Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-02-18
NUMBER 7.

|
landlady bounded off to the kitchen to pour her
grievances into the sympatizing ear of the cook.
The fact was that our worthy hostess, albeit
good kindhearted soul, had haukering fond
ness for the Goddess of Liberty as portrayed on
halt-dollar pieces and loved to her images
stacked up in the drawer. No doubt the good
lady had made mental calculation as to the
quantity OF dust she would take in that day in
exchange for hot toddes," " port sangarees,'
cigars, etc, and this unheard of action on the
part of the miners, in going to work, instead of
laying off, )" had upset that calculation COM
p'etely. Under the circumstances think Mrs.
Graysou an ill-used woman, in which opinion I
have no doubt my readers will agree with me.
Bnt IT Mrs Grayson had reason to complain
that there was no demand that day for drnka-
bles she certainly had none in regard to the eat
ing department. For at the supper table (which
was not set till late hour) not only the regular
boarders, but all the neighborng miners were
present. They had come in from their claims,
apparently, as each company had the gold-pan
containing the days work with them. These
pans were set upon a long shelf overhead and
the boys proceeded to make ready for the COM
ing occasion. Their preparations did not take
up much time-a new blue or red shirt from the
store with fresh pair of overals was the ex-
! tent.
| When the supper was finished the long ta-
bic was carried out of doors and small ono
brought in from the widows room. On it was
placed two or three candles, Mrs. Grayson's BIZ
BILE and (rather out of place it seemed too) the
mak-pan. And now they come-lsaac and Alice,
Mr.. Styles and the widow. The Clergyman was
in waiting aud stepping forward after few well
chosen words, performed the ceremony which
made them husband and wife. As he retired
the Forty-niner rose and drawing his bench up
! to the little table, checked by motion of his
hand the applause that was beginning to break
| forth.
Gentleman said he, ait is now O'Clock,
the time to which the miners meeting last night
! adjourned. As Chairman of that meeting call
you to order.h
Then there was instant silence.
" propose them" he resumed, /" that we
commence from down the creek and work up.
All in favor will vote aye"
growl of "ayes" was heard from all parts
of the room.
" Very WELL then. We are ready to hear
from the company on Secret Ravue."
This was our whilom friend " Scraggy's" COM
pany. Without word that worthy from
his seat selected their gold-pan from the array
of pans on the shelf, held il moment to the
fire, then giving it shake till the last particles
were loosened, empted its contents into Alce's
MlLK-PAN.
every good" said the Forty miner peerng in
" them fellows wat first struck them diggings
were right in keepin it to themselves. Higgins
| Brothers"
The eldest brother singled out their pan and
had the name of the best claim the creek
"Better yet, said the Chairman, "yol boys
have two ounce diggins' reckon, or else you're
saltin' EN- on yourselves. Grub Flat"
This company One OF my partners
took our pan and added its contents to the pile.
Mr.. Goodman had his comment to make of
course.
| "Pretty fair grub you fellows can have if it
pungles that way. The Corncrackers'"
In this manner the call went on until every
company had been called Gncudng Goodman 81
and each pan emptied into the little milk-pan on
the table. Alice looked wonderingly on, but
Mrs. Grayson, (who had not been let into the Sc
cret for fear the temptation to tell would be too
strong) mstrusted something from the erst
| When the last pan had been empted and the
bottom of the little milk-pan covered with the
yellow, shining dust, the Forty-niner arose. and
taking it advanced to where the wly-married
pair sitting. "This," said he, presenting
the pan TO Alice, is token of our respect and
admiration Of true womanly love and of the
| friendship we feel for your husband. The doc
tor has told some of us that lattery he has some
hopes that your husbands sight may be in
measure restored, ii he is able to place himself
under the care of some OF them doctor-chaps
down at the Bay. We agreed last night to take
n day which otherwise might have been spent in
! idleness or perhaps worse, and give what we
made for the purpose of taking our part of the
| burden of one of our number. What has hap
pened to him in the mines may happen to me, or
| to any of us tomorrow. And we have given our
mite as he would have given his if one of US
had been in his place and he in ours"
! He spoke with a rude eloquence that affected
us all. Ike tried vainly to say some thing, while
Alice put her handkerchief to her f,fe, and for
the first time her fortitude seemed ttdesert her.
1" We are II rough set, us miners ii Fhe mount
aims and, perhaps, it will not do \ look too
closely into our lives at all time But in q
| III Of
other and generally do it. And if you happen
| to run short mind you, let us know aud we'll
send down another days work if we have to do
il on the Fourth OF july"
A round of applause greeted this proposition.
Alice rose, aud taking the pan from Goodman's
hands, replied in a broken voice
"We thank you, sir and we thank the gen.
erous men who, with you, have done us this
kind action We will not pain you by refusing
or hestating to accept that which you so gen.
erously offer. And whether by its aid we can
| succeed in restoring light to tY husbands eyes
or not we shall none the less ht your thought
full kindness in grateful memorA
| Ike had risen and trying % speak.
! "Never mind, old fellow" cried the Forty
Miner GO we all know what you want to say.
Give us all a shake of the hand instead" And
| he gave his hand such a grasp as bear might
be supposed to give, while the boys crowded
around to give their warm congratulations.
| The contents of the pan, when cleaned and
weighed amounted to nearly eleven hundred
dollars. The next express took Ike and Alice
to the Bay, and for many years heard nothing
of them. Early in March the news reached us
that on SCOTS River new mines of extraordin-
airy richness had been discovered-coarse chunks
often found on the surface. The rush for Scotts
River commenced, many of MS leaving better
claims than we have owned since | never re-
turned to C-vile, but some years afterwards
saw one of the wiser miners who had stayed
behind, and from him l learned that lsaac's
sight was good enough for him to walk around
and do some kinds of work, though he could