Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-25
Gales aud Sketches.
LOTS WIFE, AND HOW SHE SAVED HIM.

LOTS WIFE, AND HOW SHE SAVED HIM.
| Three of us held Joint possession of a
claim in one Of the rural districts of the
placer-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 short time, however, the yield began
to diminish; somehow it didn't seem to
pan OUT we'll 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. On washing
days--"few and far between"-after
wrestling nightly with soiled garments
and creek water, augmenting consdera-
bly, therein the alluyial deposit. we were
wont to lounge in triune council, smoking
our pipes OF peace, and viewing compla-
Gently our renovated apparel, dripping
and swaying upon the tops Of the neigh
boring brush.
The surrounding '.claims," with the ex-
ception of one adjoining, had been worked
out and abandoned long ago; but with a
| pertinacity born of necessity, 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" OF
more easily discouraged than we, for after
trying in vain to sell out, they abandoned
their claim and left the mines entirely
all but one man. who for some reason bes
known to himself, decided to remain be
hind
There were no other occupied claims
within a space of three miles: and ou
nearest point of obtaining supplies being
4 day S journey out, one can easily inag.
inc that in our isolated situation the gain
OF a comrade was not 4 merely nominal
consideration.
Tomkins, the new conner, or Lot" as
he was familiarly called, was character.
Originally New Hampshire man, and
shiftless 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 thence to
our American lei Dorado" Fated to
| disappointment, he had driited about hith-
er and hither led by one freak and anoth-
er, until finally he had settled down in the
mines. Lot was famous story.teller.
Astounding in legendary 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 chant
ing, in n hgh-pitched nasal tone:
The sand with golden dust is thick,
Ho, boys, ho
Pick up Jumps az big q brick,
OfCalfornla goldi"
Humorous, easy, and with strong das h
of egotism, combined with persistent good
nature and lively credulity-such was Lot
as we first knew him al the mines. Event
ually, however, his enthusiasm died out
for. as Lot himself feelingly expressed it,
The darn thing was c'en-a-moSt Gin
cout."
As have before stated, for some reason
best known 20 himself. Lot had considered
! il eXpedient to remain behind, al 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 to subject himself to
the eNertion of seeking those he "knew
not Of Subsequently, however, consid-
cradle additional light was thrown on this
subject.
One aftcrnoon-il might have been three
weeks after the exodus OF Lots partners
one of our neighbors, engaged in min
ing three miles further up the gulch
rened into camp ON his way back from
the city. where he had been to deposit his
dust in the Miners bank, and got out i
lot of supplies.
"lIalloo. George. Chris. Here are let
tors for you" :" he cried, tossing Us the well
come missites.
| nt lnitarino, mn with dt,izzi.al >ptilp La
perpetrated his standing Joke -
"Wall. saay, We amt got nothin' lur me,
naow, amt ye?'
"No, guess not" returned the other,
with a peculiar twinkle beneath his bushy
eyebrows; 'but thar's woman an -four
small children on the way, asking for jest
sich looking ieller as YOU
| Lots jocuiarity vanished in an instant
his jaw dropped, and with visible agita
ton he blurted ont =
Come, naow. none of yer ioolin'. y,
don't pull that ON with me.
"Fuoling Nary time It's sober truth.
\ sickly palor swept the mans connte
nance, and he seemed to shrink within
himself until dwarfed much below his us
ual diminutive stature.
"Whatp what's that yaou say ~ h
stammered wildly.
II say woman an four small childre
ar coming this way, searching for hu'
band and father
"lIow fur behind?" gasped the anS
ious Lot, whose legs We're fast gettin
tremulous under him.
''Oh, Il matter of three miles or there
abouts' and with nod and KNOWN
glance, and mo further news, boys" t
us, the little mule. answering the spur q
his rider, struck into brisk gallop, whc
speedily carried them both ont of sight
There we stood. inquiringly facing Lot
He gulped awhile; but finally out with it
"Ihe fact is, boys-l'm married. - Ant
with this lucid explanation, Lot, with rap
id and somewhat unsteady step, disap'
peared within his cabin.
After few seconds, he hastily emerg-
ed, bearing in his hand pack OF thumb
ed and greasy cards, set of dice, sever
al worn dime novels" and an old Com
ique Songster.'
~ guess, boys, shan't need these any
longer" he said flushing paintully-al-
,ernately standing on one foot, and then
shifting his weight to the other; $50 |
thought I'd iist clean 'em eout. Some