The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-17

ones, and they would go away upon tn
hills and gather huge punches of del,
cious grapes, which had been plante
by the Franciscan monks a century age
Uncle Tucker had been nearly a yea
at Poor Mans Gulch when anothe
stranger arriv, d. Not that it was unusua
for strangers to arrive-and go, too, fo
that matter-but this was stranger @
Importance. It was this way. Uncl
Tucker was working in his claim on
day when his eyes caught a youthful
figure coming toward him. The figur
seemed to be that of boy of abou
fourteen years of age. He had fresh
clear complexion, a fine, dark eye
and black hair, which fell in curl
upon his shoulders. In his hand b
carried a small black bag, and he haa
the appearance of having travelled from
a distance. He walked straight up t,
the old man, who regarded him in per
plexity. He whispered to the miner
who dropped his pick, stared at him
moment In speechless surprise, and thel
clasped him in his arms. "Come al
the way from Down Yeast tew see hi
old unclel Come yere, boys, com,
we're p The boys "came," and Uncl,
Tucker addressed them thus
"Yere's me, boys-Hiram Tucker
An yere's my nevvy, Joseph Tucker
come all the way from Down Yeast tev
SEQ his old uncle !" And once more tn,
| delighted old man embraced his new
found nephew.
"Not another stroke tew-day, Joe,
said he, shoulder ,ng his tools and taking
the boy by the hand. &c me tew Ho
tel Independence an tell us all abou
it !" And they moved off followed by
such exclamations as "Fine boy 7
"Good luck, ole hoss - "Sarves ye
right p etc.
Arriving at Hotel Independence, il
told by Uncle Tucker to run home and
tell nanny that he had got a new
nephew. The tired boy was laid upon
the rude bed, and then he told his story.
What he said we know not, for it was
not intended for the general ear we
only know that it was attended with
some tears and great many consola-
tory remarks from Uncle Tucker.
Young Joe speedily became favorite
in Poor Mans Gulch. His quiet, unas-
suming ways and cheerful disposition
won him many friends. He had a way,
too, of Frightening up the rough cabin,
putting punches of wild flo Eers here
and there, and making various useful
ornaments. Games with cards were grad
ually abolished in Hotel Independence,
and instead Joe read to the guests from
books which his uncle sent to " Frisco"
for. Then sometimes they would joke
Joe about his mustache, which was yet
to come, at which Joe would blush and
laugh, though at his own expense
Two years passed away, and then a
young lady residing in the Gulch took
it into her head to fall in love with Joe.
A change came over Uncle Tucker from
the time of the discovery of this pas
sion. He did not lose any of his good
traits-he was the same good-hearted
old man, but he was more silent. Some
said things didn't pan out as they
should; but that could not be the rea-
son, as he was getting along very well.
Something weighed heavily on his mind,
at all even and Joe seemed to be in
the same frame of mind as his uncle.
This was a source of distress to their
friends, as they would confde in no
one, and so could not be advised.
Among the lower classes at the gulch
was Mexican half-breed by the name
of Pedro, but called "Lobos" on ac-
count of his evil disposition. 1t had
often been proposed to drive him and
his companions from the camp, but
through the wishes of Uncle Tucker
they were permitted to remain. Better
had his kind interference been unheeded,
for the objects of his good offices did
very little but sit in the sun and play
with their curious-looking, greasy cards.
One evening Uncle Tucker was return
ing from his work when he met Joe at
the door, pale as death and all in a
"My boy my boy What
is the matter ?" cried the astonished old
man.
"Nothing, uncle nothing of conse-
quence," returned Joe.
"But ther is, my son yer pale and
tremblin'. Tell ole uncle"
PEDRO went in and frightened him"
squeaked youngster, standing by.
"Was he insultin' tew my boy !" de-
manded Uncle Tucker, throwing his
tools to the ground.
Joe did not answer, and the now an
CRY man strobe rapidly towards the
back shed. From there he procured
heavy black-snake whip, and started
down the gulch. He presently came
upon Pedro, lounging along, but who
saw him in time to lay his hand upon a
revolver, which was instantly wrenched
from him by the stalwart old miner.
The blows from the black-snake rained |
fast and heavy upon the writhing vic
tim do what he could he could not |
break from that iron grasp, and he was
only released when the arm that welded |
The whip was thoroughly tired out.
"Ther," said Uncle Tucker, throwing |
lim from him, "come an insult my
BOY agin, will ye? Ye yellow-bellied
What's that? Malidito
Ye will, hey? Scoot now, git - And
he half-breed moved off muttering.
"Some men mought er blowed his
lead off for less but thet's agin my
said Uncle Tucker to the
lssemblage, who were so taken aback at
eeing him in rage that no one lifted
/ hand to help him.
my boy" said the old man that
hight just before retiring, "we've got
ew leave. Well go Yeast or strike fur
ONE other diggin's on the Nevada side.
It's hard tew leave ole friends, but we
,ot few go, sonny"
Chow would Japan do, uncle?"
"Jaypan won't do, sonny. under
tan ther very much opposed tew furi-
lert en- thet kentry."
"Uncle," said Joe, laying his hand
on the old mans head,
you are unhappy on my account. I
now you are, and rather than put you
ut, Joe will go back home-at least
ot home-but will go away"
"My child" said Uncle Tucker, lay
ng his hand on Joe's arm, " don't We
yer speak thet way agin tew yer ole
ncle. In luck or out O. luck, we're
What's mine is yourn, an
hats yourn is yourn. Favorite sister
mines child, Joe; an yer ole uncle
oves We as he does the apple of his eye.
10, no we'll light out an go whar no
ne knows US, an start in different.
'ou shell go to school, Joe, an yer ole
ncle1l see We git a good education.
'het's settled, my child. Good night"
nd drawing the curtain that separated
is bed from the main room, he turned
/.
The next morning Uncle Tucker was
ff bright and early to his claim his
ice wore a happier look than it had
orn for months. He had no appre-
ensions of the half-breed, as he was
poly brave man, and he did not think