The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-07-06
A CALIFORNIA sKErCH.

Ia
In the early days Of California-the
olden days Of gold, or the golden days
OF old, as you please-in 0 certain
miners camp on the Ynba River, there
lived aqueer genius named Armstrong.
He was an honest miner, not differing
materially from his fellows, excepting
that he had acurious habit Of talking
to himself. For the simple reason
that he departed from the common Gus.
tom inthis one particular, he was. Of
course, voted crazy by the other miners.
To call oil peraons "cragyp who do
not follow the customs Of the majority,
is constant habit with men. But,
day. after day, Armstrong worked away
with his pick and shovel, caring moth
ing for the remarks Of his nefghbors,
and seeming to wish for no other part.
ner in his tolls OF his rest, save the in.
visible personage whom he always ad-
dressed In Tue second person singular,
aud with wiom he was almost constant.
ly in close and earnest conversation.
The common drift Of his talk, while at
work, would be about as follows:
Rather tough work, Armstrong
rich dirt, though--grub dollar o
pound-no time to waste-pitch In, sir
hanged II I don't wish / was in the
States. This INNINGS mighty hard
work. Nonsense, Armstrong; what o
fool you are to be talking in Tint way,
with three ounces a day right under
your feet, and nothing 10 do but Just
10 dig II out"
His conversation would be duly
Punotuated with strokes Of the pick
and lifts Of the loaded shovel. And SO
tho dayswould pass along, and Arm.
strong worked, and slept, and talked
with his invisible partner. Well, 1t
happened, in due course OF time, that
the class Of human vampires, commonly
called gamblers, made their appearance
at the camp where Armstrong worked.
AS he was not above following the
example Of his fellows, he paid the
newcomers visit. II is the same old
story. After Watching the game awhile,
ho concluded II was tine simplest thing
in theyword. So he tried his luck and
won-a hundred dollarsi Now, any new
experience would always set Armstrong
to thinking and talking 70 himself
worse than ever. II was SO this time.
"Now, Armstrong" he said, as he
hesitated about going 10 his work next
morning, TINT Is the easiest hundred
dollars you ever made in your life.
What's the use OF your going into o
hole In the ground to dig for three
ounces dayS The fact is, Armstrong,
you arc sharp. You were not made for.
this kind OF work. Suppose you Just
throw away your pick and shovel, leave
the mines, buy suit Of store.clothes,
aud dress up like o born gentleman,
and go at some business that suits your
talent"
Armstrong was not long in putting
these thoughts and sayings into action.
He left the diggings and invested in
fine clothes. SHe looked like another
man, but he was still the same Arm.
strong, nevertheless. He was not long
in finding an opportunity TO try o new
profession. Walking forth in his fresh
outfit, he had just concluded a long
talk with himself about his bright pros.
poets, when he halted in front Of large
tent with q sign on II, u Miners Rest.
Armstrong went in. II did not seem TO
him that he remained very long, but II
was long enough TO work wonderful
revolution in his feelings. When he
came out he was - changed man-that
is to say, he was ''changeless" man.
BE was thunder.struck, amazed, be.
wildered. He had lost his money, lost
his new prospect, lost his self!conceit
lost everything but his new clothes
and his old habit OF talking TO himself.
II is useless 10 soy that he was mad.
Armstrong was very mad. But there
was no one to be mad at but Armstrong
himself, so self number two was In for
arough lecture.
"Now Armstrong, you are . nice
specimen-you fool-you bilk-you
deat.beat you inf-" Well, / need not
repeat all The hard things ho said. Like
King Richard, he "found within him.
self no pity for himseli."
But mere words were not sufficient.
II was q time for action. But Arm
strong never once thought OF shooting,
drowning, hanging, OF my other form
Of suicide. He was altogether too
original ns well as too sensible for that.
Yet he was resolved upon something
real and practical in the way OF refor..
natory pt,nishmenk he felt the need
Of q self.imposed deureo OF bank.
ruptcy, that should render tho present
failure hs complete as possible, and
prevent . aimiiar courae Of fooli'hness
ass' ~ ~ saiuIs S,s y. an, !, !, A,v.,,Fopr 4