Smyrna times., 1875-04-07
mise eIIUW e O2ES .
Nancy Jones' Baby.
A CALIFORNIA GULcH STORY.

CALIFORNIA GCICH STORY.
The wind came bowling down the noun
tainsidc, and, with hollow moan, rushed
through the canons. The tall pines tossed
and beat their heads at each rude blast of
the storm. Masses of black clouds hung
like a funeral pail over the mountains, and
the rain poured down in torrents.
Rabbit creek bounded down its narrow
led, carrying all before it, whirling and
writLing like huge serpent, taking way
with rapid leaps, bearing on its foarning
bosom mass of rubbish. Great logs and
stumps of trees, caught from their resting
places on some hillside, were borne on till
lost to sight Now and then sluice-box
came floating down until dashed to pieces
against boulder, telling of disaster to some
poor miner further up the gulch On, on,
swept the rushing waters, taking in their
rude embrace all that crossed the path of
their fury.
Suddenly and awful had been the coming
of the Storm as if delay had strengthened
its power and given new energy to its
fercencss. Then came the change from
warmth to cold-fron rain to snow-and
soon the rugged hills were clothed in white,
and in the gulches We're piled huge drifts
The whirling masses were borne on and
scattered. The trees were heavy with their
burden; and when some blast more rude
that others, stirred their branches, the
grateful limbs lifted their heads and tossed
about with JOY at their relief.
The town of Rabbit Creek stands unshel-
tered OH the hillsides, and its unprotected
state had been exposed to the fury of the
storm. The small, rude houses were rock
ed by every blast till they trembled on their
slis sAt foundations.
IN the principal bar.room of the town
were gathered the greater part of the male
population. 1t was a large room, with
tables scattered around its sides. In the
centre stood II billiarCltable, the boast and
pride Of the proprietor. and he had otter
been heard to say "See that billard:table
1t c04t fortun' to set that ere piece O
furniture up in my ealoon!'' And then, a
surprise and wonder were depicted on the
face Of his listener, the owner of that 'er'
table" would give the astonishing informa
zion that "she was packed across the noun
tains on a muler'
In the corner stood a mammoth stove
and alongside of it pile of logs-for ampl
were the heating accommodations of "olt
McKenzie's' salO9n-and the larger part o
the crowd was gathered around its warn
sides, taking in its cheering heat. Tn
smiling hosts rubicund countenance shon
like new brass tea-kettle, as he rushe
around attending to the wants of his pt
irons. He finally addressed one of tn
crowd near the stove with:
81 say, Jakel it's started in good 'Yo
We're in luck! Ifyou had been day late
you would have had to como over on snow
Shoes
The answer came in a voice singularl
low and sweet-for the person spoken to
Jake was man of great size, and, as /
stood with his back to the stove, his heaV
coat almost reaching to the floor, he locke
like giant There was an indescribab
air of refinement and grace about the ma
and the face that looked out from und
the broad-brimmcd hat was one handsom
and yet sad.
'Yes, Mac! I was lucky, as you say; al
if It keeps on in this way long, we shall
blockaded for a couple of weeks"
One or two more of the crowd here ga
their opinions as to the chances for "a ha
winter; but their conversation came to
abrupt termination as the door Of
saloon opened with a rush, and in came
figure which at first looked like mass
snow, but, by dint of much shaking a
stamping of feet, it finally assumed
shape of a man, who, as he pulled OFT
heavy coat disclosed to the crowd the w
known features Of the only doctor on
bit creek.
A run of salutations greeted him from
sides--for DIR. Holmes was man repec
by old and young. He had pale, rehr
face with the sharpest of gray eyes look
out from jet-black eyebrows; and peo
said, when the Doctor got "riled," tn
gray eyes snapped and glared, giving
person who met his displeasure some
sight into the character Of the man Il
had to deal with.
After the Doctor had said: GLOW
you, boys?r he turned to Mckenzie