The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-06-07
A Night with Sam Tibbets.

You could I'd jest like to see you
take hold and burn coal-pit."
And Sam Tibbets blew out q cloud Of
smoke, and chuckled at the absurdity Of
the idea.
In the days gone by, Sam and I had sat
upon the same bench in the little red school
house over by Kent Mountain, but our
paths had diverged in early youth. He had
remained by the homes of his fathers l had
wandered the wide world over. And now,
after many years Of separation, we had met
again on the occasion of my visit to my ma
tive valley. In the ful6llment of promise,
had come to spend the night with him, in
anticipation Of which he had given Joe, his
assistant, an " off night"
We we're lolling on the grass in front of
Sans hut, halfway up the mountain-side,
with old Bose drowsily blinking at our feet
On little plateau, few yards beyond, the
coal-pit was burning, sending up cloud of
vapor that filed the atmosphere with its
pungent fumes. From our eyrie we over
looked vast tract of broken country-rug-
ged hills, some bristling with chestnut, oak
and hemlock, some stripped to their rocky
skeletons black gorges, where the sun set
long before night; open wales, with mead
ows and silver streams; and here and there
farm-houses and the tall chimneys of fur
naces vomiting smoke. A cloud of dust
through the valley marked the course OF the
ore-wagons.
What is there so difficult about it," I
asked. Its merely question of manual
labor and of patience. You cut your wood,
pile it, cover it with turf, set fire to it, and
lie here at your ease until the time comes to
draw your charcoal 1t certainly requires
little skill"
jest like you fellows who git yer knowl-
edge second handed, and don't know what
exper ence is. Book eddication's well enough
for preacher or q school-teacher, but, in
burnin' o coal-pit, it amt with a cent. You
might as well tell Parson Simmons that all
he's got to do to git up sermon is to put
paper and pen an ink on the table, and
then set down and wait for it to come"
Your simile is not fair one, my friend,
for you omit the fire in the parsons case
Ii you piled up your material, and made your
pit ever 80 perfect, yet neglected to light it,
you'd scarcely expect to get coal"
Now you're agettin' too deep for me.
But know ono thing-I kin run coal pit
and don't lieve you kim"
Why don't you say I replied. some
what testify, that can't lie in the grass
and watch wood-pile burn"
Il wouldn't be afeard to trust ye that
far" remarked Sam. dryly; and guess the
wood-pile tcoxld burn up, too. Now, look
at that pit, and tell me-, if you kin, what's
best to do"
glanced at the burning mound. 1t was
still belching forth blue vapor, the smell of
which reminded me Of the fumes of pyrolig
neous acid. IL there was any change, nv
inexperienced eyes did not detect it. con-
cluded that Sam. to use one of his own ex.
pressions. was "pokin' fun at me-" so re-
piled. with an air of intended facetiousness
II you really want my advice, suggest,
at this juncture, that We take little g. B.,
&c. B., in the Kent vernacular, stands for
eider-brandy,] refill our pipes. and sit down
quietly to initiate the coal pit" -.
Haw -haw :" laughed Sam. springing up.
:" Look at that west side. Give us hand
here: or there be fury to pay in five min
utss!" 1900.
He seized a shovel, and went energetical-
~ to work throwing of the earth and sods
As he opened the side, heard sharp,
Kissing sound, as of pent gases seeking
vent. l noticed, too, that the rising vapor
was almost colorless like the fumes of char
coal. My vanity had been piqued at Sans
good natured railing; but ran to his aid,
determined that the emergency should not
find me lacking in goodwill.
Now for the vents!" shouted Sam.
Then the turfs got to go on agin."
While Sam poked the ventholes with q
long pole to start the draught, worked my
self into a perspiration, replacing the turf
and earth. l had nearly finished when |
happened to glance around, and saw, to nv
modification, that the rascal was only sham
ming work while watching my efforts, with a
merry twinkle in his eye that told how thor
oaghly he enjoyed the scene.
Guess ye got airth enough on that pit"
he said, quietly. though ready to burst with
suppressed laughter.
"Confound your I exclaimed. wiping
my brow, and looking at my blistered hands,
" why couldn't you tell me when I had done
enough 7"
Ny petulsnce caused Sam to explode in a
hearty guifaw that started the echoes from
the hills. could have split his head with
my shovel with q good will