Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-03-13

Ino men CrOWucu u little close
and kept their eyes on the child, q
if he were a rare curiosity. An
Indeed he was. Way back in tn
east, thousands of miles nearer SUI
rise, some of the men had lei
wives and children but the year
had gone by as they delved in th
guIch, and they had almost forgot
Ell how a child should look. Fiv
hundred men had worked in PeacI
Gulch at odd times, and a hundred
were there yet; but it was not on re
cord that q woman or child had eve
been seen within a hundred mile
of the spot.
"An' what ar We goin' to do will
him ~ finally asked minor.
"That's plump and square, thar
arr" answered the hunter; "an
now we come to business. Ye SET
1 can't take care O him, for Pm
hOOpin' around like an Injun. II
haint likely as he'll ever be called
for, cause his folks are chopped up.
an no one knows whar he cum from.
He's an orphan, an somebody's got
to 'dOpt him, ez they call it. l hev
rode about fifty miles outen my way,
an l s'pose yen throw in somethin'
for my troubls, an take the cub off
my hands,"
"WhoOp-hoOray! Hand out yer
metals" cried several men and in
less than two minutes the hunter
had exchanged his prize for a good
ly amount of silver.
81 know yell take good care O
him." he said, as he looked around
on the crowd, "but ye must be sort
o. gentle on the start. Ye see, he
don't know ye, an he's kinder scarf
at sight O. yer long ha'r an dirty
faces"
One after another of the men held
out their hands, and sought to make
friends with the boy, but he would
not leave the hunter.
"Here, ye man over thar, come
lerew called the hunter to one of
The miners whose face was clean,
md wearing kind smile. He came
'ver, and the hunter said to the
,hild:
"Now, bub, here's yYr kind uncle,
M he's going to take the best kind
) care of We. Ye see, 1 hev got to
20 hum, an l can't take ye along,
M yell hev to stop here"
He lifted the child up, and the
smile on the miners face
vOn the boys heart. He allowed
limself to be transferred, amidst a
'reat cheering, and the hunter was
eady to so. Turning to the boy,
g said:
"Wall, bub. here's my gripper,
nd l hope yell git along all right.
shell drop around this way once
n while, an ye mustn't forget who
)und ye out thar on the perary,
n took care O. ye."
The boy called after the hunter,
nd began to cry; but after mo.
lent he snuggled up to Dave as if
aving confidence in him.
"Now, stop this yellin' git outen
le way !" demanded Dave, as the
rowd cheered and pressed closer.
This che lid ar scarf, he ar, an
e must gin him time to get used to
$. He's ours, an he's going to
:ay an be the pet of Peach Gulch,
n after a bit he'll let his tongue
ag."
Dave took the child to his shan.
7, promising to put him on exhibi-
on after supper, and the crowd dis
ersed, some to pick up their tools
nd work again, and others to as
'mble in three and fours, and can
ass the strange freak of fortune
hich had brought Peach Gulch a
It. Il
Dave petted and soothed the ,
lid, fixed him up something extra {
eat, and in a couple of hours lit.
9 Paul was quite at home, asking
good many questions, and answer {
e a few. Dave sought to find out
w fate had left the boy alone on s
e prairie, but he could not secure {
en- a hint. The balance of the
mily, and perheps a whole party,
ID undoubtedly been butchered by s
dians, and terror and exposure
d overpowered the child's men,
Y, even if he realized what had 9
,
Eye ar an orphan, straighter' no
strir,g," said Dave, as he watched
o child. sshnt We hez fOund friends.