The "st. Jo Gazette."

Vhen I help 'em run the local ou the "St Jo (inzette," was upon familiar terms with every one I or "Items" were my stock in trade in that mv callow tiiue. efore my muses tempted me to try my hand at rhyme, - I?efore"I found in verses Those soothliiR. gracious mercies, ess practical, tuit much more glonous than a well-filled purse is V votary of Mammon, I hustled round and sweat. ., Aud helped 'em run the local on the "t. Jo Gazette." he labors of the day begau at haif-past elght For farmers carne in early, aud I had to tackle And man; a noble bit of news I managed to By those discreet attentions whiohall farmerfolk admire. With my daily cormnentary On affairs of fartn and dairy. he tone of which a non with subtle puffenes h. many a pe'ck of apples and of peaches did Vhen I helped 'em run the local on the "St. Jo Gazette." )ramaticnews was scarcc.bntwhenamlnatrel show was due, Vhy, Mil ton 'i'oole's opera house was then my reudezvous; udge Grubb would give me points about the latest leaal case. And Dr. Kuncie let me priut hls sermons when I'ü space Of fever , fractures, htimors, Oontuslons. flts, and tumors. Vould Dr. Hall or Dr. Hraines coufirm or nall the rumors; From Colonel Dawes what railroad news there was 1 used to get,- Vhen I helped 'em ruu '.lie local on the "St. Jo Gazette." For"personals"theold Pacific House wasjust the place,- PapAbell knew the pedlgrees of the human race; Aud when he'd gin up all he had, he'd drop a Militie wiuk, And leád the way where one might wet ones whistle with a drink. Those drink at the Pacific, When days were suporitic, Vhere what " Parisians (pray excuse mr Krench!) would cali "maaniflque;" nd frequeiitly nu iuvitation to ameal I'd get Vheu I help'êm ruu the local on the "St. Jo Gazetie." nd when in rainy weather news was scarce as well as slow, o Saxou's bank or Hopkins' store for items would I go. he jokes which Colonel Saxon told were old, but good enough or local application in lieu of better stuff; And wheu the ducks were flying, Or the fishiug well worth trj-ing- Gosh! but tbose "sports" at Hopkius' stor could beat the world alylug! nd I- I printed all their yarus, though not without regret, When I helped 'em run the local on the "St. Jo Gazette." For aquibs political I'd go to Col. Waller Youi g, Or Col. James N. Burnes, the "statesman with thesilver tougue," hould some old pioneer take sick and die, why, theu I'd cali On Frank' M. Hosegate for the "life," and poaegate knew 'em all. Lou Tullar used to pony Updescripiions that were tony f Loilets woru at party ball, or conversazioue; 'or the ladies were addicted lo the style called "deckolett"' Vhen I helped 'em run the local ou the "St. Jo Gazeite." o was I wont my dally round of labor to persue And when came n;ght I fouud thiit there was still inore work to do, - The telegraph to edit, yard aud yards of proof to read, nd reprint to be gathered lo supply the printers' greed. Oh, but it makes agitity. CombiuecJ with versatüity, To ruu a country daily with appropriate abllity! There uever was a smarter lot of editors, I'Il bet, Than we who whooied uj local on the "St. Jo Gazette." Yes, maybe it was irksome; maybe a disconteut Rebellious rose aiuiil the toil I daily underwent If so, I dou't remember ; this only do I know, - My thoughtá turn ever íoudly to that time in old öt. Jo. The vears that speed so fleetly Have blotted out completely All else luat which still rcmaiuti to solace me so sweetly; The frieudship of that time,- ah, me ! they are as precious yet As when I was a local on the "St. Jo Gazette."