The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-06-27
ARMSTRONG.

AR1rsTRONG.
In the early days Of California th'
olden days of gold, or the golden day.
Iof old, as you please--in certain mi
ners camp on the Yuba river there liv
ed. q queer genius named Armstrong
He was an honest miner, not differing
materially from his fellows, excepting
that he had curious habit Of talking
to himself. For the simple reason thai
he departed from common custom II
this one particular he was, of course
voted crazy by the other miners. Tc
call all persons "crazy" who do not fol
low the customs of the majority is a
constant habit with men. But day af
ter day Armstrong worked away with
his pick and shovel, caring nothing fol-
the remarks of his neighbors, and seem
ing to wish for no other partner in his
tolls or his rest save the invisible per-
sonage whom he always addressed in
the second person singular, and with
whom he was almost constantly in close
and earnest conversation. The com.
mon drift of his talk, while at work
would be about as follows:
"Rather tough work, Armstrong
rich dirt though-grub a dollar a
pound-no time to waste-pitch in, sir
if don't wish l was in the
States. This INNINGS mighty hard
work. Nonsense, Armstrong; what a
fool you are to be talking that way,
with three ounces day right under
your feet, and nothing to do but just
dig it out"
His conversation would be duly
with strokes Of the pick
and lifts of the loaded shovel And so
the days would pass along and Arm
strong worked and slept, and talked
with his invisible partner. Well, it
happened in due course Of time that
the class Of human vampires, common
ly called gamblers, made their appear
ance at the camp where Armstrong
worked. As he was not above follow
ing the example of his fellows, he paid
the new Corners visit. 1t is the same
old story. After watching the game
awhile he concluded it was the sim
plest thing in the world. So he tried
his luck and won-a hundred dollars!
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
be said, as he hcsitated about going TO
his work next morning. that is the
easiest hundred dollars you ever made
in your life. What's the use of your
going into hole in the ground to dig
Tor three ounces day! The fact is,
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
IF store clothes and dress up like a
born gentleman and go at some bust
,ess that suits your talent
Armstrong was not long in putting
hese thoughts and sayings into action.
lie left the diggings and invested in
inc clothes. He looked like another
nan, but he was the same Armstrong,
He was not long in find
ng an opportunity to try new pro-
ession. Walking forth in his fresh
,utfit he had just concluded a long
ak with himself about his bright pros
,ects when he halted in front Of large
ent with a sign on it, Miners Rest"
Armstrong went in. 1t did not seem to
lin that he remained very long, but it
vas long enough to work wonderful
evolution in his feelings. When he
anne out he was changed man-that
$ to say, he was "changelcss" man.
1e was thunderstruck, amazed, bewil-
ered. He had lost his money, lost his
lew prospect, lost his selfconceit-
ost everything but his new clothes and
lis old habit of talking to himself. It
> useless to say that he was mad.
armstrong was very mad. But there
vas no one to be mad at but Armstrong
imself, so self number two was in for
rough lecture:
"Now, Armstrong, you are a nice
pecimen-you fool-you biIk-you
cad beat-you inf" Well need not {
epeat all the hard things he said.
ike King Richard, he "found within
imself no pity for himself" II
But mere words were not sufficient. Il