The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-09-09

heard before in the camp. The pines
stopped moaning, the river ceased to
rush and the fire to crackle. 1t seemed
as if nature hal stopped to listen too.
The camp rose to its feet as one man.
1t was proposed to explode barrel of
gunpowder; but, in consideration Of the
mother, better counsels prevailed, and |
only a few revolvers were discharged.
For, whether owing to the rude surgery
of the camp, or some other reason, Cher
okee Sal was sinking fast. Within an |
hour, she had climbed, as ii were, that |
rugged road that led to the stars, and so |
passed out of Roaring Camp, its sin and |
shame, forever. do not think that the
announcement disturbed them much,
except in speculation as to the fate of
the child. "Can he live now" was
asked of Stumpy. The answer was
doubtful. The only other being of Cher
okee Sails sex and maternal condition
in the settlement was an ass. There
was some conjecture as to fitness, but
the experiment was tried. 1t was less
problematical than the ancient treat
ment of Romulus and Remus, and ap.
parcntly as successful.
When these details were completed,
which exhausted another hour, the door
was opened, and the anxious crowd,
which had already formed themselves
into queue, entered in single file. Be-
side the low bunk or shelf, on which
hn nft 10 rlr Lev,
outlined below the blankets, stood a
pine table. On this candlebox was
placed, and within it, swathed in star
ing red flannel, lay the last arrival at
Roaring Camp. Beside the candlebox
was placed hat. Its use was soon in
dicated, "Gentlemen," said Stumpy,
with singular mixture of authority
and er o6icio complacency-"Gentlemen
will please pass in at the front door.
Them as wish to contribute anything
toward the orphan will find hat han
dy."
The first man entered with his hat
on; he uncovered, however, as he
looked about him, and so, unconscious.
ly set an example to the next. In such
communities good and bad actions are
catching.
AS the procession filed in, comments
were audible-criticism addressed, per
haps, rather to Stumpy, in the charac-
ter of Snowman: SIS that him 2"
"Mighty small specimen" Hasn't
MORN got the color" "Ain't bigger nor
a derringer." The contributions were
as characteristic-a silver tobacco box,
a doubloon, navy revolver, silver
mounted; gold specimens; very
beautifully embroidered lady's hand
kerchief from Oakhurst the gambler);
a diamond breastpin; a diamond ring
(suggested by the pin, with the remark
from the giver that she saw the pin and
went two diamonds better"); slung
shot; Bible contributor not detected)
q golnen spur; silver teaspoon (the in
itials, I regret to say, were not the Civ
er's); pair of surgeons shears; a Ian.
Get; Bank Of England note for e5; and
about 5000 in loose gold and silver coin,
During these proceedings Stumpy
maintained silence as impasive as the
dead on his left, gravity as inscruta.
BILE as that of the newly born on his
right. Only one accident occurred tc
bread the monotony of the curious pro-
| cession. AS Kentuck bent over the can
dlcbox, half curiously, the child turned
and in spasm of pain, caught at his
5 grCping finger, and held it fast for q
4 moment. Kentuck looked foolish and
embarrassed. Something like blush
, tried to assert itself in his weather bea'
t ten cheek. "The id little cuss!" ht
' said as he extrcated his finger, with
2 perhaps more tenderness and care than
he might have been deemed capable OF
A showing, He held that finger little
; apart from its fellows as he went ou
D and examined it curiously. The exam
V ination provoked the same original re
marp in regard to the child. In fact
: he seemed to enjoy repeating it. "H
d rastled, with my finger" he remarked
9; to Upton, holding up the member" "th
! id little cuss!"
t 1t was four O'Clock before the cam
$ sought repose. A light burned in tn
1 cabin where the watchers sat, for Stun
$ py did not 90 to bed that night. MOI
. did Kentuck. lie drank quite freel.
>. ami related with great gusto his expe
D rience, invariably ending with his char
d acteristic condemnation of the new
conner. 1t seemed to relieve him of any
a unjust implication of sentiment AnC
G Kentuck had the weakness of the no
e bier sex. When everybody else ha'
). gone to bed he walked down to the riv
/. er and whistled reaectively. Then h
r. walked up the gulch, passed the cabin
q still whistling with demonstrative con
: cern. AT Il large redwood tree he pause
r and then retraced his steps, and agai
/. passed the cabin. Half way down t
IS the rivers bank he again paused, an
n then turned and knocked at the door
r 1t was opened by Stumpy.
n "How goes it 20 said Kentuck, look
). ing past Atumpy towards the candiebo
r. "All serene" replied Stumpy. "Any
), thing up?" Nothing" There was
u pause-an embarrassing one-Stump
ID still holding the door. Then Kentuc
e. had recourse to his finger, which h
L. held up to Stumpy. "Rastled with it.
)t the dem'd little cuss," he said, and re
tired.
he The next day Cherokee Sal had sue
le rude sepulture as Roaring Camp afford
ar ed. After her body had been commit
r. ted to the hill side, there was a formi
er meeting of the camp to discuss whi
b. should be done with her infant. A re
u. olution to adopt it was unanimous an
N enthusiastic. But an animated discu
" sion in regard to the manner and feas
I'd bility of fproviding for its wants,at one
sprung up. 1t was remarkable that Il
ed argument partook OF ofnoneof those fer