Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03
the beginning Of his life with us, he might
have been often heard hilariOusly chant
ing in higr- pitched nasal tene - t- ..

. tne beginning OF MS lie WIN us, ne Nigh
, have been often heard hilariOusly chant
ing in ahigN-pitched nasal tene - '-
''The sand with gold dust is thick,
Ho, boys, no!
Pick up Jumps as big as br OK,
OF CaifOrny gold!'
Humorous, easy, and with a strong dasl
of egOtism, combined with persistent goo,
nature and lively credulity-such wa
Lot, as We first knew him at the mines
Eventually, however, his enthusiasm die,
out; for, as LOt himself feelingly cx
pressed it: ''The darn thing was e'en.a
most gin eOut!"
As have before stated. for some rea
son best known to himself, Lot had con
sidered it expedent to remain behind, a
the time his partners abandoned his claim
Our explanation Ofthis was. that to his easy
, disposition it seemed less difficult to ..bcal
the ills he had'' than to subject himsell
to theexertiOn of seeking those he ..knew
not Of" Subsequently, however, cOnsid
cradle additional light was thrown on the
subject.
One afternOon-it might have been
three weeks after the exodus of Lots
partners-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. George! Chris! Here are
letters for yOu!' he cried, tossing us the
welcome missives.
Lot, lettering up, with quizzical smile
perpetrated his standing jOke:-
"Wall, saay, We amt got nothin' fur
me, now, amt YEP"
mo, guess not" returned the other
with a peculiar twinkle beneath his bushy
eyebrows? "but thar's a woman an four
small children on the way. asking fur Just
sich a looking feller as YOU"
Lots jOcularity vanished in an instant
his jaw dropped, and with visible agita-
tion he blurted out:
Come, naOw. none of yer foolin'! Ye
don't pull that on with me ="
FOoling! Nary time! It's sober
truth"
A sickly pallor swept over the mans
countenance, and he seemed to shrink
within himself until dwarfed much below
| his usual diminutive stature.
"What! what's that yeOu say?" he
stammered wildly.
II say woman an four small children
ar coming this way, searching for hus
band and father"
How fur behind?" gasped the anxious
Lot, whose legs were fast getting tremu-
lOus under him.
"Oh, matter of three mile, or there
abOuts!" and with a nod and knowing
glance, and No further news. boys ~
TO us, the little mule, answering the spur
of his rider. struck into brisk gallon,
which speedily carried them both out of
sight.
There we stood, inquiringly facing Lot.
He gulped awhile; but finally out with
it:
"The fact is, boys-I'm married ~
And with this lucid explanation, Lot,
with rapid and somewhat unsteady step,
disappeared within his cabin.
Af:er a few seconds, he hastily emerged,
bearing in his hands pack of thumbed
worn "dime novels" and an old "COm-
ique SOngster."
IL guess, boys, shan't need these any
longer" he said, flushing painfully-ai-
ternately standing on one foot, and then
shifting his weight to the other; so
thought I'd clean 'em eout. Some VIM
men folk is pertickerler, We know"
Chris took the articles, and offered to
keep them for him.
''Wal, if ye've mind to. I'd be much
Obleeged to We. 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.
Plying the poor fellows evident dis
cOmfiture, We refrained from joking or
questioning him, and impatiently awaited
those looming events" which had so un-
mistakably least their shadows BEFORE"
just at sundOwn, novel train was seen
vending its way toward the camp. Lot
stood in the door of his cabin, while we,
drawn together little in the background,
watched for developments. In advance
rode figure in female apparel, perched
upon the back of a gaunt pack-norse, a
child, just past the threshold of infancy
clasped by one arm, and another, also Of
tender years, sitting astride the pilliOn,
its limited embrace aspiring to encircle
the maternal waist. A trifie in the rear
came a rough mountaineer, in the capacity
of guide, sandwiched between two chill
dren of larger growth. the elder of
whom could not have exceeded the age Of
ten years. A monstrous dog Of the St..
Bernard breed formed, successfully, flank
and rear.
Checkingthe beast within few rods of
us, the woman gave keen, scrutiniZing
glance around, which rested at last fixedly
upon the countenance of Lot.
That's him!" she exclaimed, in a
strong, decided, though not unmusical
voice, nodding significantly to the guide.
''We'n STOP"
Clasping the infant tightly, and loosing
the arms of the other from about her
waist, down she slid, 1.-the as young
girl and in a twinkling had the three
children on their feet, and the young
est transferred to the arms of the ten-year-
old. sci"
Lot waited in an apparently detected
from her own poc4et, with business-like
dispatch. Then she led her little brood
followed closely by the dog, up to the
door of our neighbours cabin.
3"Well, Lot, we've come"
81 see you have, Marier!"
And the door closed upon Lot and his
family.
On the ensuing morning we were able
to arrive at more correct estimate of the
J new conner, who early introduced herself
to us as 'Lot's wife," She was of fail
complexion, short in stature, and very
, slim about the waist. Her thin flaxeT
hair was drawn smoothly back from 8
prominent forehead, and fastened in 8
tight button-like knot at the back of hel
neck. Restless blue eyes, q sharp nose
thin cheeks, and firm, large mouth, fill
, ed with even, white teeth, completed thu
list Of her personal characteristics. Ener
gy, decision, business, was written OF
. every lineament of the little woman'l
D countenance-spoke In every restless mov'
of her ''lissome'' body.
In the first three sentences she spoke {