Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-11
By the Camp Fire.

brush, alkali, and drifting sand; but
the summer had only just opened, and
we were well on our way. The days
were not yet at their longest, but we
had made thirty,fve miles since sun,
rise; and we took care of the stock
and turned into supper with the pleas
ing consciousness that we had done
well,
We were motley group; old mi
ners, two or three trappers, half a
dozen slender feet"-enjoying their
experiences of Western life-a few
half.breeds, and the usual amount Of
"mul2-skinners."
This was several years ago, and l
do not mind admitting that was one
of the "tender feet" to whom every
thing was wonderful, and the Rocky
Mountains, the acme of earthly mag
niicence. was deeply impressed
with the grandeur of those Western
solitudes, and delighted with the
wild new world which was opened at
every new step. Then, too, l was
surrounded with men of whose life
and habits knew as little as if they
had been EsquimauX; and, in spite of
its hardships and dangers, it was a
most delightful summer.
Our plan of travel was to be on the
way soon after daylight; and, as the
sun grew stronger, to lie by for three
or four hours in the middle of the
day, and continue our journey until
long after the moon had risen. But
the day on which we reached Virgin.
ia Dale had been rather cloudy, and
we had been able to travel until sun
set, and then camp in the shadow Of
its wonderful rocks.
BY the time supper was over it was
quite dark, and we heaped brush on
the campfire, and Iounged around it,
smoking, telling stories, or going to
sleep. l lit cigar, and managed,
by the Pickering fire, to arrange a few
flowers had gathered and was press
ing in an old diary for--some
one at home. was trying to make
the flowers stay in a good position
, against the leaf, when shadow came
between me and the fire, and a rough
voice said:
"Suthin' for the women folks, l
reckon p
eyes" / answered, closing the book !;
, 81 promised my sister to bring her
: some flowers from the Rockies"
t "Humph. young man, ye needn't
blush so for your sister, and to an
r old man like me =
! | offered him a cigar.
5 Don't care ef | do; your terbac-
5 GERS alters first rate"
r "Of course, it came from home"
, The old man looked up wistfulIy.
e "Ef you've got q home, set heap
t of store by it, young man-'taint ev-
| cry one that has"
e 1t was quiet about the fire now,
e and had been thinking of home, and
}. was IN rather softened mood; but !
r was surprised to hear "Indian Bill
I, famous for his hunting and wild ex-
ploits) speak in that gentle tone.
:, lsmoked on in silence.
c a never had any home t speak of,
+ he continued, after a long pause, "and
;, more's the pity; but | feel as ef ev-
n cry youngster like you, who's got a
|, home and women folks to care for
h oughter think heap on en-"
r Eyes" l replied, Il know how
/, much they are worth, now l am SC
e far away, and feel as though [ could
It die in their defence"
IS "Dying's all very fine said Indian
p Bill, dryly, knocking the ashes from
IS his cigar, "but folks amt often calleC
l. on to die for folks -Ieastwise not
=, where you was raised-and bein
l. kind and keerluI of EN- every day.
g more count sometimes than all ycl
If dyin'. Ye may have wife and home
of yer own some day, and you'll Dc
G. well to think ont"
is "God grant it!" l said, softly.
d The fire was deadening a little
A and Bill gathered the falling brands
,r put on fresh wood, and sat dow
ID again in the glare of the flames.
n, Il dunno what brought it to m,
tn mind :! he began again, "but I've BIZ
m thinkin' Of suthin' that happened
3. onst, when l was crossin' a few year.
tn ago."
= Something that happened to you +?
" | asked.
es "Not to me, but to some wome
ne folks in our train. | hain't though
h. ont before for a good spell, an
r. dunno why l do now-only twas mig
d. this time of the year, and jest such
Id night as this"
n. Suppose you tell me about it,"
Sc suggested, as l threw away the stun
IT. of my cigar, and wrapped myself i
g, my blanket.
lY "'Taint much to tell" he answered
er- "only it makes a wandering felle
be like me feel lost to see folks have a
and more than they want, an kinde
riled to see 'em throw it away lik
re fools. But that's neither here nc
CT. there and he began:
ut Nigh three years ago I was
by Omeha, jest agoin to start for th
he West. | had bin out tradin' with th
IN. lDjuns an sich, a good spell, and
re was seven years since I'd seen IL
d: Missouri River; so | came back /
?" look an see the old campin' ground
But lor! it wasn't mite as it use
: to be-the land was all bein' settle
rst an towns agoin' up, and it didn
na- look natural like; an l said I'd ie
go back to tn bufaloes an bar
'he they're alters the same. So, as
rse said, was at Omeha, agoin' to sta
for what | call the West. l jined
er. company with lot Of fellers goin'
by California. We had good stock al
plenty of grub, an then we started.
"There was some fuss at first 'bo
en- a woman that wanted t. go's cook
of wanted t cook the grub t pay f
'ed goin': and some of the chaps wouldr
uld take her, cause the Injuns was goi
IN; t be on the path, an they didn't wa
an no women. Ses |, EFF she's got plut
ey- t. go, take her; she won't do l