Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-09-14

nice job it is for me. You'll have to pa,
me, youngster, If Sam don't so look out
All right said and old johnson, who
was shaking with passion, walked off
Here was pleasant state of things The
practice of sailing hole, ought to tell
the reader, was mixing gold with the wash
ing stuff which, when washed, of course
appeared rich, making the hole look as il
well worth money say the practice ,oo,
80, for believe that since digging has be.
come regular trade, rather than gam.
bling fever, this kind of fraud is rare. if il
has not quite disappeared.
Musing on the news had heard, and try-
! ing to determine what was best to do under
the circumstances, ! arrived at the hole in
| question, which was situated IN a little gully
on the other side of neighboring hill. The
| holes here were some twelve feet deep and
on reaching the brink, and looking down. [
saw my poor friend seated between two
mounds OF earth, quietly picking away His
round nat was thrown back from his fore
mead, and exposed that noble feature to full
view NO damps OF labor was gathered there.
iOr IN truth Mr.. Drinkwatcr was not working
hard. As | called out to him, he turned to
look at me, and the corner of his mouth was
drawn up towards his left ear, giving n pecu
Harry dlsconsolatc expression to his face
well, old man. said |, how do YOU get
on e''
My dear fellow, he replied, have been
swindled the hole is not worth sixpence.
W hen was getting dinner, | saw the fellows
all laughing, and found they knew that the
hole was worthless Shannon had salted it.
sir
know it,, said Il Old johnson told me So
And since the salted tub which | washed
this morning have not seen speck.'
w ell il can I he helped Wb,+,o tl,o ,,no
OF going on working Come home, and LET
us see what can be DONE
Excuse me, said Sam; have bought
tins hole. and | mean to stick to it, There
Is golf lower down the gully. and d. not
see VII! thcre saould not be some up here.
Oh YOU may work in that way for a year.
DO you see that parcel beside you + in
quired Sam
replied that did.
That's candles-I have just bought them.
intend, sir, to drive on this tunnel in
straight line as long as my stock of -four and
those candles shall last
You are excited just now said |, so |
won't reason with you. Come home and
have some tea.
Not l.. he replied. Look out. am go-
Ing to shovel up
80 saying, MIR. Drinkwater began to send
up the earth which lay piled around him.
stood looking on, meditating whether it |
would be practicable to follow that rascal
Shannon, and make him refund his plunder.
As the earth in the hole was removed, a
large block of quartz was exposed to view.
which quite filled one side of the hole, and |
had compelled Sam to reduce the tunnel he
was opening to very small dinensions
There nice Convenient thing to have |
in hole, observed Sam, striking his shovel
against the quartz.
i tell you what, Sam, said I, Il should |
like to see what's under that block. Gold
has been found in such places as that before
now, especially with clay bottom
Not much chincc, am afraid, said sam
And yet it Is "a likely clay, eh But, then,
what's the good Of a likely clay to man
with my luck.
Never mind your luck; Ill 80 and get a
crowbar.' After some trouble, | succeeded
in borrowing that implement, and after ex-
cayating round the block, we tried to raise
1t. For long time it would not bulge an
inch, till at ono great struggle the stone was
lifted just enough to enable me to see under
it; but while | stopped to prop it up, the
crow-bar slipped, and the block fell into its
place again. Sam, whose back had been
turned to the stone to enable him to get
greater purchase turned round putfiug. and
that he would shove no more.
Sam, said |, gasping little, keep cool,
old fellow; there 9 gold under it, | saw it.
Mick Shannon has cheated himself, and no
mistake =
Hurrah = cried Sam, we II soon have it
up then and he seized the crOw-bar
stop, said = recolect it is getting near
night-iull Better leave it as it is | don't
mind helping you to have u look, though
Ana while proppcd the stone, Sam picked