"IT WAS SAM."
Tho other day a tall, thin woman from over tbe river bunted around Ykkstmrg tmtQ she found Coroner Blessing, whose rafting disposition aad prompt attention to business are certain to make bim famous all over tho State within the coming year, and when sbe wae i oertain of her man she inquired : | " Bueinessain't driving now, is it t " I " Well, nothing to brag of . Igetafoatar for a nigger now and Uwn, but it isn't aoirthiac like old times." #— -» She heaved a sigh, and tinned : " Sam is missing." " Sam, Bam," he repeated. "Yes, my ©lo man. It's nigh oo to twelve weeks since he started to cross the river aboot six miles above here, and I'm getting inxJboe. I thought rd drop down and eeevE yon remember of haviig aot on sueh a nan." "About twdve weeks ago-less see* 1 * I believe I did pull in a floater sease tenor eleven weeks since." " Wa* he a tall man?" " Yes, I think he was." " Have a long nose aad brick-coloured hairP" „ " Yes— l remember now." " Cow-hide shoes and a yaiier ooat oaf' " Yes— l got that very man V k M A ris to the surface and wsa polled in bera, sot on according to law, and duly buried I-* "He was, madam. And Ido believe that the body was that of your missing hothead." "I know it! He could driremSe* or paddle a dug-out with any man in T^fiip'sniv bot be could not swim worth cobs. Hia canoe flopped oyer, he went under, aod that's the reason ba didn't come home." "And do you want the body exhumed so ae to make sure ?" " Was he pot down to stay ?" " He wss well buried, madam." H "WeU, it's bout ae well to let him stay there. He'» probably fell away so that I wouldn't knew him, and I dont feel like having my name strung up." M WeU I'm Tery worry for you, Tn-u..^, Jf I could bave identified tbe body, 1 would hava sent you word right away." "It's sll right. I've felt it in my bones thafc I was a widder, and the shook don't stagger me like it would at ink Fm sort. for Sam was kind." " Yes, it was too bad." "But he ought a knowed better, when be couldn't swim. I told him and told bin and told him, and that day I told him again, and he hollered back ' shut up' !" « He did ?" " Yes, he did, and now bo's ufider tba tile and I'm here; I'm 'bleeged, Mr ; I know where he is now, and when I wake tp in the night I shan't worry so muob. Is there anything to pay ?" " No— nothing." " WeU, I'll go borne feeling better. Ife kinder bard to have tbe old man go radar that way, but I 'spose tiie Lord knows best, The Bible says we cometh np to bo cut down, and I s'pose that means drowning as weUae shooting." And sbe felt to seo if ha spectade case wai aU safe, and started for hone.
"IT WAS SAM."
Star (Christchurch), Issue 2422, 24 December 1875, Page 3
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in