Page:Pacific Monthly volumes 9 and 10.djvu/654

 W. C. NICHOL.

Mr. Dana of developing: as far as possible in his newspapers the personality of the writers on his staff. This course he has pursued since the establishment of The Daily Province, and the result is he has surrounded himself with the best newspaper men in British Columbia, who, appreciating to the full the system he has inaugurated, display a loyalty to the interests of the paper which could not be secured for a mere monetary consideration. It is not alone in the completeness of its news service, both local and telegraphic, that The Province excels, but in the literary workmanship which is apparent in its columns. The writers of The Province, in addition to relating occurrences in readable form, pay especial attention to reliability of detail.

But it is not only in these respects that The Province has secured its extensive popularity. It has always maintained a keen interest in current literature and in educational and religious movements. It has always been on the side of the wage-earner and been solicitous for the advancement of his material prosperity and happiness wherever that could be secured by peaceful means and regard to the general well-being of society at large.

An' if we'd a been men o' the marryin' kind, Why, she was a reg-lar prize. But thar's only 'bout three in the hull dum piace As felt they wanted a wife. You see, we're kind o' campin' 'round An' don't want to be tied fer life. You're from the East, I take it, friend? Some good 'uns come from thar'. We got a kid right here in camp As comes from the East somewhar' Jack Blake's his name; de ye know him, eh? Come out here for his health. (That's the reason they allus given The right word's likelyer "wealth"). He's away jest now, on his weddin' trip- Got married a month ago. He's showin' her off to his friends. I s'pose; She's a gal as can stand the show. As pretty-why, neighbor, ye'd need book words To describe that gal o' his; An' th' way he got her-wall, thet's th' tale, An' a right good one it is. She was the daughter of Jake Lamont- Thet's his cabin thar' on the rise- Wall, Big Bill—he was stuck on the gal- A sort of a drunken cuss; An' Jim liked the gal, but he wus like Bill, Or perhaps a wee might wuss. Th' ol' man wa'n't o' the purtic'l'r kind, An' 'lowed it was time she spliced, An' as thar' warn't men enough to go 'round, Why, she'd better not think more'n twice. Wall, Big Bill an' Jim kep' hangin' on. So the ol' man thought they'd do.