The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-02-01
THE STORI-TELLER.
% Pip,

/ have knocked about good deal in
my time, and seen many ups and
downs :. for man who has led such q
nomadic life as myself, would be a sim
gularly lucky person if he never found
himself minus a meal or dollar.
In '54, 1 was in California, and pretty
wealthy, for l had been fortunate in the
diggings. In IS, tramped from Bal
larat to AvoN, in Australia, without n
cent in my pocket, for luck had deserted
me, and I could not hit on claim in
Victoria that half repaid me for my Ia
Dor in working it.
One chilly evening in June--a winter
month in the southern homisphere-I
halted, after a long days march, at the
door of little shanty near Avoca, over
which was a rudely-lettored sign-board,
indicating it store.
You're welcome, chum, even if you
haven't grain o dust or sixpence in
your pocket for you don't look like a
lag and the best of us sees hard times
now and then. Come inside. Is that
your dorg? Well, he's welcome, too,
poor creetur-though he amt noways
handsome. like man better when l
see dorg at his heels ; for feller amt
bad enough to be outlawed, if one of
them poor dumb brutes loves him." said
bright-eyed, buxom, garrulous mat
ron, who answered my appeal for sup
per and nights lodging.
My dog was not one that would have
taken prize for beauty at any show in
the States. He was u brindled bull-ter-
rier. and his pugnacious propensities
had cost him an eye but he was true as
steel, and, like most of his breed, was
keen and quick-wittcd as human be-
ing. loved Pip. for he stuck to me
through all my misfortunes, and was als
most the only remaining tie that bound
me to the world.
Our kind hostess ushered us into a
small kitchen that was a model OF clean
Illness, and presently set before me an
abundant supply of succulent viands,
which | ate with avidity.
Neither was old Pip forgotten. he
came in for share of the good things
and received nore calesses from our
hostess and her two sprightly young
sters than had been bestowed upon him
during his lifetime.
Where's Maggie, Mrs. Hyatt Z" ask
ed a tall, handsome young man evil
IDENTIFY a privileged person, for he enter
cd without knocking.
- She went to Carriers this afternoon,
and hasn't returned yet. wish she'd
come back, for it's bad road she's got
Ned, if you are not too tired /; for my
old mans away at the Ovens still"
"All right +! I'll go, for l want to see
her," said the young man grutfiy, as he
took his departure.
Maggie is my eldest girl, and Ned
Vance is her sweetheart" explained Mrs.
Hyatt.
l smoked my pipe, and chatted famil-
iarly with my hostess until about ten o.
clock, when Vance suddenly entered the
room, hot and breathless.
Hasn't Maggie returned Z" he in
ouired, excitedly. "She left Carriers
soon after nightfall, for went all the
way there, thinking to find her. l kept
sharp lookout for her on my way back,
but, not seeing her, thought we must
have passed each other on the old Swan
diggines. and she would have arrived
here before me. What can have become
of her, wonder Z" he added.
You haven't got time to wonder
Ned Vance If you love my girl hal
as much as you profess TO, you'll go seel
at once She's lost her way, and may
he, has fallen into one of the old sink
ings on the diggings. Get a lantern on
of the store-room, and be quick abon
it for some of those holes must be hal
full of water, after all the. rain that fel
last week"