, no, no nn thinkB a minit
v
drinking, that it had Buch arief
fect on me," Said Eobert
"Walllreckinitis."
"If I ever go to another dance
Budd, I have determined on one
thing, and that I will not drink
a drop of liquor."
"Wall that's ez yer say Bob,"
the youthful hercules answered
with a sigh. "But don't yer quit
goin' ter dances till yer larn me
them ar' new fangled steps."
The boy looked so odd in his
giant infancy, that Eobert could
not restrain a smile. The school
master had no inclination fry
humor, but there was something
so supremely ridiculous in the
manner of Budd, that ho could
scarce repress his laughter.
As he donned his hat to follow
Bciddhome, the latter suddenly
startled him again by saying:
Look ee here Bob, haint ye
kinder in love with that gal?"
" Wuat do you mean, Budd?"
he asked.
'Wy that ar gal o' the old
Swamp Hermit"
It seemed sacrilege to him to
speak of so pure a being as Lorena
in that light manner. He was
almost on the point of reprimand
ing him for it, but checked him
self, and said:
"Budd, what do you know of
her?"
"Nutum" much. She's kinder
too stuck up fur me."
"Hot long has she lived there
with the Swamp Hermit?"
"Oh Iud I don't, know. She
come thar with her mother when
3he was little."
"Where is her father?"
"Id'n know."
"Didhe come with her mother? '
"Don't think he did. 1 tell ye
it's all a mystery, no 'n kin make
out"
"Budd I would like to ask you
some questions about her if you
have no objection."
"Oh pitch in. I don't keer."
"Did her grand father, the
old Hermit, come here first?"
"How d'ye know he's her grand
father?"
"She calls him her grand father
and I will suppose he is. Did he
come to the- cabin on the hill oyer
the swamp before he brought
her?"
"Yes."
"Budd you kno,v more about
these people than you have ever
told me; why not tall me all yon
know of them."
"Cos I don't know nuthin," he
answered.
"How long had the old man
lived there before he brought the
women and the girl there."
"Baby, she war a baby then sir."
"Well baby then."
"Id'n know. No body knows.
He'd been er livin' thar fur a long
time afore any body hero knowed
he wnz in the neighborhood at all.
Ho jist seemed to drap down from
the skies, and when he came no
one knows. People tried at fust
ter treat th' old man white, but he
wuz so cussed selfish, they gin
him the go by."
"Did he ever make any visits to
the country?"
"Not ez any one knows on, fur a
long time. He wuz allers to be
seen about that ar old cabin o'
his, and no un thort that he ever
went erway frum it at all. He jist
seemed ter stick thar day an'
night, til one day he war missin'.
He war gone fur awliile, an. one
night ez some un war a comin' in
from the town off across ther
river they seed a feller in a cart er
bringin' er woman with a leetle
baby. It war the old Hermit ez
Mhey call him That woman wuz
Lorena's mother, an' ther baby
wuz Lorena. No un knowed whar
ho'dTwen ter find her, an' when
tney inquired erbout it over at
ther town, ercro33 ther river thar
warnt any body thar ez knowed."
"What became of the woman,"
Eobert asked.
"Oh she lived thar till Lorena
became n right smart child, an"
then she tuck sick an' died."
"Was no doctor called in?"
"Yes, ther old Hermit he had
the best docturs thar war in the
town ercross ther river, but she
hedj typhoid-Uoomony, and she
UHiKiVg&
"Did she make no confession,
tell nostory about herself before
she died?"
"Not er bit Yer see she had
never bed anything ter do with
any o' our folks in ther Nation,
since she had come home, and
they didn't make her many visits
after she tuk sick."
"Where was she buried?"
'Wall now thar comes ther
funniest part o' ther hull ti'e.
W'j- yer see erbout ther time she
uieu ur a ieet:e atore it er man
was seen a comin down ther neck
o' ther Peninsular one night cc
bout dark on boss back, ridin' like
mad, Ole Skag23 saw him, and
he thort it war John A. Murrel
comin' inter the Nation. He
halted Skaggs, an' axed him whar
the Hermit lived, an' Skpgrestole
him. He then sworo ef Skaga
tole him wrong he'd shoot him at
fnst sight Skaggs wuz skeered
mighty nigh ter death, an' waited
all night with his rifle at ther road
side ter shoot ther strangei. But
he didn't come back that night
nur ther next; and he hez never
jeecl nim since tnat time.
"What kind of a looking man
was he?"
"Oh he war a young kind uv a
feller, aud war dressed liko one of
them city chaps yer know."
"Does any one know what be
came of him?"
"Ther doctur sed he war at ther
Hermit's when ther woman died,
an' that he tuk on mightly. Ho
went away I gues3 arter that fur
two ur three weeks nrter when
some o' ther people in ther Nation
went that way, thar warnt no un
thar 'cept the ole Hermit, ther ba
by and a ole woman who wouldn't
talk ter any body. Some said she
war ceef, an' some that she couldn't
talk American, but I dun no."
"What Jbecame of the old
woman i
"Good lud only knows fur I
don't No un here knows when
she come nur whar she went."
"By this time the school master
was warned by the sun dipping
below the tree tops, that it was
growing late, and ho and Budd
started on their way home. There
was a mystery connected with that
angelic being, which he was una
ble to solye. The strange now
emotion that had moved his soul
seemed to increase, and when he
retired that night, he felt prono to
cry out:
"Oh Lorena, Lorena, whoaro
you? Precious being, mysterirus
as yon are, 1 know that you are
angelic and pnre. Oh forgive me,
for whaf 1 havo done, and I will
try to be worthy of you in tho
future."
(TO r,E CONTINUED.)
o
A Scrap Of Paper Saves Her
Life
It was just an ordinary scrap of
wrapping paper, but it saed her
life. She was in the last steges of
consumption, told by physici 3
that she was incurable and cou'd
live only a short time; she weighed
less than seventy pounds. On a
piece of wrapping paper she read
of Dr. King's New Discovery, nnd
got a sample bottle; it helped her,
she bonght a large bottle, it help
ed her more, bonght another and
grew better fust, continued its use
und is now strong, heaithy, rosy,
plump, weighing 140 pounds. For
fuller particulars send stamp to
. H. Cole, druggist, Port Smith.
Trial Bottles of this wonderful Dis
covery free at P. A. Groyo it Co.'s
drugstore.
English spavin liniment removes
all hard, soft or colloused lumps
and blemishes from horses. Blood
spavin, nnrb3, splints, sweeney,
ring-tone stifles sprains all
swollen throats, Coughs, etc. save
SoO by use of one bottle . Warran
ted. Sold 15y P. A. Grove
druggist Eirksville.
, --v- ifl .
, -cr. &toy&2z&&&.
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