The Busted Ex-Texan, and Other Stories Read online

ourunfortunate guest. He told his story with a directness and simplicity ofnarrative, with a gravity of countenance and plaintiveness of voice,which heightened the humor of the substance. Never did the stars, whichhave seen so much of human happiness, which have listened to so much ofthe rollicking humor of those who were fashioned for laughter, lookeddown upon a jollier camp. Long after our guest had ended his narrativeand was apparently sleeping in happy forgetfulness of his Texasspeculation, succeeding pauses of silence would come roars of laughter.The remembrance of the humorous tale banished sleep, and, even afterslumber had fallen on us all, fun still held possession of our dreams.For Dick, starting from sleep in a nightmare of hilarity, roared out:"_Luff her up, luff her up, or the colonel is busted!_"

  Ay, ay, thank God for laughter. Thank him heartily and ever, dearfriend, blow the winds, run the tides as they may. The sorrows of lifemay be many, and its griefs may be keen, and we who are frosted withyears and you who are blooming have felt and will feel the sting offalse friends and the burden of losses; but, lose what we may, or bepained as we have been and shall be, we are happy in this,--we who knowhow to laugh,--that we find wings for each burden, solace for pains, andreturn for all losses, in our sweet sense of humor, thank Heaven! So,whether rich men or poor, healthy or sick, brown-headed or gray, we willgo on like children, with eyes for all beauty and hearts for all fun.Let lilies teach us, and of the birds of the air let us learn. The daythat is not shall not make us anxious, for of each day is the evilenough, and the morrow shall take care of itself.

  THE WICKEDEST COW.]*

  HOW DEACON TUBMAN

  and PARSON WHITNEY

  CELEBRATED NEW YEARS.