The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-04-12
Two Saints Of the Foot Hills.
Bret Harte in Scribner tor A,sil.

BRET harte In Scribner tor April
1t never was clearly ascertained how lon
they had been there. The first settler o
hough-and-Ready - one Low, playful
known to his familiars as "The Poor Indi
an declared that the saints were afore hi
time, and occupied cabin in the brusl
when he "blazed F" his way to the Nort]
Fork. 1t is certain that the two were pres
ent when the water was first turned on tn
Union Ditch, and then and there receive,
the designation OF Daddy Downey an,
Nanny Downey, which they kept to th
last. As they tottered toward the refresh
greatest enthusiasm by the boys or, t,
borrow the more refined language of tn,
Union Recorder, -" Their gray hairs ant
bent figures, recalling as they did, the hap
py paternal eastern homes of the spectator
and the blessings that fell from venerable
lips when they left those homes to iourne,
in quest of the Golden Fleece on Occidenta
Slopes, caused many to burst into tears. )
The nearer facts that many of these spec
tators were orphans, that few were unable
to establish any legal parantage whatever
that others had enjoyed a states guardian
ship and discipline, and that q majority haC
left their paternal roofs without any EN-
barrassing preliminary formula, were mere
passing clouds that did not dim the golden
| imagery of the writer. From that day the
Saints were adopted as historical lay fig.
ures, and entered at once into possession of
uninterrupted gratuities and endowment
1t was not strange that, in country
largely made up of ambitious and reckless
youth, these two-types of conservative and
settled forms-should be thus celebrated.
Apart from any sentiment or veneration,
they were admirable foils to the communi-
tvs youthful progress and energy. They
were put forward at every social gathering,
occupied prominent seats on the platform
ut every public meeting, walked first in
every procession, were conspicuous at the
frequent funeral and rarer wedding, and
were godfather and godmother to the first
baby born in Rough-and-Ready. At the
first poll opened in that precinct, Daddy
Downey east the first vote, and, as was his
custom, on all nomentous occasions, be-
came volubly reminiscent. ''T he first vote
ever cast, said Daddy, "was for Andrew
jackson; the father O. some of you peart
young chaps wasn't born then, he he -
that was way long in 49, wasn't it?
DOW, but if Nanny was here.
she bein' schoolgirl at the time, she could
say. But my memory's failin' me. Pm
an old man, boys; yet like to see the
young ones go ahead. recklect that thar
vote from suckumstance. Squire Adams
was present, aud seein iu was my first vote
be put goold piece into my hand, and, ,sez
he, sez Squire Adams, let that always be
: reminder Oh tbh-cAoEsis6 OF q glorious
freeman's privilege He did he he !
Lord, boysi feel SO proud of ye, that /
wish had hundred votes to cast for ye
sll.' .....sa a.- VI,
1t is hardlv necessary to say that the me-
norial tribute OF Squire Adams was increas-
I'd tenfold by the judges, inspectors and
clerks, and that the old man tottered back |
% Nanny, considerably heavier than he
;ame. AS both of the rival candidates were |
,qaaly sure of his vote, and each had call |
ID upon him and offered a conveyance, it is |
,ut fair to presume they were equally be- |
leficent. But Daddy insisted upon walk
ng to the polls-a distance of two miles,
Is moral example, and text for the Cal
fornia paragraphers, who hastenei to re-
ord that such was the influence of the foot
ill climate. that "a citizen Of Rough and
Ready, aged 81, rose at six o'clock, and,
.fter milking two cows, walked distance
# twelve miles to the polls, and returned
n time to chop cord of wood before din
ler." Slightly exaggerated as this state-
nent may have may been. the fact that
Daddy was always found by the visitor to
,e engaged at his wood-pile, which seemed
leither to increase nor diminish under his
x.-a fact, doubtless, owing to the activity
f Nanny, who was always at the same
ime making pies, seemed to give some Gre
ence to the story. Indeed, the wood-pile
4 Daddy Downey was standing reproof to
he indolent and sluggish miner.
sole Daddy must use up pow'ful sight
f wood; every times rve passed by his
hanty he's been maxim the chips fly. But
Vhat gets me is, that the pile don't seem to
ONE down." said Whiskey Dick to his
eighbor.
"Well, you derned fool ~ growled his
eighbor "spose some chap happens to
ass by thar, and sees the ole man doin'
nau's work at eighty, and slOuches like you
nd me, lying round drunk, and that chap,
eelin' kinder bumped, goes up some dark
light and heaves load of cut pine over his
ence, who's got anything to say about it?
ay? Certainly not the speaker, who had
one the act suggested, nor the penitent
nd remorseful hearer, who repeated it next
ay.
The pies and cakes made by the old wo-
nan we're, think, remarkable rather for
heir inducing the same loyal and generous
pirit than for their intrinsic excellence, and
may be said appealed more strongly to
be nobler aspirations of humanity than it's
uigar appetite. Howbeit, everybody ate
Nanny Downey's pies, and thought of his
''Take 'em, dear boys" the
Id lady would say; it does me good to
ee you eat 'em reminds me kinder or my
oor Sammy, that, eff he'd lived, would hev
X en- ez strong and big ez you be, but was
AIKEN down with lung fever, at Sweetwater.
kin see him yet; that's forty year ago,
ear comm out o. the lot to the bake
ouse. and smilin' such beautiful smile,
Ike yours, dear boy, as handed him
nince or a lemming turnover. Dear, dear,
ow do run on /! and those days is past
nut l seem to live in you again ~ The
yife of the hotel keeper, actuated by low
had suggested that she seemed
o live of them," but as that person tried
o demostrate the truth of her statement by
eference to the cost of the raw material
sed by the old lady, it. was considered by
he camp as too practical and economical
or consideration Besides" added Cy
'erkins, "ef old Nanny wants TO turn an
onest penny in her old age, let her do it.
low would you like your Old mother to
1ake pies on grub wages eh?' A sug-
estion that so affected his hearer (who had
o mother) that he bought three ON the
pot. The quality of these pies had never
cen discussed but once. 1t is related that
young lawyer from San Francisco, dining
{ the Palmetto restaurant, pushed away
ne of Nanny Dowuey's pies with every
xpression of disgust and dissatisfaction.
It this junctnre, Whisky Dick, consldera-