The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-05-16
A Broken Heart.
By N. QUAD.

CluhofaS n@tES, oot bu0y WeTe biu-
gular men bgawny, rough, griEEled,
and sems Of them wicked. They we're
non frsm the East, digging, delving,
in . sort Of mad frenzy, for the golden
wealth of California. On this day all
work had ceased. They formed in q
circle on tho grass, and in the centsr
was Jack Bullet. His hands were tied
behind him there was an old blood
stain on bis face, and from hie Woltish
eyes he sent murderous glances from
one face ts another, and at last called
out: ..-.
II wish l had knitted some of vel"
None Of the men replied. Some we're
pale, others nervous, and none seemed
to relish the business on hand, which
was the hanging Of Jack Bullet.
BY and by, meek and humble look
ing man, named Elder Graves by the
boys, entered the circle, and, standing
with one hand on the prisoners should
or, he began:
"Jack Bullet, this is a solemn warn.
ing to all. Here iS the rope-there is
the limb--and We are gathered to hang
you. You came to Joe Whites Dream
weeks ago, poor, hungry and i'll. We
ted and, nursed you, aud when you
we're well enough to work, full claim
was stak6d out for you. How have
you repaid ns, Jack Bulleti Ysu have
stolen dust frOm the men, brought dis
cord and jealousies among us, melted
rows and riets, and last night you
we're detected when shout to murder
your partner and steal his few humid
red dollars. We try to be white ia
this camp, and to use all men right,
but We cannot turn your loose to prey
upon some ether party. The men are
going to hang you"
Let them hang; ] can't die but
once" suIkily replied the prissnsr.
"Jack Bullst," said the Elder, "I
am q praying man, and want to pray
with you before you swing. I'm sor-
ry for you. Ysu are q strong man.
and you are to die like dog: Maybe
you have . mother in the East, or you
may have a wife and children. God
help them !"
The Elder sank down en- his knees
before the prisoner, aBd prayed such
a prayer as the rocks have never echo.
ed again. Before he had finished there
were big tears in the eyes of half the
men, and Big Sam went over to Cur
ly Jim and whispered:
"New, that's what / call religium-
the old bang up religium, sich as we
used to git way back in New HamP-
shirep
When the prayer had ended a new
spirit came to the men. They scan-
ned Jack Bullets face aud Raw it had
softened, and as Elder Graves stepped
aside the president Of the camp cut
Jacks bonds and said:
eve don't want your blood though
you sought ours. You are free to 60,
Jack Bullet, but dop't you ever enter
Joe Whites Dream again."
The reprievsd man moved away
without word, nor did he look back
as long as he was in view. When he
disappeared from sight the miners re-
turned to their work, each one 20 busy
with his thoughts that few words were
spoken.
That day two weeks a man came up
from Cardboard city" and reported
that Jack Bullet had been eaten up
by grizzly. Every man in the camp
felt glad then that his town had escap.
ed the disgrace of a hanging, and in
the afternoon he saw Elder Graves
shoulder a spade and turn down into
a valley. 1t was . beautiful spot, al
ways full of the mellowest sunshine
and the prsttiest flowers.
When tho boys had knocked of
work that day, they all descended into
the place, for what rsasSn no one
knew, but by a sort Of common con-
sent. In the center Of the valley the
earth had been heapsd up like grave.
At it's head was a board-at its feet .
wild rose On tho board Elder Graves
had cut cut with his knife:
JACOB BULLET,
Aged 20,
Men may not have given him q chance,
BUT ooD WILL.
You wouldn't think thoAs rough
men had a sentiment in their hearts,
but thsy saw through the Elders mo-
tives in an instant, and the rOughsst
man in the lot stopped dswn RRd care
fully rsarranged one Of the sod.
Three weeks more went by, and one
evening Jack Bullet came into Joe
Whites Dream alive aud we'll. He
stood on the little square in the cen
ter Of the town, and he said not word
till the wondering men had gathered
about him. Then he pointed to the