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

Sam Drinkwat Luck,

IL III DE1 II X W ater'S Luck
/ In the spring (the English autumn) of til,
year 1852. Sam Drinkwater was dwellnr i,
/ the tents of Bendigo. Time was when S,rr
had been tie proprietor Of large ana com.
iorthbie establishment when he had slep,
under twelve square feet of canvas, and had
drunk ont of crockery. His goods and tools
were load Tor one horse dray in those
Gays, ana he had paid many pounds sterling
ior .ne frequent removal of his premises But
now that prosperous time had passed awav
and at Sans last removal, his own broad
shoulders served instead of the one-h horse draw
Arrived at the new spot he had chosen. he
tied rope between two gum trees. pitched
over 1t the strip Of duck he called his tent.
rolled up back log for his fire, and made
himself comfortable.
sam Drinkwater was a remarkable man
among his neighbors, for he preserved his
ruddy English complexion, never swore. and
respected not only his native land. but its
government also. Mr.. Drnkwater had nor
come out ut his country's expense-that was
evident. Oi his antccedcnts, know nothing
W hat occupation he might have had in
England, or what position filed it was i'm.
possible to form an idea. ] knew him only
as one who though grurnbler from habit,
was IN reality one of the jollest of jolly dig
gers one whose infinite good-humor was
proof against the winter rains and the sum-
iher flies; who liked butter with his bread
when he could get it and when he could
not, took an extra pipe of Barrett's twist
and thanked Providence
at the time when gold was first discovered
at Ballarat, Sam Drinkwater had come across
the Murray with twenty pounds in his
pocket, and pair of boots and his blanket on
his back. His money he expended in the
purchase of the big tent before alluded To,
and other heavy and comfortable goods and
having set up his house, he commenced dig
ging. Since then he had sunk some fifty
holes with his own hands, and had worked in
numheriess others dug by other people, and
ye' never had sam once been the possessor Of
six ounces of gold Still he worked on. n.
calmly and steadily as ever, much given to
moralizing when he was troubled with emntv
pockets, and receiving with equanimity any
stray nugget that came in bis way
l am Mr.. Drinkwater's acquaintance in
the following manner. Going down one
morning to a hole Of mine much later than
usual, was surprised to find a man quietly
seated at the bottom of it, cutting slices Off
my washing stuff with his knife.
Hillo :, said J. Good od-morning-hope
you are well >
The man looked up, and surveyed me with
some surprise.
Good-morning,' said he; : how do you
find yourselfr
And he quietly resumed his occupation.
began to lose patience, and addressed him
again;
my hole
Is it! Well. it can't be helped. It's,nv
luck. You didn't leave your name on it, you
know
All right, said |; but if you have come
across any bits, hope you will hand them
over
Not in the daytime, replied Mr.. Drink
water, for he of course it was
Yeu won't = said l.
Not /. Don't put yourself in a passion.
Wait till get out, and I'll shew YOU the
rights oft. You see have given you three
hours work this morning. and have got
you out stuff enough to keep you washing all
day. Well, nov, supposing have picked
up three pennyweights Of gold which is quite
an oyerestlniate, | assure you-I am not over
paid, am .
am satisfied, said ; 'you look honest
keep it, and welcome Havea drink of tea .
handed him the billy or large can,
which is Il digger's constant companion ia
warm weather | found that Mr. Drink
water improved upon Acquaintance, and we
became very intimate.
Some few months after our first meeting |
lay one Sunday morning enjoying the first
warm beams of the rising sun. Tho flies.
those pests Of Australia, had not vet started
into life, and the air was cool The scene
was full Of beauty but Of beauty that had
no change, and was therefore soon lost to the
weary eye Beautiful hearts and wild
howers grew at my feet, worthy TO have
adorned your drawing room my dear madam
but would have given them all for a ward of
green turf, Beautiful birds lived in those
woods, but they had no song and the monot-
Onous hum of insect life was unrelieyed by
any OF natures articulate music 1t was a
pleasant spot for an anchorite, so calm was
the air, so silent the forest and vet it was
IN the midst OF the largest of the gold-felds.
a little hlli divided me on each side from an
enormous multitude scattered here and there
in tents of every color, along the sides of n
vide valley After a while, the dull slow
strokes Of an axe were heard at a distance.
followed in few minutes by the crash OF a
failing tree, as some industrious digger began
to lay in his weeks stock of fuel Sundayis
but little observed, in religious point of
view, on the Diggings the churches are too
lar oh, or the service Is too long for the tired
workman, who does not love preaching and
wants rect Tho melancholy truth is. the
digger is the child of to-day, and religion
concerns him little.
threw open the front of nv tent, and
lighted my piPe-the digser's rGde me.oum
Cnder the magic influence of ignited negro
head, gradually sunk into pleasant doze,
from which was roughly disturbed by a
voice, and looking up, saw q head poked in
at the side of my tent, which | recognised az
belonging To neishbor, Mr., Michael Shan
non.
Walk in. said plenty of room inside
Excuse mo, sir, tuid MIR. Shannon |
wouldn't wish to be- committing any depreda.
daton'--
Certainly not, said |
only wanted to say IA word 70 you and
indeed, am ashamed to he troubling YOU
with such trle'-
by all means, said l. i shall awake di-
rectly. Make yourself ht home there's a
log in that corner. Don't sit in the irving
pan, that's good fellow. Now for it.
After many lrotestations, and taking of
his hat az n he was ia draw inc-room, Mr..
shannon at last came to anchor ON one of the
short logs which, turnrd IN the end. served
US Tor seats. Tile done, h. commenced cx.
Tlorlng hi porkets one uIt.r another, with.
out success knowing wfat he wanted. |
threw him over the cake OF tobacco.