Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-25

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
chances of future release. a.sysgs
Pitying the poor fellows evident dis
comfiture, we refrained from joking or
questioning him, and impatiently await
ed those coming events" which had 20
unmistakably "cast their shadows be-
fore"
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 back
ground, watched for developments In
advance rode figure in female apparel,
perched upon the back of guant pack
horse, a child, just past the threshold Of
infancy, clasped by one arm, and anoth-
er, also of tender years, sitting nstride
the piliion, its limited embrace aspiring
to encircle the maternal waist. A tride
in the rear came rough mountaineer, in
the capacity of guide, sandwiched be-
tween two children of larger growth,
the elder of whom could not hare ex
ceeded the age of ten years. A mon
strous dog Of the ST. Bernard breed
formed, successfully, flank and rear.
Checking the beast within q few rods
OF us, the woman gave keen scr1tiniz
ing glance around, which rested at last
tixedly upon the countenanee Of Lot.
That's him. she exclaimed, in
strong, decided, though not unmusical
voice, nodding significantly to the guide.
We'll stop - ,4 rsa4
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 q twinkling 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
trom 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"
II see you have. Marier!"
And the door closed upon Lot and his
family.
3. On the ensuing morning we were able
to arrive at a 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,
tlaxen hair was drawn smoothly back from
a prominent forehead, and fastened in
tight button-like knot at the back of her
neck. Restless blue eyes, a sharp nose,
thin cheeks, and n firm large mouth, filed
with even, white teeth, completed the list
of her personal characteristics. Energy,
decision, business, was written on every
lineament of the little woman's counte-
nance-spoke in every restless move of her
''lissome" body.
| In the first three sentences she spoke
contract was matured to the effect that we,
furnishing the wherewith, should thence
forward look to her to keep the pot boil
ing" at the average rate of twenty-five
cents head per diem
Lots children were miniature reproduc-
tions of their mother; and were under
control little short of automatical. Even
Lion, the great St. Bernard, seemed to
useful duties, under the iutlicious eve of
his mistress and ruling spirit
Never had much opinion of dogs, any
way" she said, rather apologetically, one
morning, as, distributing our breakfast
she glanced at Lion and the infant, rolling
and gamboling together in the deep, warm
there, then only Il half f-grown pup saved
my first baby. He just "a weeny, toddlino
thing. got out of the door, and down to
the creek; and the first thing 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 inmost mind or secret
repinings, his outward life bore evidence
OF a marked revolution toward the side of
fruitful and ,irtuous industry. No more
loiterings at tasks or levity of demeanor:
no judicial magnate ever clothed himself
in dignity and reticence more severe than
characterized Lot under the new admins
tration, at whose head stood his brisk lit
tie wife
To us, the advent Of Lots wife marked
the commencement OF Il new era; whole
some food, u tidy cabin, and above all, no
more darning OF socks. or washing DAYS.
The wilderness had begun to blossom
We even attaind TO. now and then, the
luxury of "biled shirt We were
opening up new and richer vein in our
claim, and prosperity and contentment
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 Il sud
den attack of mountain fever, and with
money to pay note which had become
due on quartz mill. He wanted to know
il any of us were going in, as he could
make it worth our while to do the errand
for him, he remaining at our cabin until
the messengers return. As it happened.
we We're not intending to go for several
DAYS our stock of SuDDlieS on hand being
considerable, and not having enough dust
to pay for carrying to the bank.
CONCLUDED TOMORROW.