The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-02-02
BY THE CAMPFIRE.
BY ELLIS YETTE.

We uAuc kOOu ljIut dnS
when the sun set we camped in The
shadow of Virginia Dale. There were
hundreds of miles between us and the
Sierras-lcagues of sage brush, alkali
and drifting sand; but the summer had
only just opened, and We were well on
our way. The days were not yet at theil
longest, but we had made thirty-five
miles since sunrise; and we took care o1
the stock and turned in to supper with
the pleasing consciousness that We had
done well.
We were a motley group; old miners
two or three trappers, half dozen "ten.
der. er.feet"-cnjoying their first experiene
Of western life-a few half breeds, and
the usual amount of "mule skinners. u
This was several years ago, ard / dc
not mind admitting that 1 was one o
the.' tender feet" to whom everything
was wonderful, and the Rocky Noun.
tains the acme of earthly magnifcence
I was deeply impressed with the grand.
eur of those western soitudes, and
delighted with the wild new world
which was opening at every step. Then
too, l was surrounded with men OF
whose life and habits knew as little as
if they had been Esquim:ux; and, in
spite of its hardships and dangers, it was
1,ost delightful summer
Our plan Of travel was to be on the
way soon after daylight: and, as the sun
grew stronger, to lie by for three or -four
hours in the middle OF the dav, end
continue our journey until long after the
moon had risen. But the day OIL which
we reached Virginia Dale had been
rather cloudy, and we were able to travel
only until sunset, and then camp in the
shadow of its wonderful rocks.
BY the time supper was over, it was
quite dark, and we heapcd brush on the
camp fire, and lounged around it, smok-
ing, telling stories, or going to sleep. l
lit cigar, and. managed by the flicker
ing light, to arrange few flowers l had
gathered and was pressing in an old
diary for-some one at home, l was try
ing to make the flowers stay in good
position against the Leaf, when shadow
came between me and the fire, and a
rough voice said:
"Suthin' for the women folks, I rcck.
on"
"Yes," / answered, closing the book;
II promised my sister to bring her some
flowers from the Rock iesn
"Humph! young man, ye needn't
blush so for your sister, an to an old
!, chap like me!''
4 l offered him cigar.
: Don't care ef do; your terbaccer'>
IN ller's firstrate."
" "Of course, it came from home"
zen d with little sigh, thinking of some
he in that home, which just then
IN In. stled a long way off.
ing cold m IN loo'Se up wishfully.
sn. .sk ye've got a home, set heap OF
1sE 'nE s'oi " it, young man;-'tain't every
' one ,as.n
-, quiet about the fire now, and
IS a hau " thinking of home, and was in
ses es fa.hel softened mood; but I was sur
"ms ,"is phscu hear "Indian Bili' famous
'nl9 ,as lor MS lting and wild exploits) Speak
ing ing IN thas ktle tone.
J.,: J9. sihoN on in silence.
nese ad any home t'speak of, 'he
''''' '''','"ohfter short pause, ''an
"A 'i1o'e . 'no ,ty; but I feels eff every
soohss'ei = you, who's got home
an' women l. . - oora tor,in, o,nh,a,
think heap ,a,or
i. YES" I re- .1k,ow bou, ,,o,
ting my ".o ow l am so far away,
nhS viE III" ICE. '' va h could die in thei
VII" defence"
e, D,'" fine" said Indiar
h'"' !''' the ashes from hi
ers' cigar; but folks a, or.o, ..1,aa 49,, >,
die fur folks-least o. 49,, o,
NJ was raised; am b, ,,,orf,, of,or
every day IS more &C, ,son,ot;,,os ,,,o,
d dol, all yer dyin'. Ye em., ,avo vie On,
4 BY '1o,'e Vi ~ o"A W, and yen d.
cien- .u,, ,.;.,yI,
.ntiy sG ,', "God grant IT." l sal.ftly.
r., nv ""7 little, ant
blish- Bill gathered the falling ra, w., -,
fresh wood, and sat down In r. ~
1cAI A glare of the flames.
OR II dunno what brought ,;,,
he began again, "but Iv'abi ,;,l,; =,
ubs of suthin' that happened on ..hon
zen, was crossin' Il few years ago
who "something that happened ,o,
rated I asked, ''
ntite "Not to me, but to some o,
!: folks in our train. / haint ,,oh
., 81 ont before for good spell, an ~,
e for why l do now,-only twas Mig, !,
ant. time O year, an jest sich piL
aject. this.
amsr nfo- Suppose you tell me about j,
= free, ,er suggested, as l threw away the 81
l. Of my cigar and wrapped myselfln
s.: s.. blanket.
- "Taint much to tell," he answ
'only't makes wanderin' feller liz
lnty, feel kinder lost to see folks have an
''''' more'n they want, an kinder rifle
~ ~, see 'em throw it away like fools.
rcuit that's neither here nor there" an
,ard, M began:
nun. nun, ''Nigh three years ago I was at c
ance la, lest agOln' to start for tl' Yves
,hich had been out tradin' with the In
.ncn- .pcaf an sich good spell, an it was
rit Of seven years sence I'd seen the Mis-
: River; SO / come back to look rount
and ~ .,o ,ll o,,,,;,, ,.,oa H..
cond seo VIC VI" Sa'hP'A bAooh"o' D"1,
egnn sa,, it wasn't a mite as It used to b.
tered was all bein' settled, an towns al
ereon :. l;l,,. Iao,, ,...,, ,:,a
ition. up I'LL IL uiuA looh HaluIailIke,
IN. said I'd jest go back to th' buff;
4 1 Ii 1.