Columbia gazette., 1854-05-20
MISCELLANY.
From The Vide West.
MINING SCENES & SKETCHES.
WILL WINKLE's NUGGET.

! WILL WINKLE's NUGGET.
| Yes, there it was! There could be
no mistake about it. just as he was
about to throw down his pick and aban-
don the hole, Will Winkle found his
nugget. After six months Improbable
labor in that claim, he had struck a lead
at last. Hurrah his luck had turned
And as the news sprc cad wide and far,
that he, whose name had been syno-
nym for bad luck during many q long
month had found a nugget; the miners
crowded in to see the wonder, Mud col
cred Mcxicans, swarthy Spaniards, clum-
sy Chinese, and chattering Chilcnos
came in throngs. A proud man was
VIII Winkle that day. Not another
stroke of work would he do till the lump
was sold. He had worked long enough.
To-day should be devoted to enjoyment
Hang up the pick and the shovel Let
the tom rest for to-day. And while his
partner takes the lump to the nearest
banker to sell it, he will devote himself
] to the entertainment of his friends and
his own relaxation.
A man wlc wishes to have "time"
in the mines can always find companions;
particularly if he is pretty well known.
Of course, none Of those who amused
themselves at Win Winkle's expense in
his ill-,uck could refuse TO make
merry at his cost in his prosperity. A
long table was soon spread; liquor and
catables ordered ad lsb:tum; and mer-
ricr crowd than gathered around it, with
Will Winkle at its head, even the mines
never saw. Song and speech followed
each other in rapid succession Jokes
in all tongues crowded Oh the heels of
each other; laughed at as heartily by
those who didn't understand the Ian
guage as by any who did. And when
night came, they built huge fires of pine
logs and bushes and ran AROUND with
torches of burning pine knots, ,making the
woods ring with their shouts, and scar
ing from their roosts such we'll disposed
birds as were inclined for slumber.
Late into the night they kept up their
hilarity. Old Crowlcy'S melon-bcd suf-
!crcd nightly that evening. But what
of that: Will Wrinkles luck had turn
ed; and he was bound to enjoy himself
at any expense. So drain the cup dry,
boys, cat, amuse yourselves in any way;
hang the expense! It will all be made
right in the morning. At last even min
crs could keep it up no longer. One
BY one they found their way to their
sleeping places; Will himself the last to
succumb.
And now the solemn stiffness Of night
was over all. The wind rustlcd gloomi-
ly through the tall pine trees that rear
cd their ghostly forms toward the sky;
and when the late moon rose, its wan
face looked down as if in placid wonder
that the forest which SO lately rung with
the riot of the jewellers should so soon
be still. Full on Will Wrinkles face
the white beams fall, and that red, fe-
verish countenance seemed to thank the
night for the refreshing coolness of its
breeze. Will was restless; he turned
from side to side, and his hands wander
ed about his head in aimless movements.
And as he slept he dreamt. This was
his dream:
In land whose fair face the rays of
the rising sun kiss two full hours ere the
California dawn, by the side Of clear
shallow stream, whose ripping waters
danced in the early daylight, a modest
cottage lifted its snow-white walls. In
its door a matronly looking woman sat,
while in her lap nestled an infant on
whose clear brow scarce six summers
had left their sunny mark Two fair
haired children played amid the long,