The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-04-12
Select Story.
BRET HARTE'S LATEST.
TWO SAINTS OF THE FOOTHILLS.

TWO SAINTS OF THE FOOTHILLS
1t never was clearly ascertained how long
| they had been there, The first settler of
| Rough-aud- Ready 49, one Low, playfully
known to his timiiars rs The Poor Indian"
declared that the saints were atore his time
and occupied a cabin in the North Fork. 1t
is certain that the two were present when
the water was first turned on the Union
Ditch, and then and there received the des-
ignation of Daddy Downey and Nanny
Downey, which they kept to the last. As
they tottercd toward the refreshment tent,
they we're welcomed with the greatest enthu-
siasm by the boys or, to borrow the more
refined language of the Union Recorder"
Their gray hairs and bent figures, recall
ling as they did, the happy paternal eastern
homes of the spectators, and the blessings
that fell from venerable lips when they left
those homes to journey in quest of the Gold
en- Fleece on Occidental Slopes, caused many
to burst into tears" The nearer facts that
many of these spectators were orphans, that
a few were unable to establish any legal
parentage whatever, that others had enjoyed
a States guardianship and discipline, and
that a majority had left their raternal roofs
without any embarrassing preliminary form
ula, were mere passing clouds that did not
dim the golden imagery Of the writer. From
that day the Saints were adopted as histori.
cal lay figures, and entered at once into pos
session of uninterrupted gratuities and en-
dowment.
1t was not strange that, in a country large.
ly 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 community's youth
full progress and energy They were
put forward at every social gathering, oc
cupied prominent seats on the platform al
every public meeting, walked first in every
procession, were conspicuous at the frequent
funeral and rarer wedding, and were god
father and godmoiher to the first baby borr
in Roughand- Ready. At the first pol
opcbco III thal pitCiHCt l'duuN lJOWuty CHS
the first vote, and AS was his custom, on al
momentous occasions, became volubly re
minscent. "The first vote | ever cast ,
said Daddy, "was for Andrew Jackson tn,
father o some on you peart young chap
wasn't born then, he he II that was wa,
long in '33, wasn't it? disremember nov
but if Nanny was here, she bein' school
gal at the time, she could say. But my mem
ory's failn' me. Im an old man, boys ye
likes to see the young ones go ahead.
reckelect that thar vote from a suckumstancC
Squire Adams was present, and seen it wa
my first vote, he put a good piece into m
hand, and, sez he, sez Squire Adams, 'lt
that always be reminder of the exercise {
glorious freeman's privilege = He did
he ! he Lord, boys I feel so proud {
ye, that wish had a hundred votes to ca
for We ALL"
1t is hardly necessary to say that the men
orial tribute of Squire Adams was increase
tenfold by the judges, inspectors and clerk
and that the old man tottered back to Man
my considerably heavier than he came.
both of the rival candidates were equal
sure of his vote and each had called up'
him and offered conveyance. it is but ia
to presume they were equally benefceI
But Daddy insisted upon walking to t
pol's-a distance of two miles-as a MOI
example and a text for the California pal
!. graphers, who hastened to record that su
/. was the influence of the foot-hill climate II
- "a citizen of Rough. and Ready, aged eigh
four rose at six o'clock, and, after milki
:. two cows, walked a distance of twelve mi
u to the polls, and returned in time to chol
IN cord of wood before dinner" Slightly
,e aggerated as this statement may have bt
a. the fact that Daddy was always found
II the visitor to be engaged at his wood-p
l. which seemed neither to increase nor dim
q. ish under his AKA fact, doubtless, owl
:, to the activity Of Nanny, who was alwi
a at the same time making pies, seemed to G
IN some credence to the story. Indeed,
l. wood-ple of Daddy Downey was stand
IS reproof TO the indolent and slugg
miner.
NJ "Ole Daddy must use up a pow'ful si
= of wood every time I've passed by
st shanty he's been maxim the chips fly.
ve what gets me is, that the pile don't seen
I'd come down, said Whisky Dick to his nei
" Dor.
We "Well, you derned fool" growled
4 neighbor "spose some chap happens
no no pass by thar, and sees the ole man doil
~ mans work at eighty, ard slouches like
and me lying round drunk, and that ch
E feelin' bumped goes up some dark night
w heaves a load of cut pine over his fence, wi
Id got anything to say about it2 Say?" {
R. tainly not the speaker, who had done
n act suggested, nor the penitent and remo
full hearer, who repeated it next day.
The pies and cakes made by the old
man were, | think, remarkable rather
.ry their inducing the same loyal and gener
me spirit than for their intrinsic excellence,
it may be said appealed more strongly to
.,,u nobler aspirations of humanity than its
Il gar appetite. Howbeit, everybody
Nanny Downey's pies, and thought of
childhood. Take 'em, dear boys" the
lady would say sit does me good to see
as eat 'em reminds me kinder of my !
Sammy, that, ef he'd lived, would hev b
ez strong and big ez you be, but was ia
Ss down with lung fever, at Sweetwater. /
heir see him yet that's forty year ago, de
o'- comm out o. the lot to the bake-house,
smilin' such beautiful smile, like 20
dear boy, as handed him mince OF |
i!iIs, !iis,, ming turnovar Dear, dear, how do
Shs als- on and those days is past but seen
"a Is live in EN- again p The wfe of the he
nr keeper, actuated by low jealousy, had
. gested that she Seemed to live off them
as that person tried to demonstrate the Il
of her statement by reference to the CO..
| tha ,a,., al mad hv tho old lad, Il