The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-03-15

BIZ BRET HARTE.

BIZ BRET HARTE- ,.
/ think that the few who were per
mited 10 know and love the object of
this sketch, spent the rest OF their days
not only in an attitude OF apology for
having az first failed 10 recognize her
higher nature, but Of remorse that they
should have ever lent a credulous ear 10
0Priori tradition concerning her family
characteristics. She had not escaped
that calumny which she shared with the
rest OF her sex. for those youthful iollies.
ievities and indiscretions which belong
to immaInrity 1t is very probable that
the firnneSS that distinguished her ma
turer vii ia youth might have been taken
for obstinacy, that her nice discrimina-
ton might al the same period have been
taken for ad0lescent caprice, and that
the positive expression of her quick in
tcllect might have been thought youth
fui impertinence before her years had
won respect for her judgment.
She was fo4led at Indian Greek, and
one month later, when she was brought
over 10 Sawyer's Bar, was considered
the smallest donkey ever seen in the
Foot Hills The legend that she was
brought 0verin one Of = Dan, the Quartz
Cruslierf<.', boots REQUIRED corr0bora-
ton from that gentleman; but his denial
paing evidently based upon a masculine
vanity regarding the size Of his foot
rather than desire to be historically ac-
curate. II went for nothing. II Is
certain that Tor the next two months
she occupied the cabin Of Dan, until,
perhaps, frcensed at this and other
scandals, she one night made her way
ont = hadn't the least idee wot woz
comm. said Dan, = but about mid
night 7 seemed 70 hear hail onto the
roof. and 4 shower Of rocks and stones
ike 10 i Blast started in the canyon
When got up and struck light, thar
was snth1ns lIEe onto a cord o. kindiin'
wood and splintcrs whar she'd stood
asleep, and 4 hole in the side o. the
sharty. aud--no jimmy, Lookin' at
them hoofs y hern-and mighty porty
they j. 20 look At. too YOU would al
low she conld do it,r l fear that this
performance laid the foundation Of her
later infelici,ous reputation. and per-
maps awakened in her youthful breast a
misplaced ambition, and an emulation
which might al that time have been di-
verted into nobler channel. For the
fame u this juvenile performance and
its possible promise in the. future
brought az once upon her the dangerous
fiattery and attention Of the whole camp
Under intelligently directed provocation
she would repeat her misguided exercise
until most Of the scanty furniture Of the
cabin was reduced to 4 hopeless wreck,
and sprains and callosites were deyel-
oped upon the limbs.of her admirers.
Yet even At this early stage Of Yer his
tory, that penetrating intellect which
was in after Years her dominant quality
was evident 70 ALL She could not bt
made to Kick NJ quartz tailings, at :
barrel Of Boston crackers, or ~ the head
or shin of . Niger Pete !" An artistic
discrimination economized her surplu.
energy. "Ef you'll motifs, y said Dan
with q large parental softness, ..shs
never lets herself out 20 onct like then
mules or any jackass ez I've hesrd Of
but kinder holds herself in, and, 80 ;,
speak. taxes her bearings -sorter feel
round gently with that of foot, take
her distance and herrest, and then will
that ar foot hoyerin' round in the al
softly, Ike an angels wing. and gen
IL, dreamy kind o. look In them eyes
she liles out. Don't ye, jimmy? Thar
list e. I slll yc.f continued Dan, wit
IA artist noble forgetfulneSs Of sell
A. he slowly crawled from the splintere'
ruin III the barrel on which he had bee,
siHng. Thar did re ever see TIA
like. Dill W dream that all the while
was salkin' she was a meditatin' thatp
The same artistic perception and nc
BIZ crdistingnished her bray.
VIA one ~ which 4 less sagacious auI
mal x0uld have been foolishly vain )
osieniatiolsly prodigal. u was a con
tralto ~ great compass and proiundit
reaching from low q TO high C--peI
haps Lille stronger in The lower regis
ter, and bot altogether free from IA
sal falsetsp In the upper. Daring an
brilliant * n WAS m the middle notes
itw4s perhaps more unsteady remark