The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-08-13
NANCY JONES BABY.
A California Gu1ch Story.

The wind came howlng down the
mountain side, and with 4 hollow moan
rushed through the canons. The tall pines
tossed and beat their heads At each rude
blast of the storm Masses OF black
clouds hung like a funeral pail over the
mountains. and the rain poured down in
torrents
Rabbit Creek bounded down its narrow
way, carrying all before it. whirling and
Wrilhing like Il huge serpent, taking way
with rapid leaps. bearing on its foaming
bosom q mass Of rubbish. Great logs and
stumps OF trees, caught from their rest
ing places on some hillside, were borne
on till lost to sight Now and then n
sluice-boN came floating down the stream
until dashed to pieces against 4 bowlder
telling of disaster TO some poor miner
further up the gulch On. on, swept the
rushing waters, taking in their rude en-
brace all that crossed the path OF their
fury
Suddenly and awful had been the com
ING OF the storm, rs if delay had strength
ened its power and given new energy 10
its terceness Then came the change
from warmth 10 cold-from rain 10 snow
and soon the rugged hills We're clothed
in white, and in the gulches were piled
huge drifts. The whrling masses We're
borne on and scattered The trees were
heavy with their burden. and when some
blast more rude than others stirred their
branches the grateful limbs lifted their
heads and tossed about with iov nj their
relief
The town of Rabbit Creek stands un-
sheltered on the hillsidcs, and It's unpro-
lected state has been exposed to the fury
OF the storm. The small. rude houses
We're rocked by every blast till they trcm-
blcd on their slight foundations.
In the principal bar-room OF the town
We're gathered the greater part of the male
population. 1t was large room. with
tables scattered around the sides; in the
centre stood 4 billiard table. the boast
and pride OF the proprietor. and he had
often been heard 10 say. ''eee that bill
lard table Ii cost q tolrun' 10 sci tina.
ere piece OF furniture up in my saloon
And then, as surprise and wonder was
depicted on the face of his listener, the
owner OF that "'ere table" would give
The astonishing information that she was
packed across the mountains on 4 mule =
In the corner stood Il mammoth stove,
and alongside Of il 4 pile of logs, for
ample were The heating accommodations
OF old Mckenzie's" saloon, and the larg-
er part of the crowd were gathered around
It's warm sides taking in ITS cheering heat
Ihe smiling hosts rubicnnd countenancc
ahone like a new brass kettle as he rushed
around attending to the wants Of his pat
rons. lie finally addressed one CT the
crowd near the stove with: Il say. Jake,
~,
if YOU had been a day later YOU would
have had to come over on snow shoes.
The answer came in a voice sin@ularly
low and sweet, for the person spoken to
as Jake was 4 man Of great size, and as
he stood with his back to the stove, his
heavy coat almost reaching the floor, he
looked like z giant. There was an indis-
cribable air OF refinement and grace about
the man, and the face that looked ont
from under a broad trimmed straw hat,
was handsome, Yet sad.
''Ycs, Mac; | was lucky, a. You say,
and if it keeps on in this way. we shall be
hlockadcd for a couple of weeks"
One or two more of the crowd here
gave their opinion rs to the chances for 4
hard winter, but their conversation came
TO an abIupt termination, as the door of
the saloon opened with a rush. and in
came a figure which looked at first like q
mass Of snow, but by dint Of much shak-
ing and stamping of ieet, it finally assum-
ed the shape of a man, who, as he pulled
off his heavy coat. disclosed to the crowd
the well-known features of the only doc
tor on Rabbit Greek
A run of salutations greeted him from
all sides, for Dr. Holmes was 4 man re-
spected by old and Young He had 4
pale, refined face with the sharpest of
gray eyes, looking out from Jet black eye
brows, and people said, when the doctor
got riled those gray eyes snapped and
glarcd, giving the person who met his
dispeasure some insight into the charac-
Ter of the man they had to deal with
After the doctor had said, chow are YOU.
bovs?" he turned TO Mckenzie and asked
for drink, when his eye caught sight of
the tall figure by the stove, and then
came:
why Jake Morse, how are youo"
~ The same low, sweet voice answered
''first rate, Doc; how are YOU? Come
get near the stove and put some warmth
into Your bones Who's sick in town ?
It's a bad night for even 4 doctor 10 he
ont
The doctor made his way 10 the stove
and as he did so, said: 'Well. l will tell
You something that will surprise you and
every one in Rabbit Greek"
The crowds which had been scattered
in different parts OF the large room, en-
Gagged in playing cards or talking over
doctor, or neglected their occupation. to
l. -t,o4 b, 4
Rabbit Creek was 4 novelty. Mckenzie
handed the doctor his drink, and as he
stood with the steaming glass in his hand,
he said, in a low voice
"Nancy Jones has got a baby =
For moment everything was As qniel
a4 the grave; the only sound was the
click, click OF the spoon as the doctor
slowly stirred the contents of his GLASS.
Ii was only for 4 moment, and then up
jumped Pat Moran, little rcd whis-
kered lrishman, who had a tace in which
humor and good nature were the chiei
characteristics. and noted rs being the
noisiest and smallest man in the camp
Getting on one of the many tables he
in loud voice, called, ''Three cheers for
Nancy Jones' baby!' Then, as il every
mans life depended on it, they, one and
all, gave three such cheers rs would have
frightened n civilized being out Of his
wits. Then followed scene OF conitl-
Sion. All kinds of questions were poured
in upon the poor doctor. ''What is it-a
boy or girl ?" and Pat Moran says" II
its boy, doctor darlint, call him ailcl
me- The doctor stated that it was 4
girl, and very fine one At this intor-
nation Pat Moran expressed his disgust
TO the effect that he had "the divil's own
luck" and that che should niver rest
quiet in his grave till he 'stud' godfather
to baby, for sure, its next to being the
| father of one