Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-03-28
LOTS WIFE.
BY 8 REApE BRocKroN.

rich with dust, and several small nuggets
of the pure ore attested our rising for
tunes. In a short time, however, the
yield began to diminish; somehow il
didn't seem TO ''pan out" well. Our
scanty washings of dust grew scantier
every day.
There was little chance for romance in
the life we led We worked hard in the
"diggings" all day, taking our cold snack
at noon; and morning and evening "took
turns in our culinary duties, and the
Keeping of our little shanty. Upon
washing days-"few and far between"--
after wrestling nightly with soled gar
ments and creek water, augmenting con-
siderably therein the alluvial deposit, we
were wont to lounge in triune council,
smoking our pipes of peace, and viewing
complacently our renovated apparel,
dripping and swaying upon the tops of
the neighboring brush
The surrounding "caims," with the
exception of one adjoining, had been
worked out and abandoned long ago; but
with pertinacity born Of necessity, we
had clung to ours. We had put in everv-
thing we had here; and it must be hard
struggle which should cause us to throw
it all up, and leave empty-handed. The
boys in the next claim were either "harder
up" or more easily discouraged than we,
for after trying in vain to sell out, they
abandoned their claim and left the mines
ent1rely-all but one man, who, for some
reason best known to himself decided to
remain behind
There were no other occupied Claims
within space Of three miles; and our
nearest point of obtaining supplies being
a days journey out, one can easily imag-
inc that in our isolated situation the gain
of comrade was not merely nominal
consideration.
Tomkins, the new conner, or "Lot," as
he was Familiarity called, was character.
Originally New Hampshire man, and
shiftiess as only degenerate scion from
the thrifty New England stock can be, he
had emigrated from the Gland of steady
habits" first to the West, and from
thence to our American "El Dorado. "
Fated to disappointment he had drifted
about hither and thither, led by one
freak and another, until finally he had
settled down in the mines Lot was a
famous story teller, abounding in legend
ary lore, and rich in store of quaint
old-time ballads. In the beginning of his
life with us, he might have been often
heard hilariously chanting in a high
pitched, nasal tone:
The s sand sand with golden dust is thick,
Pick up Jumps as big as brick
or Californy goldl'
Humorous, easy, and with strong dash
of egotism, combined with persistent
good nature and lively credulity-such
was Lot as We first knew him at the
mines. Eventually, however, his enthu-
siasm died out; for, as Lot himself feel
ingly expressed it: "The darned thing
was cen a most gin eoutP
As have before stated, for some reason
best known to himself, Lot had considered
1t expedient To remain behind at the time
his partners abandoned the claim. Our
explanation of this was, that to his easy
disposition it seemed less difficult to
"bear the ills he had" than subject him
self to the exertion of seeking ''those he
knew not of" Subsequently, however,
considerable additional light was thrown
upon this subject.
One afternoon-it might have been
three weeks after the exodus of Lots
partneTs-one OF our neighbors, engaged
In mining three miles further up the
gulch, reined into camp on his way back
from the city, where he had been to de.
posit his dust in the Miners Bank, and
get out lot of supplies.
"HallOo! Georgel Chris Here are let
tiers tor you!" he cried, tossing us the well
come missives.
Lot, lettering up, with quizzical smile,
perpetrated his standing joke:
wal, saay, ye amt got nothin' fur me
now, amt ye?p
"No, guess not" returned the other,
with peculiar twinkle beneath his bushy
eyebrows; but thar's woman an four
small children on the way, asking fur
just sich looking feller as you"
sfx,
his jaw dropped, and, with visible agita-
tion, he blurted out:
Come, naow, none of yer foolin'l Ye
don't pull that on with mel"
"FoolingG Nary time It's sober
sickly pallor swept over the mans
countenance, and he seemed to shrink
within himself until dwarfed much below
his usual diminutive stature
Whats, What's that yeou sayr" he
stammered wildly
II say woman an four small children
ar coming this way, sarching fur hus-
band and father"
Glow fur behindS" gasped the anxious
Lot, whose legs were fast getting tremu-
lous under him.
"Oh, matter of three mile, or therea-
bouts" and with nod and a knowing
glance, and mo further news, bOysW to
as, the little mule, answering the spur of
MS rider, struck into brisk gallop,
which speedily carried them both out of
sight.
There we stood, inquiringIy facing
Lot He gulped awhile, but finally out
with 1t:
''The fact is, boys-I'm married" And
with this lucid explanation, Lot, with
rapid and somewhat unsteady step, dis
appeared within his cabin.
Aiier few seconds he hastily emerged,
bearing In his hands pack of thumbed
ana greasy cards, set of dice, several
ique songster."
II guess, boys, shan't need these any
longer" he said, flushing painfully-ai |
ternately standing on one foot, and then
shining his weight to,the other; $50 /
thought I'd jist clean 'em eout. Some
wimmen folk is pertickerler, ye know"
Chris took the articles, and offered to
keep them for him.
Wal, if ye've mind to- I'd be much
obleeged to ye. 1t mought be possible
barely possible, ye know-they'd come
handy some time" And Lot, his neck
Just bending to receive the yoke, looked
forward with vague expectancy TO dim
chance OF future release.
Pitying the poor fellows evident dis.
comtture, we refrained from Joking or
questioning him, and impatiently awaited
those coming events" which had SO un.
"east their shadows before"
Just at sundown, a novel train was seen |
vending IT'S way toward the camp. Lot
stood IN the door of his cabin, while we.
drawn together little in the background,
watched for developments. Ia adj |
vance rode a figure in female ap.
parel, perched upon the back of a
gaunt pack-hoIse, a child, lust past the