The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-22

4 And th. track behind is like silver bright
Gun sails are trimmed, we are drifting free,
4 o. the placid depths Of the mooi.lit sea. l=s
J as8sssFs5zs ------------- ---------- -
The Old Pfospect0r.
The s.old prospector'' was born pros
pector, but was unaware of that which wa
within him until he found himself anon
: the allriferous hills of the Golden State. Ha
he remained in the sober-goiag agriculture
!. States of the Uslion, the genuine prospecto
would still have been a prospectnr-thougl
perhaps. himself unconscious Of the fact
8 He would have been dissatisfied with CLEAN
I ing small and gradual gains, and with plod
!, ding. stingy trade--would always have bee
seeking some new paths to fortune, and som
ring or lamp of Aladdin that would brin,
him riches withont pains-taking toll. h
a old prospector is no new friend of ours. W.
I have known him for years and years. ant
have met him almost everywhere. He is al
ways the same, meet him wherever YOU may
We saw him Yesterday, slowly marching int
town. Fashions may change, but he heed
t1ItIu HOGt tduUIs dit ~ IdCc QflkiiO0u IL W
4 He was dressed and equipped as when we
i first saw him, resting in the shade of an as-
pen grove. by a gurgling fountain in grand
old canyon leading up into the dark sierras
many long years ago. He bore upon his
back the same roll of well-worn blue blank.
cts; the. same old slouched has sheltered his
struggling gray locks-hats and locks having
endured and bleached together; the same no.
colored wooden shirt still served him in place
hof a coat. and the same old sheeney leatheril
belt did the double duty of CARRYING his ven
j erable seryice-worI1 revolver, and holding Up
! his baggy breeehes. which seemed inclined
to subside wholly into seclusion and fepose
offered il the wide tops of his huge boots,
| whittier had already crept the larger half of
his legs. As he came shuftiing down the
busy street, elbowed and iostled by lhu we'll
dressed multitude, he gazed around him in a
| tmid and abashed manner, though OCCASION
Ially there flashed from his eye, in the look
that he bestowed upon some needless, hur-
rying passenger, something which seemed
to SAVIOR the anger-the feeble remonstrance
of once vigorous and resentfui spirit. The
evidences of civilization by which he was
surrounded clearly pleased him not. He
walked and mused, 4 very Rip Van Wiiikle
among the people OF his own age and nation.
In front of the Bank of California he halted.
He looked curiously atthe large gilt sign !;
Egazed upward at the tall front. then moved
to tile large glased doors and peered within.
For some moments he stood niotionless gaz-
ing through the glast, feasting his eyes upon
the golden twenties stacked in the trays and
the great bars Of silver heaped upon the
counter. Signing heavily. he turned about,
casting, as he did so, quick. jealous glance
around. as though expecting to see expressed
in some face the thought that he might coyet
the wealth within, Moving f rward few
steps to the cross street, and looking down
to the eastward, two churches that stand in
that quarter Immediately met his gaze. In
stantly he paused and stared with a long and
solemn ce from one to the other of the!
steeples. The two seemed to stand and rise
before him as the ghosIs Of friends
near and dear that he had known
iii the dim and far-off past. Shutting to the
corner of the street. he supported himself
against a convenient awning past. and turned
up the tapped brim OF his ancient white hat.
tlnmindful of all about him, he continued TO
gaze with palid cheek and stony eve upon
the startling objects that rose up 50 grand
and severe in his sight. His breast heaved
and his lips moved his mind was in Il far-of
land SO he stood till bustliag broker, with
Belcher in his eye, ran against the end OF his
blankets. suddenly turning him completely
round anti bringing him face full toward the
passing crowd, who must have wondered at
seeing tears streaming down the old mans
checks. For a. moment the old prosnector
stared about in bewildered mans
ner; then, recovering his scattered senses,
drew his sleeve across his eyes. looked upon
the two steeples, and moved slowly on down
the street. Being curious to know where he
would 90, we followed after him in nch a
way as would not cause hina to suspect that
his movements were observed, Ashetrudgtd
along he gazed from side to side OF the street,
evidently looking for some saloon not too
fine, wherein to halt and rest and to refresh
himself. The old prospeetor does not Ike
large town, and seldom visits them. His
idea il that it is merely place IN which to-
abtain supplies, and il it coz tains one Or two
saloons, as many pToyision stores and q
shop. it Is, in his opinion. as large
Us any town need /. . Shortly after our old
had found q saloon 20 his mind.
and we entered the same. He had deposited
his roll of hl;lakets In the corner OF the rpom
and was st flse bar taking .'tods q as he calls
it, wit; q young man Of decent appearances.
whom he had eFielentl inYlted % join iiim in
i glass, tor he never drink alone when =
III To be found. We entered Just
ii time to hear him respond Drink hearty, y
to the taast Of his companion. Having taken
his drink. be seated himself ii i qlalet corner
Of tire saloon and prdceetled ID light and
solaee himself with HIS pipe, THUS co,nsss
fartably situated we left him. The old pros
pector Il the wandering Jew Of tie age He |