The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-06-25
ARMSTRONG;.

Olden days OF gOld, OF the Boluoh uulS ,
of old, as you please-in a certain
miners camp on the Yuba river, there
lived 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 that
he departed from common custom III
this one particular, he was, of course,
voted crazy by the other miners. 10
call all persons crazy" who do not
follow the customs of the majority is
constant habit with men. But, day
after day, Armstrong worked away with
his pick and shovel, caring nothing for
the remarks of his neighbors, and seem
ing to wish for no other partner in his
tolls or his rest, save the invisible per-
sopage 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 as follows:
"Rather tough work, Armstrong,
rich dirt, though-grub dollar pound
no time to waste-pitch in, sir
hanged if | don't wish | was in the
states. This INNINGS mighty hard
work. Nonsense, Armstrong; 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 du pune
tuated with strokes of the pick and hits
of the loaded shovel. And 20 the days
would pass along, and Armstrong work
ed and slept, and talked with his invlsl-
ble partner. Well, it happened, IN due
course of time, that the class OF human
vampires, commonly called gamblers,
made their appearance at the camp
where Armstrong worked. As he was
not above following the example OF ms
fellows, he paid the new comers visit.
1t is the same old story. After watch
ing the game awhile, he concluded 1t
was the simplest thing in the world.
SO be hied his luck, and won-SlOO
Now, any experience would always SCI
Armstrong to thinking and talking to
himself worse than ever. 1t was SO
this timc. "Now, Armstrong" he said
as he hesitated about going to his work
next morning, "that is the eases
hundred dollars you ever made IN yonl
life. What's the use of your golnf
into hole in the ground to Dig To-
three ounces day? The fact is
Armstrong, you are sharp. You wer' T
not made for this kind of work. sup
pose you Just throw away your pick ah'
shovel, leave the mines, buy SUIT O
store-clothes and dress mp like Dor
gentleman, and 60 at some buslnes
that suits your talent.
Armstrong was not long in putin
these thonghts and sayings into actor
He left the diggings and invested in tin
clothes. He looked like another MAJ
but he was still the same Armstronf
nevertheless. He was not long IN fln'
ing an opportunity to try new prote
sion. Walking forth in his fresh QUIT
he had Just concluded long talk VIII
himself about his bright prospect
when he had halted ia front OF lare
tent with sign on it, "Miners Test
Armstrong went in. 1t did not seem
him that he remained very long, Dut
was long enough to work wonderi
revolution in his feelings. When
came out he was a changed man-th
is to say, he was a chaDgeless ma
He was thunder struck, amazed, .
wildered. He had lost his money, lost
new prospect, lost his self-conceit-i,
everything, but his new clothes and
old habit of talking to himself. IL
useless to say that he was mad. Ar
strong was very mad. But there
no one to be mad at but Armstrong III
self, so self number two was IN 10
rough lecture A: -,
"Now, Armstrong, you are n
specimen-you fool-you DIX!
aead-beat-you inf" Well, l nj
not repeat all the hard things he sa
Like King Richard, he " found VIII
himself no pity for himself.
Bnt mere words were not snfflcie
1t was time for action. But a
strong never once thought OF shoot'
drowning, hanging, or any other II
of suicide He was altogether too o
inol as well as too sensible for t
Yet he was resolved upon someti
real and practical in the way OF rei1r
cory punishment. He felt the need
self-impose decree OF bankruptcy
should render the present failure
com lete as possible, and preve'
similar course in the future.
SO the broken firm of Armstrol
Self" went forth in meditation long
deep. Some of his thoughts wer
most too leep for utterance. Bnt nj
he stood by the dusty road along ',
the great freightipg wagons were
ing supplies to the mining camp
the Sacramento. One OF these wa
drawn by six yoke Of oxen, was
passing. Snap, snap, snap, IN SO
regular succession, came the
stinging reports of the long MIS-
ox-whip. "Glang g'lang wo'h
shouted the tall, dust-begrimed d
as he swung his whip and cast a
long glance at the broken firm, VIC
ing "wha. in thunder all them
clothes was a.doin' thar" Now,
Armstrong saw the long colun
white dust rising behind that waR
was taken with an idea. 50 he sh
to the driver, to know if he mig
allowed to walk in the road behlr
wagon.
"Get in aud ride" said the drl
"No," said Armstrong;
walk"
"Then walk, you crazy fool,
accommodating response, as tue