The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-09-01

And answered: because ] did not
choose TO leave you alone, after all you
have done for me. / shall 90 with you,
if you will let me, it does not make
much difference to me whcre.r
lie looked at me kcenly, and said
"Hou had better not; you will wish you
hadn't some day."
We had started fire, and could sec
his face by the light of the blaze.
| felt drawn to him, not from any
sympathy of feeling, but because was
convinced there would come time
when could in measure repay him
for his kindness TO me.
/ reached out my hand and said
well stick together while, old fell
low"
lie would not take it, but said: "The
kettle boils, we might about as well eat
our grub as to waste time talking"
l delivered to him the messages,
which he received in silence, and when
| handed him the package he only said,
'lay it down."
After having made ready for an early
start in the morning, l wrapped myself
in my blanket, aud with my feet to the
fire lay down to sleep. When l woke
up the blaze had died out, but could
see Bill at a distance, bending over
what proved to be hole in the ground.
After while he broke off some green
boughs, threw them into the hole, and
then hastily threw in the earth. He
then came and sat down by the fire. /
watched him for an hour or two, but he
never moved, and when / woke in the
morning, he had not changed his posi-
ton.
We started off, but made an excuse
to return, and hurriedly opened the
ground where / had seen him working
in the night. | do not know what /
expected to see, but certainly was sur
prised when ! found under the cover
ing of earth and green, the little pack
age, which had teariully been intrusted
to my care.
broke the string and found a small
copy of Bunyan's Pilgrims Pro.
gress.n
81 will keep it," said, "and when
he needs me most he will need this"
When we reached the first miners
camp, Bill walked up and was eager
enough until he had scanned the face
of every man. That day he looked
weary, and it was the first time he laid
down when did for the night.
In the morning he sold his team, all
but two horses; those he packed with
blankets and provisions, and we struck
, Off down the canon, stopping wherever
t any one was at work, and going out ol
the way If we heard of a solitary miner.
After awhile he left Off telling me to
: leave him, and l think the companions
ship made him feel more human. Once
, he stopped week when l seemed tired
out, but was restless and uneasy and
, declared " an other day would kill
him."
"Tell me-" said l one day, "why you
, will not rest this life is wearing upon
r you; you cannot endure half the ia.
{ tiguc you could upon the Plains. Let's
, take up a claim and settle down, or il
r you will go on-let me help you
+ couldn't ~
mo-" he answered, and / believe
you are holding me back. i have felt
it ever since l first looked upon your
face when / found you half dead by
these bushes that day. | wish / had
left you die"
He sprang up and confronted me, :. ]
will have no more of this, l shall &C
on alone, and don't you dare to get be
tween me and my work or I'll-"
His eyes fell before mine. "Do YOU
think / am afraid of you? you, who
| wouldn't harm even an insect Haven't
seen you go out of the way, rather
than tread the life out of crawling
worm ?-Shall all these months of un
, selfish care for Others be for nothing
and your hasty words make me leave
you" Besides said ]. II have a work
as you" He looked iHquiringly at me
, "Shall tell you what it is ?"
, lie sat down by the fire which he hat
lighted.
"Kecp still" said he, "for a month
say"
In the morning when we started out
the air was heavy with smoke. Wher
we reached San Francisco, after da,
or two, we found there had been an ex
tensive fire. Bill was unwearied il
! helping build tents for the homeless
, and money went freely to feed th
q starving hundreds, who were likely t
: find only grave in the land which hat
. promised them so much. | felt that
J.. had never known half of his genuin
! goodness of heart until those days; an,
q l left off watching him as had done.
We were stopping at one of the place
a digniicd by the name of "IIotel," an,
Il in those 'early times" considered mag
/. niilcent in the way Of accommodations
quite worth the fabulous prices whic
were demanded for them. But ou
d parlor was the bar-room. and on
+, room" bunk, one Of dozen or so
e the same apartment. We had bee
r staying there perhaps three week,
p when one night | was awakened fror
J, a sound sleep by the fall of some hea '
n body. | listened, but there was no r,
petition, then | groped my way (
Bills bunk. He was not there, thoug
IS | had seen him "turn in" when | did
| took my hat and passed out throug
the bar'room into the darkness an
Is night. Drunken men Of all nation
d and tribes were to be met on the mut
dy sidewalks, their horrid oaths an
obscene jests, muttered or shouted i
ID halfbroken language, reminded me
m terrible description listened to whe
TX child, of the abode of the lost.
The cleaning lights from the drinl
s' ing saloons and gambling hells onl
* added another touch to the picture.
-, / hurried on, peering into ever
= place where was light or sound, and
'n kept up the search until the first ros
inf IN .,I l..