New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-07

whole routine of Hell-Roaring. There was
| an arrival one morning, and the OAR
throbbed with a new sensation; quiet, IN
assuming lady-a Mrs. HamptOn-and her
little daughter, who sought rest and health
in the mountains Mrs. Hampton was
widowed, but no one inquired into ner nis,
tory. She was welcomed as new anu
| strange element among go much wild, reck,
less life, that brought back memories OF
mother, or sister. or sweetheart Tar away,
and the Bar was pleased
The bows chrisJened the little daughter
: Daisy" and she was we'll named. From
this day a marked change took place.
Every one desired to be we'll thought OF by
the new comers dress became an object OF
sOlicitude; drunken wells rending the quiet
night were less frequent; spirits OF evil
seemed to be guelled, and the Bar was on
its good behavior.
Little Daisy was everywhere a minister
ing angel. Ii there was sick bed in the
camp Daisy was beside it with the little
luxul les that the hand Of woman only knows
how to prepare. If a poor fellow was about
to pan OUT his few sands Of life. Daisy
was there, to wet the parched lips. to I'LL
Il the poor, neglected heart with hope. or TO
write the last message to loved ones over
and beyond the plains Quiet and unobtru-
sive, Daisy moved about in her ministra-
| tons.
l
of mercy-her brown hair neatly folded
| over the pale forehead, her little basket of
goodies on her arm, and a word and smile
for every One-oaths half uttered would be
choked back, and rough and brutal jests
shrunk ur spoken, as if ashamed in her
presence. Even Oregon Sis-to whom a
blush was stranger-would hang her head
silently when Daisy was near, and her eyes
would swell-perhaps, poor thing! with
looking back to the old days among the
| apple blossoms, when she, too, was pure
and lnnocent-at least thought so. Some
how, the bar was not so dry as formerly
and Joe Miles. its ruling spirit, neglected
his business, and said he was sick of whisky
| selling. He laid aside a siX.shooter that,
report said, had served him only too we'll
| on more than one occasion, with the remark
| that the bar was so quiet now it want no
| use to carry it, Joe was very particular
now as to his personal appearance, dressing
| in the once despised "store Clothes" and
took to solitary rambling about the neigh
| borhood.
1t was noticed if Daisy had occasion to
pass along the dangerous trail through the
| canon. Joe was there with his strong hand
| to guide her. Ii she crossed the too1-log
| over the turbulent stream, a steady arm
was generally there to support her, and
more than once Joe was found in earnest
| conversation with her, or reading the books
with which she supplied him. Joe finally
| sold out the saloon. and invested in a min
ing claim, which he was industriously work
ing when l closed out my business and left
the neighborhood.
visited the Bar once again. Down the
wild Sierra by the same tortuous and
rugged trail that / had traversed nearly
two years before, winding among the same
lordiy pines, rich in fragrance and standing
like sentinels in the mountain passes;
through the same groves OF laurel and
| manzanite, glistening like waves of emerald
and silver in the MONDAY sun, full bios
soned and wOndrous in their beauty, |
approached the Bar. The place seemed
changed. few little white cottages peeped
out from among the rich oak foliage. spots
OF ground were under cultivation. and the
hand of industry had been busy The clap
boarded saloon stood in the same old place,
just as had first seen it, but its dilapidated
condition showed that the institution was
poorly patronized
A crowd had gathered near it-not such
crowd as in the olden time, but a sober
and quiet one. Every one looked anxious
to tell me something, but no one spoke till
| found my old friend Thorp. Taking my
hand kindly, he led me aside. and for d mo-
ment was silent. well, Cap he said,
earnestly, "things is rough on the Bar; they
amt like they was when you left. She's
right for some O. the boys ever since. Yes,
Cap, it is mighty rough"
l asked where Daisy had removed to.
20. no, Cap, you don't understand The !
old woman, she went back to Sacramento
broken hearted, they said: but Daisy, she's |
gone; called for; taken up among the stars |
where she belonged We miss Daisy, Cap |
She got round some O. the boys, and she |
made them promise to knock off their grog: |
haint touched it since, and I've saved a |
little. Ii she'd only stayed, this thin Q |
wouldn't "a happened. You see, Cap" he |
continued, "here is how it was: One o. the
boys got hurt in his drift across the creek
and one mornin Daisy started over to take
him somethin and it was a-runnin' bank |
full, and the log was slippery, and-wen, |
we found Daisy a mile below, with her
brown hair all tangled among the willows
and her blue eyes kind O pleadin for help;
and we brought her back-poor thing.
There wasn't single drink taken on the |
bar that day. Cap it seemed to go agin the
boys. And Oregon Sis-her that we all
thought SO bad-she combed out the tangled
hair, and she kuelt down and kissed Daisy,
aud went two miles afoot up the meadows
and got flowers and put them in the little
blue hands, and-there's where we laid her
Cap-up there, where you see them white
pickets."
For some time the poor fellow could say
no more, but sat with his face buried in his
hands
'And Joe 7" asked
Hush" he said pointing to the saloon,
'Joes IN there; his sands about panDed
down-shot night atore last in row. Joe's
passin' IN his checks, sure You see Joe
went to the BAH. He sat by the old foot
log, melancholy like and wandered up and
down the creek, and no one could do any
thing with him, aud he took to drink again;
and the cussed temper come back, and he
got to quarrelin' with everybody. Night
afore last he got in a row with Portegee
Ohm IN poker game; they both drawed,
but John was too quick for him, and Joe's
bad hurt. The doctor says he amt got no
Twin show May be you'd like to see him,
Cap
We went together into the room where
the wounded man lay. The broken win
dows were darkened with blankets, and on
a rough pallet we found the poor fellow
breathing heavily and two of the boys fan
ming him tenderly as a mother would have
done. The ashy face and heavy drops OF
sweat that gathered ON the forehead told
The hnspeakable agony of the sufferer. and
showed that sure enough, Joe's sand was
nearly run ont. and he beyond all human
eechcraft We had not meant to disturb |
MIN, but his ear, quickened by pain, caught
'ur stealthy footsteps and turning around,
lie recognized me.
80 Cap, he said, "you have come at last
knew she would send some one to talk to
ne as she used toto tell me about that
blessed lapd where Christ lives-Him that
he just made Inc understand a little when
he left us. And pray for me. Cap. and ask i
Daisy to forgive me for letting the devil
ome back, and for forgettin' all that she
aught me- She told me if would only be-
ieve all she said l would go to glorious t
and that was way beyond the stars. She's
.one there Cap, and l believe every word q
# it now. o. can you pray' She taught t
ne. hut I've most forgot how Z