Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-03

4
''With your kind permission" said Mr..
| Winter, I'll occupy this bunk, (pointing
to mine) and without waiting for the usu-
al response, wrapped himself in my new
blankets, and with boots still upon his
feet, was soon sound asleep and snoring.
That night l slept on the floor, and
dreamt hundred different things, all re-
lating to Mr.. Winter and his numerous
feminine progeny. The streets of our
village was thronged with miners, who
came from far and near. The cry of
'fhere they come" reverberated from a
thousand gulches and ravines A carriage
drawn by long line of horses drew up
in front of our cabin.
| Just then l was disturbed in my dreams
by voice giving the happy intelligence
that he ''rose with the lark, and, by the
way, said the same voice, 81 sometimes
indulge in what my eldest daughter calls
an eye-opener. Please inform me where
l can place my hand upon that demijohn. +"
/ informed him that there was not a
drop of any kind of spirits in the house.
"My heavens, sir, is that possible9"
| l informed him that it was, but that l
would soon remedy the evil by going to
| the store.
'9Iy dear friend do so by all means;
and while you are investing, buy for my
individual account two bottles of Holland
gin and one of French brandy"
| complied with Mr.. Winters order, al
though in mercantile parlarce it was Gun
accompanied with cash"
On my return, Mr.. Winter lost no time
in opening bottle of gin, and putting it
to his mouth be kept it there until one
third of its contents were duly trans
fered.
''The peculiar state of my health, said
Mr.. Winter, ''requires that / should
stimulate freely for several days to come;
but assure you, sir, do not like it.
''Well, " said Mr.. Rosey Bill, 'if man
can hide that much gin and don't like it,
how much could he store away if he only
did2"
Before dinner the two bottles of gin
were gone, and the brandy seemed TO be
''passing away"
Our visitor spent three days with US,
and venture the opinion that no warrior,
howeve fresh from his fields of glory, was
ever so Toasted or so honored. His daily
walks through the village called forth
miners from every cabin. Everywhere he
was greeted with bows and most gracious
smiles. Liquors of all descriptions, dur
ing his visit, flowed as freely in every
cabin as the mountain waters of the Yuba.
The most costly cigars were forced upon
him, regardless of their fabulous prices.
Even real champagne was drank on sever
al occasions in honor of the arrival of this
distinguished gentleman.
At any hour of the day, and almost at
any time at night, our visitor could be
seen at some cabin, with his legs elevated,
with cigar in his mouth, and bottle of
inspiring beverage at his side. Go where
he would, he was truly welcome guest.
''Are you acquainted with Mr.. Winter"
said a miner TO me, after that gentleman
had been with us two days. informed
him that was. -''Then," said he, 81 pre-
sumo you know that he has four marriage
able daughters"
Give, said I
''Four,n said the miner; che told me so
himself, and as l see him coming we will
soon find out who is right. By the way,
believe he drinks"
Mr.. Winter having approached US, |
said to him that my young friend and my
self were having dispute relative to the
size of his family. ''This young gentle
man will insist" said l, ''that you told
him that you only had only four daugh-
tiers, while am equally confident that you
informed me that you had five.
''Wel, pom my soul, said Mr.. Winter,
this is really capital joke. Still harp
ing on my daughters, as the poet says.
| 1t is but natural after all that the youth of
one sex should feel deep interest in the
| youth of the other. In this instance you
are both right. You see, sometimes
include my youngest daughter Clarinda,
and sometime don't. | can hardly real
| ize that she has reached wOman's estate.
| This explanation, trust, will explain my
| apparent inconsistency. But to change
| the topic, was Just cOnversing with a
| brother miner. | think they call him
Mr. LimpiDg Jake, and | stated to him
whist | am now going to relate to you.
| told the gentleman referred to that |
was a man who INDUCED in no superfuity
of words told him that / was a plain
blunt man that l. had a large family of
daughters, and that was poor, and una
bic to bring my family from Marysville
to this place unless assisted pecuniarily
| by some of the miners-Or, in
other words, that | required the spondu-
liX. / stated that was not mendicant,
and simply asked the loan of the insight
ficant sum of about three or four hundred
dollars-to be restored, of course, imme-
diately after the establishment of the
Miners Home. Mr.. Limping' Jake is
now getting up subscription with a view
of placing me in possession of this
amount
l assured Mr. Winter that there was
not doubt of his obtaining the amount
specified, and even more, if his necessi
ties required it.
The next day Mr.. Limping Jake ha(
received and transferred to Mr.. Winter
the sum of three hundred and fifty dol
lars. Our poet demanding that he should
have the honor of heading the list will
the largest sum.
MIR. Winter having informed us that h
would new depart by the first stage, W.
invited him to parting dinner. On thi
, / OCCaSlOu, us Uu lOIllCA OuCS, Oul SuCe
proved himself a good eater, but demon
strated the fact that drinking was his par
ticular force.
After the disappearance of about gal
Ion of whisky, Mr.. Winter seemed to b
obliyious of the fact that he was SINAI
of few words" The roaring of Niagari
I was not more unceasiD- han was tn
sound of his voice. He assured us tha
we had been toogenerous-too kind. Tha
he did not merit all the consideratio
which had been bestowed upon him-thf
q we had been magnanimous beyond his d.
= serts. He talked until he could talk n
/, more, and having assured us, in perorf
i ton, that he would bet his bottom dolls
: m ''red eye, " fell under the table and vs.
+ ooOn sound asleep.
:; his departure.
The mysterious and incredible part
:. this story is yet untold. Its conclusC
o will reveal a wonderful phenomenon in N
h ture, involving a most singular disa
Il rangement of the seasons.
The winds have howled and whistle
a for many long year through the lea
10 trees about that old mountain home. IT
n DAYS and nights have oftentimes been
10 cold that the weary miners have clul
y close to the bright blaze of their cab