Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-06-14
q selctt Gale.
THE WILDCAT SKIN
A Story of the Australian Gold
Diggings.

Daring my stay at one OF the Australian
dlggings l purchased a commodious resi-
dence, in which lived for some time in soli-
tary state This tenement was situated in a
most desirable locality, in the midst of de-
lightful woodland scenery, and surrounded by
very extensive rark-like grounds. There was
right Of free worren attached to the prop
erty. and good shooting in the neighborhood
To descend to particulars, l may say that the
residence in question consisted of a bark hut.
which was made over to me by my friends,
the Golfers, when they set out for Mount
korong, and which believe to have been one
Of the best appointed and most convenient
dwellings at that time on the Digging.
The fixtures aud furniture Of the hut also
came into my possession, including q table
Of which the legs were weak and uncertain.
and the top slightly on an incline an origi-
nal grid-iron, or bent hoop; several empty
bottles two benches one shelf or sheet of
bark nailed to the wall, containing candles,
calt, pipes and tobacco. and which was usually
filled with water when it rained, the roof be-
ing rather loaky In addition to these valua-
bles, there was bedstead Of frame logs COW
cred with boughs-an article whose luxurious
character il is unnecessary for me 10 point
out.
considered myself one OF the most fortu-
nate fellows in the country. till discovered
that the Golfers had left behind them other
things of less desirable nature. After hay-
ing bought my first bag of flour, became
aware that | had come into the reverson OF
q populous colony Of mice, which consumed
among them almost as much flour as | did
They ratified over my furniture Gt night, and
serenaded me with faint sgueaks Of pleasure
as they pitched into my provisions. There
was no keeping them out. put my damper
into double bags and hung it from the cell
ing-that is to say, from the ridge pole-but
| they climbed down the rope and gnawed n
hole in the bags. After many fruitless efforts,
caught one and made an example OF lin
but found that example was entire lost up
on the rest. They were incorrigibly hungry,
| and WOULD eat. They increased and multi
| piled to such an extent that at length matters
! became serious.
| ] hope l am not by nature cruel, nor much
| given to what are called antipathies. l like
all living creatures in their proper places
There was an old frog lizard which
resided in my chimney, and which was OF a
social disposition. and would come ont some
times and pass the evening with me. Hc
| would sit on the hearth, and stare tiXedly Of
me with lis contemplative eye for an hour TO-
! gether. l never thought OF doing HIM any
harm bst then he was not obtrusive in his
manners--above all, he did not eat -four at
Is. Cd. pound.
Powder and shot we're expensive, but theii
effects were lasting. / got out my revolver
loaded it carefully, and having placed my last
new damper, uncovered, in the middle of the
floor, turned into bed, keeping my eye or
the damper and my finger on the trigger
But not one Of the cunning little rascal;
would come out. Several times one fat ole
fellow popped his head out Of his hole as
though on the watch-my residence was en-
tirey undermined by these animals-looket
at me. and then popped back again, think
he winked at me.
The other inhabitants Of the hut were less
troublesome. There were some tarantulas
or "tr-antelopes,' as Golfer called them
which lived in the bark and were in the habit
of biting people, but ] was told they alway!
respected the person of the proprietor. TheI
there was number Of insects, of such curious
forms and brilliant colors as would have de
lighted nm etomologist. Any one with {
proper regard for the interests Of science
would certainly have collected some of then
in bottle and burned lueifer matches in it
|, however, contented myself with watching
them rs they crowded on my table at night
When by chance had got newspaper, an(
was busy reading, they would delight to wall
over the white paper and futter their gor
geously painted wings. There was kind o
moth with four wings, q little grey-coateG
fellow, which / used to observe with melan
choly curiosity. He would come flying dowl
upon the paper, where he would walk for
while, and then, as if he preferred that mod
Of travelling, would cast off hts wings. on
a. fter another, and become a mere grub. Her
was a theme on which perhaps gold-digge
might moralize. ..
The dggers in the neighborhood wen
away, one after the other, till became con
fined almost exclusively to the society hay
described, However, there was store still
standing about q half mile Off and as lon
: as that remained there was no great cause 0
complaint. A butcher / had no need Q
while the powder and shot lasted, for th
woods yielded plenty Of game, and in abun
dant variety. There were quail, pigeons
(thsse are fne birds with golden wings; lal
ger than the English wood-pigeon,) paroquot