Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-09
ARMSTRONG.

oden DAYS of gold or the golden days OF
old as YOU please-in certain miners
camp on the Yuba River there lived
oueer genius named Armstrong. He was
an honest miner, not differing materially
from his fellows, excepting that he had q
curious habit Of talking to himself. For
the simple 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
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 person
age 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
day right under your feet, and nothing to
do but just to dig it out"
His conversation would be duly punctu-
ated with strokes of the pick and lifts of
the loaded shovel. And so the days
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
commonly called gamblers made their
appearance at the camp where Armstrong
worked AS he was not above following
the example of his fellows, he paid the
new corners a 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
800! Now, any new experience would
always set Armstrong to thinking and
talking to himself worse than ever. 1t
was so this time. Nov, Armstrong"
he said, as he hesitated about going to
his work next morning, that is the east.
est hundred dollars you ever made in your
life What's the use of your going into a
hole in the ground to dig for three ounces
a day? The fact is, Armstrong, you are
sharp. You were not made for this kind
of work. Suppose you just throw away
your pick and shovel, leave the mines,
buy a suit of store-clothes and dress up
like born gentleman, and go at some
business that suits your talent"
Armstrong was not long in putting
these thoughts and sayings into action.
He left the diggins and invested in fine
clothes. He looked like another man,
but he was still the same Armstrong, new
ertheless. He was not long in finding an
opportunity to try new profession.
Walking forth il his fresh outfit, he had
just concluded long talk with himself
abont his bright prospects, when he
halted in front of a large tent with sign
on it, "Miner's Rest" Armstrong went
in. It did not seem to him that he re-
manned very long, but it was long enough
TO work wonderful revolution In his
feelings. When he came out he was a
changed man--that is to say, he was a
changeless" man. He was thunder
struck, amazed, bewildered He had lost
his money, lost his new prospect lost his
selfconceit-l everything but his new
clothes and his old habit of talking to
himself 1t is useless to say that he was
mad. Armstrong was very mad. But
there was no one to be mad at but Arm
strong himself, so self number two was in
for a rough lecture.
Nov, Armstrong, you are nice speci
men-you fool-you bilk--you dead beat
you inf" Well, need not repeat ali
the hard things he said. Like King Rich
ard, he found within himself no pity foI
himself''
But mere words were not sufficient. II
was time for action But Armstrong
never once thought of shooting, drown
ing, hanging, or any other form OF sui
eide. He was altogether too original as
well as too sensible for that. Yet he was
resolved upon something real and prac
teal in the way of reformatory punish
ment He felt the need of self-imposed
decree of bankruptcy that should render
the present failure as complete as pos
sible, and prevent similar course in the
future.
So the broken firm of Armstrong &
Self" went forth in meditation long and
deep. Some of his thoughts were almost
too deep for utterance But finally he
stood by the dusty road along which the
great freighting wagons were hauling
supplies to the mining camps up the Sac
ramento. One of these wagons, drawn
by six yoke of oxen, was just passing
Snap, snap, snap, in slow, irregular sue
cession, came the keen, singing reports
OF the long Missouri ox-whip. "G1ang
g'lang! wo-hawi" shouted the tall. dust
begrlmed driver as he swung his WHIP
and cast sidelong glance at the broker
firm, wondering "what the dickens al
them store-clothes was adoin' thar.
Now, when Armstrong saw the long col
umn of white dust rising behind tina
wagon he was taken with an idea. 80 ne
shouted to the driver TO know if he nigh
De allowed to walk in the road behind thu
wagon.
Get in and ride" said the driver.
No." said Armstrong 81 wish Il
walk
Then walk, you crazy fool" was thu
accommodating response, as the driver
swung his whip.
Then came the tug of war Greek never
met Greek more fiercely than did the TIVE
contending spirits composing the firm
Armstrong 81 Self at that particular mo