Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-11-25


Bierstadt now a-davs ! What has he
done but twist, and skew, and distort,
and discolor, and be-lttle, and e-pretty
this whole doggoned country q? Why,
his mountains are too high and too
slim; they'd blow over in one of our
fall winds. I've herded colts two sum
mers in Yosemite, and, honest now,
when | stood right up in front of his
picture, l didn't know it. He hasn't
what old Ruskin calls for
By this time the station buildings
were in sight, and far down the canon,
winding in even grade around spur after
spur, outlined by low, clinging cloud
of red dust, we could see the great Sier-
ra mule train-that industrial gulf
stream flowing from California plains
over into arid Nevada. carrying thither
materials for life and luxury. In vast,
perpetual caravan of heavy wagons,
drawn by teams of from eight to four
teen mules, all the supplies of many
cities and villages were hauled across
the Sierra at an immense cost, and with
such skill of driving and generalship of
mules as the world has never seen be-
fore.
Our trail descended toward the grade,
quickly bringing us to a high bank i'm
mediately overlooking the trains, few
rods below the group of station build
ings.
had by this time learned that Cop
pies, the former station proprietor, had
suffered amputation of the leg three
times, receiving from the road men, in
consequence, the name of "Cut- off, y
and that, while his doctors disagreed as
to whether they had better try fourth,
the kindly hand of death had spared
him that pain, and Mrs. Copples an
added extortion in the bill
The dying "Cut,off" had made his
wife promise she would stay by and car
ry on the station until all his debts,
which were many and heavy, should be
all paid, and then do as she chose.
The poor woman, New Englander of
some refinement, fingered, sadly fulfill
ing her task, though longing for liberty.
When Smith came to speak of Sarah
Jane, her niece, a new light kindled in
| his eye.
I" You never saw Sarah Jane ?" he in
quired.
Tshook my head.
He went on to tell me that he was
| living in hope of making her Mrs. ii.
g., but that the barkeeper also INDUCED
hope, ana as this important function
ary was man of ready cash and of
Derringers and few words, it became a
delicate matter to avow open rivalry !;
but it was evident my friends star was
in the ascendant, and, learning that he
considered himself to possess the "dead
wood " and to have "gaited" the bar
keeper, was amused, even comforted.
1t was pleasure to SIT there leaning
against a vigorous old oak while Smith
| opened his heart to me in easy conf
dence, and, with quick eye, pencilled
in little sketch book leg, head, or
such portions of body and harness as
seemed to him useful for future works.
"These are notes." he said, I've
pretty much made up my mind to paint
my great picture on a gee-puU. I'll
| scumble in a sunset effect, lighting up
the dust and striking across the backs
of team and driver, and I'll paint a
-up-there-damn-you look on the
just humping themselves and laying
down to work like they'd expire. And
the wagon! Don't you see what fine
color material there is in the heavy load
and top with sunlight and shadow in
the folds? And that's what's the mat
ter with H. G. Smith. Orders, sir, or
ders, that's what I'll get then and I'll
take up little Sarah Jane and light out
for New York, and you'll see Smith on
studio door-plate, and folks'll say,
Fine feeling for nature has Smith 7"
let this singular man speak for him
self in his own vernacular, pruning
nothing of its idiom, or slang, as you
may choose to call it.
The breath of most Californans is as
unconsciously charged with slang as
an Italians with garlic, and the two, af-
ter all, have much the same function
you touch the bowl or your language,
but should never let either be recogniz.
ed in salid or conversation. Yet Smiths
English was the well undefiled when
compared with what | every moment
heard from the current of teamsters
which set constantly by us in the direc-
ton of Copples'.
Smith and l followed, and as we
neared the house he punched me IA
miliarly and said, as brown petticoat
disappeared in the station door,
ihCiO o 'odith w HtIl SSc tIi1t
girl feel like I'd reach out and gather
her in" then clasping her imaginary
form as if she was about to dance with
him, he executed couple of waltz
turns, softly intimating, "I'hat't what's
the matter with Ii. c.
AS hotel Copples' is on the Mon
golian plan, which means that dining.
room and kitchen are given over to the
mercies-never very tender-of China
men; not such Cinnamon as learned
thu art of pig-roasting that they might
be served up by Ella, but the average
John, and sadly low average that
John is. grant him a certain general
air of thrift, admitting, too, that his
lack of sobriety never makes itself APP
parent in loud, Celtic brawl. But he is,
when all is said, and in spite of timil
and fawning obedience, very poor SER
want.
Now and then at friends house it
has happened to me that dined upon
artistic Chinese cookery, and all they
who come home from living in China
smack their lips over the relishing cd-
SINE. wish they had sat down that
day at Copples'. No; on second thought
l would spare them.
John may 60 peacefully to North
Adams and make shoes for us, but |
shall not solve the awful domestic
problem by bringing him into my kit.