The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-10-07

his entire stock in-trade, and for them
he cherished something bordering
upon affection.
Shakes was viewed as one of Norway
Flats fixtures. 1t had been settled
long ago in the minds of it's inhabitants
that his bones would decay in the little
cemetery on the knoll overlooking the
Flat. The idea of his removing was
never for moment entertained by any
one in that secluded community.
Shakes and Norway Flat had grown up
with one another. Norway Flat was
Shakes home. If he possessed a home
elsewhere, he had never been heard to
speak of it.
The winter of 80 had set in. 1t was
about the middle of November The
ground was covered with several inches
of snow The tinllling of sleigh, bells
was heard in the distance, and the lit
tie town on the Fat was instantly
thrown into commOtiOn. 1t was all
occasioned by the arrival of {" Bar
nard's Monthly Express" The arrival
of the express was an important event
in the otherwise mOnotOnOus routine of
every day life at Norway Flat; for be
it remembered that the era of wagon
roads and railroads had not then been
inaugurated, and communication be-
tween that mountain retreat and civil
zatiOn was at best unfrequent and un
certain Among the anxious faces
awaiting the opening of the little wick
ct OF the Postoffice and the distribution
of letters appeared that of Shakes.
Shortly afterwards he was observed in
tently perusing letter.
>'Dam'd # J. don't make tracks fur
hum" he suddenly exclaimed, and as
suddenly bid farewell to Norway Flat
and its surroundings.
That evening Shakes was missed from
his usual haunts, and it soon became
generally known that he had left the
Flat. This was an unprecedented cpl
sope in Norway Flats history. Moth
ing had ever occurred before to disturb
its uniform equanimity, excepting the
shooting of Red Alick by Russian Bill
in a moment of frepZied excitement,
produced in the heat of a discussion as
to the merits of the parties then en-
gagged III the Crimean War. His de-
parture was the universal topic of con-
versation around every fireside and in
every bar-room III the camp. The
speculations as to the cause were as
varied as they were improbable.
The thermometer at Browns that
evening indicated $50 below zero :;
but no fears We're harbored in the mind
of any one as to the safety of the one
who had 50 unceremoniously left the
camp ''homeward bound"
Weeks passed on, and nothing had
been seen or heard Of Shakes since his
departure. Norway Flat had almost
forgotten him. Brown, the landlord
of the Occidental, was standing in
his doorway, gazing abstractedly at the
distant wlndingS of the down
country" trail. 1t was only the pre-
vlOus day that a prospecting party had
passed along it from the Flat, bound
for the deserted mining camp of Dig
gers Delight, situated about ten miles
distant. His thoughts naturally re-
cured to their departure and pros
poets Suddenly, his quick eye de
tected in the distance a group of men
slowly trudging toward the Flat, and
was somewhat astonished to recognize
In them the prospectors of DIggers'
Delight returning, bearing with them a
heavy burden. The news soon spread
tIl'tt )lldhtS lldt petn 1Oulu utttu dU
Diggers' Delight. 1t was evident that
night had overtaken him there, and
that he had determined to spend it in
one of the deserted shanties. The
fire place had been filed by him with
wood, ready for the match but it re-
manned unkindled. Why, no one
could answer. The verdict of all who
heard the story was that he had fallen
victim to the severity of the weather
on the evening of the day he left the
: Flat, or, as they expressed it friz
) dead"
, In an inside pocket of vest worn
underneath his ragged overshirt, a
packet of letters was found, all of
| which were written in the same hand
writing, and addressed to "Jas VIII
kinson, Esq, Norway Flat " Sundry
, photographs were also discovered in
the same pOcket-one of an aged lady,
/ another of a woman in the prime of
life, and the rest Of three beautiful
} girls of from 10 to Is years of age
) All the letters bore the same postmark,
e., Me" Each envelope was en-
dorse in pencil mark, "Recd (date).
j. W." One of them was endorsed,
Reed. Nov, II, 1859, J. W" That
was the day that Shakes left Norway
Flat. Its contents explained the mys-
terry Of his life and poverty, and ran
thus:
-, MAINE, Aug. 80, 1859.
Ny DEAR JAMES: Your last remit
lance of $3.50 has been duly received.
and the mortgage on the farm is now
paid. * x * Have you not impov-
erished yourself to keep us in compar-
ative luxury? We have wanted moth
ing. 4 Mother is ailing and
rapidly declining. Doctor says she
cannot possibly live through the com
ing winter. She longs to see you,
James, before she dies EN-
ma. Anna, and Gerty are all well. X
Q, james, do come home at once:
if not, shall sell the place next spring
and come to Norway Flat myself
Your affectionate wife
ELLEN WILKINSON.
The bright side of Shakes character
which he had SO carefully concealed
from The sight of his fellow-men, was
here revealed. And he had now gone
to another home to receive his reward.
-Ooeri0nG NOnthky, September.