The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-27

ArRhStfGhR.
In the early days of Calfornia--the old
en- days of gold, or the golden days of old,
as you please-in certain miners camp
on the Yuba River there lived queer
genius named Armstrong. He was an hon
est miner, not differing materially from his
fellows, excepting that he had curious
habit of speaking to himself. For the sim-
pie reason that he departed from common
custom in this one particular. he was Of
course voted crazy by the other miners.
To call all persons 'crazy" who did not
follow the customs of the majority, is a
constant habit with men. But, day after
day, Armstrong worked away with his pick
and shovel caring nothing for the remarks
of his neshbors, and seeming to wish for
no other partner in his tolls or his rest, save
the invisible parsonage whom he always
addressed in the second person singular,
and with whom he was almost constantly
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 Il dollar pound-no
time to waste-pitch in, sir--hanged if |
don't wish | was in the states. This min
ing's mighty hard work. Nonsense, Arm
strong; what a fool you are to be talking
in that way, with three ounces a day right
under your feet, and nothing to do but Just
to dig it out.
His conversation would be duly pune
tuated with strokes of the pick and lift Of
the loaded shovel. And so the day would
pass along, and Armstrong worked, and
slept, and talked with his invisible partner.
Well, it happened, in due course Of time,
that the class of human vampires, com
monty called gamblers, made their appear
nnce at the camp where Armstrong worked.
As he was not above following the example
of his fellows, he paid the newcomers
visit. 1t is the same old story. After
watching the game awhile, he concluded it
was the simplest thing in the world. SO
he tried his luck and won-a hundred dol
lars! Now, any new experience would al
ways set Armstrong to thinking and talking
to himself worse than ever. 1t was so this
time. "Now, Armstrong" he said, as he
hesiated about going to his work the next
morning, "that is the easiest hundred dol
lars you ever made in your life. What's
the use of your going into a hole in the
ground to dig for three ounces day! The
fact is, Armstrong, you are sharp. You
were not made for this kind of work. Sup
pose you just throw away your pick and
shovel, leave the mines, buy suit of store
clothes and dress up like born gentleman,
and 60 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.
He looked like another man, but he was
still the same Armstrong, nevertheless. He
was not long in finding an opportunity to
try new profession Walking forth in
his fresh outfit, he had just concluded a
long talk with himself about his bright
prospects, when he halted in front of n
large tent with sign on it, "Miners Rest"
1t did not seem to him that he remained
very long, but it 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. lie was thunderstruck amazed, be-
wildered. He had lost his money, lost his
new prospect, lost his self-conceit-,Ost ev-
erything, but his new clothes and his old
habit of talking to himself. 1t is useless
to say that Armstrong was mad. Arm
strong was very mad. But there was no
one to be mad at but Armstrong himself, so
self number two was in for a rough lecture.
'Now, Armstrong, you are nice speci-
men-you fool-you bilk--you dead-bea
you inf" Well, | need not repeat all
the hard things he said Like King Rich
ard. he "found within himself no pity fol
himself"
But mere words were not sufficient II
was Il time for action. But Armstrong
never once thought of shooting, drowning
hanging, or any other form of suicide. He
was altogether too original, as well as toe
sensible for that. Yet he was resolved or
something real and practical in the way o
rcformatory punishment He felt the neet
of self-imposed decree of bankruptcy
that should render the present failure n
complete rs possible and prevent IL simila,
course of foolishness in the future.
SO tie broken firm o: "Armstrong 6
Self went forth in meditation, long anC
deep. Some of his thoughts were almos
too deep for utterance. But finally h,
stood by the dusty road along which tho
great ireighting wagons were hauling sup
plies to the mining camps up the Sacra
mentO. One of the wagons drawn by 81,
yoke Of oxen, was just passing. Snap
snap, snap, in slow, irregular succession
came the ktsn singing reports of the lonl
Missouri ox-wiSo. "G'lang, glang! NO
haw!" shouted Tia, tall, dust bepri,ne,
driver, as he swung his whip and cast
sidelong glance at the Token firm. won
.dering "What in thunder "l them store
clothes was a-uOln tnar. N>W whpl
Armstrong saw the long column % Whit
dust rising behind that wagon, he was X
en- with an idea. So he shouted to II
driver, to know if he might be allowed
walk in the road behind the wagon.
sect in and ride, said the driver
"No," said Armstrong, 81 wish to walk
''Then walk, you crazy fool, was the a
commodatng response, as the driver swui
his whip.
Then came the tug of war. Greek ney
met Greek more fiercely than did the t'
contending spirits composing the firm
Armstrong & Self at that particular m
ment. Nov Armstrong" said the iml
rious head of the firm, "you get right II
the middle of that road, sir, and walk
that dust behind that wagon, all the way
the Packers Roost, on the Yuba rive
"What. with these clothes on why
fifteen miles, and dusty all the way, :"
matter, sir take the road. You squan'
YOUR money at three-card monte; I'll tel
you lesson. a..
+" G'lang! g'lahg drawlcd the driv
as he glanced over his shoulder with c'
Gus mingling of pity, contempt ana won
on his dusty face More and more sp
fully snapped the swinging WHIP as
paced oxen toiled mile after i
under the heat OF of a September sun
.La.o Il, 4ha road Trinidad Armstrong