Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-01

And coyi is purple fever beneath the dreadiu
,, ..-lf, rsec,sed il. behold perfect trace
o5 he mute sua-rcrs features tho linen folds re
Thu. d,d t1o sa, Veronica, as churchly legends
And r-s ;;a.u.sorth Che image OF Christ the cru
,rt...tB.r iy serving that we may gain as we'll,
some sea,s- a, the Master, who suffered loved
4 -S.H sro,rne ia Wo~an'. Journal.
mrs WIFE. AND HOW SHE SAVED
HIM.
Three Of Us held Joint possession Of a
claim in one of the rural districts of the
ulacer-mining country. At first we had
excellent success; the sand seemed rich
with dust. and several small nuggets Of the
pure ore attested our rising fortunes. In a
Short time, however. the Weld began to di-
mini>h somehow it 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
" "disgings" all day, taking our cold smack
at noon and morning and evening ~ took
turns in our culinary duties, and the
keeping of our little shanty. Upon wash
Ing days. few and far between''-aiter
wrestling nightly with soiled garments
and creek water, augmcnting considerably
therein the alluyial deposit, We were wont
10 lounge in triune council. smoking our
pipes of peace. and viewing eomplacently
our renovated apparel, dripping and sway
ing upon the tops Of the neighboring
brush.
The surrounding 81 claims, - with the ex-
ception Of one adjoining. had been worked
ont and abandoned long ago; but with 4
portinacity born of necessity, we had clung
to ours. We had put in everything We had
here and it must be a hard struggle which
should cause us 10 throw it all up, and leave
cmpty-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 behind them-all but
one man, who for some reason best
known to himself, decided to remain be-
bind.
There were no other occupied '' claims
within a space of three miles; and our
nearest point of obtaining supplies being a
days Journey out. one can easily imagine
that in oar isolated situation, the gain Of a
c5mrade was not merely nominal c1nsid-
Grafton.
Tomkins. the new conner, or - Lot, as he
was iamilhrly called, was a character.
Originally a New hampshire man, and
shiftlcss as only a degenerate scion from
the thrifty New England stock can be. he
bad emigrated fr m the land of steady
habits, first 10 the west, and from thence
to cur American Fl Dorado" Fated to
disappointment. he had drifted about hith-
cr and Jhither, led by one freak and another,
until finally be had settled down in the
mlne~. Lot was a famous story-teller,
ah'unlin- in legendary lore, and rich in
store ot quaint old-time ballads In the be
ginning Of his life with Us, he might have
been often heard hilariously chanting. in 4
h.-h-pitched, nasal tone.
The sand with golden dust is thick,
Ho. boys, no!
fck up Jumps as bi- -as a brick
OF California gCld.n
Humorous, easy, and with strong dash Of
eglti-n. combined with persistent good
nature and lively credulity-such was Lot,
a- We first knew him at the mines Event
ua.y. however, his enthusiasm died out ;
Or. as lot himself leelingly expressed it {:
" The darn thing was e'en-a-most Gin
c,1t.'
A. have often before stated. for some
reason best known 10 himself, Lot had con-
-ilerei it cxpedicnt to remain behind. at the
time DIS partners abandoned the claim. Our
explanation of this was. that To his easy
disposition it seemed les difficult u " bear
the Ills hc had" than to subject himself to
Tie eNcrtiou of seeking those he " knew
mot of" Subsequently. however, consider
able additional light was thrown upon this
subject.
One altcrnoon-it might have been three
weeks after the exodus Of Lots partners
one OF our neighhors engaged in mining
three miles further mp the gulch, reincd into
camp on his way back from the city. where
be had been to deposit his dust in the Miner ;
bank and get out supplies.
llalloo George Chris Here are let
tiers for y1u," he cried, tossing US the vel
como mi~~ivcS.
Lot. lettering up with quizzical smile,
Ierpetnted his standing Joke
W ell, -ay, We amt got nothin' fur me,
now amt ve?''
No. guess not, returned the other,
with % peculiar twinkle beneath his bushy
eyebrows bat thar'> woman and four
small children on the way, asking for Just
Sich looking fellcr a- YOU"
lot popularity vanished in an instant
hlS Jaw dropped, and with visible agitation
he h.urtei out:
Come naow, none of Yer foolin'! We
don't pull that on with me i''
Fooling? Nary time, Its sober truth. .
\ slcaly pallor swept over the mans face.
and heseemed To shrink within himself until
dwarled much below his usual diminutiyC
stature.
What? what's that YOU say?'' he stam-
mered wildly.
Sc | saya woman an four small children
are coming tins way, searching fora husband
and father"
'- How tar behind?" gasped the anxiou,
Lot, whose legs were fast growing tremu
lous under him.
- Oh, matter Of three miles or there
abouts - and with n nod and knowing
glance, and - No further news, boys,' t,
Us, the little mule, answering to the spui
of his rider, struck into brisk gallop
which speedily carried them both out o
sight
There I'VE stood. inquiringly facing Lot
lie gulped awhile: but finally out witt
g The fact Is boys-I'm marriedi'' an,
with this lucid explanation. Lot, With rapi,
and somewhat unsteady step disappeare,
within his cabin.
After a few seconds, he hastily emerge,
bearing in his hands pack Of thumbed an,
greasy cards, set Of dice, several worl
e dime novels and an old a. comique song
ster.''
Il guess, boys, | shan't need these an,
longer" he said, flushing painiully-alter
nately standing on one foot, and then shift
ng his weight to the other - - | though
ia just clean EN- cout. Some wimmen folF
Is pertiekerler, We know"
Chris took the articles, and offered to 6ee
them for him.
" Well, if ye've a mind to I'D. be muc
obleeged to We. 1t mought be possible
barely possible, We know-theyG com
handy sometime" And Lot, his peck jus
bending to receive the yoke, looked forwar
with dim expectancy to din chance {
future release.
Plying the poor fellows evident discom
future, We refrained from Joking or question
ing him, and impatiently awaited thos
coming events which had so unmistakabl
- east their shadows before
just at sundown a novel train was see
vending its way toward the camp. Lo
stood in the door of his cabin. while We
drawn together a little in the background
watched for developments. In advanc
rode figure in female apparel, perche
upon the back of a gaunt pack-horse,
child just passed the threshold of infancy
clasped by one arm. and another. also q