Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-10
breed, formed, successfully, flank and

| Hdt Hill SEc III a
strong, decided, though not unmusical
voice, nodding significantly to the guide.
"We'll stop"
Clasping the infant tightly, and loosing
the arms of the other from about her
| waist, down she slid, 1.-THE as a young
girl; and in a twinklinga had the three
children on their feet, and the youngest
transferred to the arms of the ten-year-
old.
Lot waited in an apparently detected
mood, while she settled with the guide
from her own pocket, with business-like
dispatch. Then she led her little BROOD
followed closely by the dog, up to the
door of our neighbor's cabin.
"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
10 arrive at more correct estimate of the
new conner, who early introduced herself
to US as Lots wife" She was of fair
complexion, short in stature, and very
slim about the waist. Her thin flaxen
hair was drawn smoothly back from a
prominent forehead, and fastened in a
tight button-like knot at the back Of her
neck. Restless blue eyes, sharp nose,
thin cheeks, and firm, large mouth,
filled with even, white teeth, completed
the list of her personal characteristics.
Energy, decision, business, was written
on every lineament of the little woman's
countenance-spoke in every restless
move Of her '1issome" body.
In the first three sentences she spoke a
contract was matured, to the effect that
We, furnishing the wherewith, should
thenceforward look to her to "keep the
pot boiling" at the average rate OF
twenty-five cents head per diem.
Lots children were miniature reproduc-
tons of the mother; and were under a
control little short of autOmatical Even
Lion, the great st. Bernard, seemed to
know his place, and performed various
useful duties, under the judicious eye of
his mistress and ruling spirit
"Ncver had much opinion of dogs,
anyway" she said, rather apOlogetically,
one morning, as, distributing our break,
fast, she glanced at Lion and the infant,
rolling and gamboling together in the
deep warm sand. "Never could
bear one, until Lion there, then
| only q half-grown pup, saved my first
baby. He, just a weeny, toddling thing,
got out of the door, and down
to the creek; and the first thing I saw
was the dog, bringing him out, strangled
and dripping, in his mouth. | wouldn't
| part with that dog for his weight in gold!'
Whatever Lots Utmost mind or secret
| rcpinings, his outward life bore evidence
| of marked revolution toward the side of
/ fruitful and virtuous industry No more
t lOiterings at tasks Or levity of demeanor;
! no judicial magnate ever clothed himself
! in dignity and retlCenCe more severe than
| characterized Lot under the new admin
| istratiOn, at whose head stood his brisk
little wife.
To US, the advent of Lots wife marked
the commencement of new era; whole
some food, tidy cabin, and, above all,
no more darning OF socks, or washing
days. The wilderness had begun to bios
som. We even attained to, now and then,
the luxury ola "biled shirt" We were
opening up new and richer vein in our
claim, and prosperity and contentmen;
smiled upon us.
1t was an evil day that dawned upon
our camp in the gulch, when one of the
| boys, ten miles above US, turned in on his
way to the city, almost PROSTATE from a
sudden attack Of mountain fever, and
with money to pay a note which had be-
come due on a quartz mill. He wanted
to know if any Of US were going in, as he
could make it worth our while to do the
GRAND for him, ne remaining at our cabin
until the messengers return. AS it hap
pened, we were not intending to go fo1
several days, our stock of supplies on
hand being considerable, and not having
enough dust to pay for carrying to the
bank.
Lots wife, however, on learning the
CT a q 0f Of nj nhc 70
nicate some instructions to the ten-year
old, who Immediately "lit out" in the
direction Of his fathers claim. A few
moments, and Lot himself came in
He was willing to accommodate, and
would go to the city. His claim
wasn't paying him much; and he
might as well look about little AL
Of which familiar terms might have been
translated to mean that his wife was moi
at all averse to earning the "sOmething'
before intimated which should ''make il
| worth his while" None Of US questioned
| Lots honesty, and we made haste to ge
him oft as sooD as possible.
It was after nightfall of the ensuing
day, when he was seen riding furiousl,
toward the camp, looking neither righ
nor left, batting neither breath nor speed
until, opposite his own threshold, h
leaped to the ground, dashed inside tn
cabin, and slammed the door.
We had scarce time to wonder at TIL
strange and unusual proceeding, whel
there swarmed upon us party of men
armed, and stern, members of a Vigilanc
Committee.
Their errand was soon made known
they were in pursuit of the unhapp:
Lot.
A party instantly surrounded his cabin
Then the whole of the unfortunate affai
came out. Lots spirit, released from it
accustomed restraint, had rebounded Xix
a balloon that has thrown over it's ballast
"Marier's" last words were useless as tn
wind against this sudden and overwhelm
!, ing citation, born of renewed liberty. Hi
journey furnished him a golden oppol
tunity, though brief, for the renewal 0
those harmless indulgences of late s.
l religiously foregone.
A chance acquaintance, met just in tn
edge of town, easily led the way to
friendly tipple in the nearest saloon
This exchange Of goou-fellowship eventu
| ally resulted in many more, under tn
combined influence of which, no Roths
child ever felt richer than did Lot wit
7 the trust-money in his hand.
: What occurred thereafter, passed I
I Lot like troubled dream. There was
[ vague remembrance of all hands at 1h
e bar, a SCutfle, a pistols or two. an