The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-08-13
MisrflIaneous.
MIGGLES.
from the California overland Monthly. ]

From the California Overland Monthly.1
We were eight, including the driver.
We had not spoken during the passage
of the last six miles, since the jolting of
the heavy vehicle over the roughening
road had spoiled the Judges last poeti-
cal quotation. The tall man beside the
Judge wasasloep his arm passed through
the swaying strap and his heal resting
upon it-altogether limp, helpless
looking object, as if he had hangel him
self and been cut down too late. The
French lady on the back seat was asleep,
too, yet in a half conscious propriety of
attitude shown even in the disposition
ofthe handkerchief which she held her
forehead, and which partially veiled her
face. The lady from Virginia City,
travelling with hor husband, had long
since lost all individuality, in a wild
confusion of ribbons, wells, furs and
shawls. There was no sound but the
rafting of wheels and the dash of rain
upon the roof. Suddenly tn e stage stop
ped, and we became dimly aware of
voices. The driver was evidently in the
midst ofan exciting colloquy, with some
one in the road-a colloquy, of which
such fragments a" bridge gone, ""twen-
ty feet of water" "can't pass" were
occasionally distinguished above the
storm. Then camea lull, the mysteri
Gus voice from the road shouted the
parting adjuration:
"Try Miggles."
We caught sight of our leaders as the
vehicle slowly turned, of n horseman
vanishing through the rain, and we
were evidently on our way to "Mig-
gles."
Who and where was Miggles? The
Judge, our authority, did not remember
the name, and he knew the country
thoroughly. The Washoe traveller
thought Miggles must keep hotel. We
only knew that we were stopped by
high water in front and rear, and, that
Miggles was our rock of refuge. A ten
minute splashing through a tangled by
road scarcely wide enough for the stage,
and we drew up before barred and
boarded gate in wide stonowall or fence
about eight feet high. Evidently Mig
gles,' and evidently Miggles did not
keep a hotel.
The driver got down and tried the
gate, 1t was securely locked.
"Miggles o Miggles !"
No answer
"Miggles !! You Miggles ~ continued
the driver, with rising wrath.
"Migglcsy =" joined in the express
man, pcrsuasively. so Miggy Mig"
But no reply came from the apparent
ly insensate Miggles. The Judge, who
had finally got the window down, put
his head out and propounded series of
questions, which, if answered categori-
cally, would have undoubtedly eluci-
dated the whole mystery, but which the
driver ovaded by replying that "if we
didn't want to sit in the coach all night,
Miggles."
So we rose up and called on Miggles
in chorus. Then separately. And when
we had finished, IIibernian fellow
passenger from the roof called for'May-
gels ~ whereat we all laughed. While
we were laughing, the driver cried
"Shoow
We listened. To our infinite amaze
ment, the chorus of "Miggles" was re-
peated from the other side of the wall
even 10 the final and supplemental
"Maygells."
Extraordinary echo," said the Judge
"EXtraordinary ID skunk !" roared
the driver contemptuously. ''Come out
of that, Miggies, and show yourself! BE
II man, Miggles! Don't hide in the
dark l wouldn't if l were you, Mig
giles, ,"continued Yuba Bill now dancing
about in an excess of fury.
"Miggles!" continued the voice, so
Miggles"
my good man, Mr.. Myghail!" said
the Judge, softening the asperities of the
name as much as possible, "consider the
inhospitality of refusing shelter from
the inclemency of the weather to help
less females. Really, my dear sir
but succession of "Miggles," ending
in burst of laughter drowned his
voice.
Yuba Bill hesitated no longer. TAX.
ing heavy stone from the road, he bat.
tered down the gate, and with the eX,
pressman entered the enclosure. We
followed. Nobody was to be seen. In
the gathering darkness all that We
could distinguish was that wo were in a
garden-frOm the rose bushes that scat
tered over US minute spray from theil
dripping leaves-and before long
rambling wooden building.
"Do sou know this Migglcs?" asked
the Judge OF Yuba Bill.
"No, nor don't want TO-" said Bill
shortly, who felt the Pioneer Stage Com
pany insulted in his person by the con
lumacious Miggles.
"3ut, my dear Sir" eXpostulated the
Judge, as he thought Of the barred
gate.
"L0okeo here" said Yuba Bill, with
irony, "ladn't you better go back aud
sit in the coach till yer introduced? Pm
going in,' and he pushed open the door
of tho building.
A long room, lighted only by the ON
bers of fire that was dying ON the large
hearth at its furthest extremity. The
walls curiOusly papered, and the flicker
ing fire light bringing out its grotesquC
pattern. Somebody sitting in Il large
armchair by the fire place. All thi'
we saw as we crowded together into
the room after the driver and express
man.
The figure neither spoke nor stirred
Yuba Bill walked wrathfully toward it
! and turned the eye of his coach Lantern
upon its face. 1t was IA mans face pre-
\ n Igl