Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-01-22

: us honor. However, having visite 4
strange towns and edited several short.
lived dailies before, we were prepared
to meet any fate like philosophers.
There was one passenger we pitied
in his loneliness-notm more than four
and twenty, slender, delicate, whose
face and form indicated the intellect
ual man stripped of his grosser attri-
butes-who shrank from the rude oaths
and bosterous merriment of his fellow.
travellers, and who seemed as untitled
for their society as would an angel.
We say We felt sorry for him-such
sorrow as we sometimes fell for mex
perienced fellow-travcllers on life's
journey. 1t was whispered about that
he was missionary. This opinion
became fixed when it was found, after
repeated trials, that he would not
drink, nor had he been known to swear
during the entire trip-something
truly wonderful. His place in the
coach had been so far removed from
Sksggs, Jones & Co. that, much as we
desired to make his acquaintance, no
opportunity was offered.
He, too, got out at Sandy Gulch, and
the greasy register bore the name of
Rev. Milton May.
We learned that he had but Just
graduated from one of our leading
theological colleges, and had come to
look after the spiritual welfare of the
"Gulch."
The "Gulchers," big and little, we're
to be brought under the sound Of Mr..
Mays voice-that is, if they wanted
to. On the first Sabbath ten of them
did. But Mr.. May, being an enthu-
siast and an earnest Christian, deter
mined to increase this number; and
during the second week climbed sluice-
boxes, jumped bitches, waded the
creek again and again, in pursuit Of
little working parties Of miners Nor
did he stop with the workers. The
lonely. weary man, lying on his bunk,
his frame racked with pain, and seeing
In feverish fancy the approach of
dear wife or mother. was soothed by
the palefaced man.
The gaudy room behind the bar was
not free from him, for he entered and
invited "Slick Dick" who was dealing
faro, 10 come TO the services at the
little log cabin. Strange as it may
seem, he came, and the room was full
OF those whose ears had not heard one
word Of these tdings in many, many
years. All! what may not the inlu-
ence Of one man have on commu.
ity!
or course, the latter thought was
entirely in connection with ourselves.
The Miners Friend was succeeding;
We were able to live and pay Off such
Of our liabilities as were pressing. We
were beginning to feel something of
the delights ofindependent journalism.
The Territorial printing was ours, and
We fondly looked forward TO the Post
lsastership of Sandy Gulch. but
there was always more or less jealousy
on our part for the Rev. Milton May.
mensely popular, and we felt that the
quiet, pale-faced man could have beat
en- us for the Legislature any time.
We had respect for him almost
ing from our office, we we're nearly OPP
Aposite Jack Bowman's, who was lying
crushed and dying. The door WAS
ajar, and the light from tallow dip
was softly thrown on the bed and
forms. At the bedside, kneeling with
fnn al oil
sion we could not understand, was Mr..
May. Through the misty years it
comes to us, and we see it with the re-
verence we saw it then. Some pictures
impress themselves so deeply they
are never forgotten, no matter what
trials may rasp the mind.
Mr.. May was successful.
SO much so that it was determined
TO start school. Think of it
school at Sandy Gulch. Well, do you
suppose that they did not want
school at the principal town Of the
Territory. Were there no calculations
to be made in the great future of the
Gulch! Undoubtedly.
1t must not be thought for one mo-
ment that there were no children at
Sandy Gulch indeed, there were more
than at any place we had visited in
the mountains-plenty Of women and
children-Dut few wives. Yes, dear
reader, it was sad state in which Mr..
May found society, when he came to
preach and try, in the name Of his
Master, to redeem the Gulch. Poor
Jack! as he died, blessed his children,
and the black-haired, black-eyed wom-
an, who had been wife, in the eye Of
the law, but a few hours. True she
loved him all the same, and sat moan
ing and rocking herself back and forth
as though she would shake the burden
of grief from her shoulders. There
were children, there was to be a
school, and we were expecting Miss
Grey to teach it. Being in the posi-
tion we we're, and occupying a large
place in the confidence of Mr.. May, he
had informed US that his board had
determined to send Miss Grey. She
was not personally known to US, nor
had we ever seen photograph of the
lady. But it was no trouble for US to
fancy all she must be, as we will create
some form for the person presented to
our minds usually. Pretty women
don't 60 to Sandy Clutches to teach,
especially young, manageable ladies /;
their charms are too great for them TO
think of hiding from an admiring
world entirely for the worlds sake.
These facts common sense dictated to
our minds.
So we prepared-as we waited the
coming of the maii-for a tall, thin,
quadrangular female, with long, thin
face, watery, weak eyes, sharp nose
straddled with, perhaps, gold specta-
eles, drab travelling dress, blue woollen
stockings. and list shOes-thOuuh we