The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-09-07

head his brown eyes glittered with joy, for
standing over him was his companion.
Reaching out his bony handj he grosped his
partner'o khcU, ahd, pointing with the other
to his rife that leaned against the wall, he
said: "Bill, bury the gun With me, en- my
navies, too, pard Thar they is at yer Feet.
I've had 'em so long l hate ter part from
them, Mind you thst no one takes the pic
tire froih my ircky but for the sake of old
tirties let it go with me. hev got to go,
pard. I'll strike II uibhe in another land.
hate ter leave foH I hate tet leave YOU.
Bill, kin you pray7" His Voice sinking
low, as if it pained him 10 speak, dropped
almost to q whisper. "Pray for ihe jest
linej pard' l het set my last box; en- it's
better that l git sottte kind Nv send-ofj
Christian-like. A few words will do. /
hain't never done nothin' you mout call des-
prit bad; jumped a claim en- had few
scrapes, but allus helped naber when
could. hain't got much longer to stay en-
fur the love of God ask fur few fators fur
me; en- reach down, pard-it's gettin' monty
dark-down lower-I kant hardly see yer.
Thar's twenty ounces in the bag under my
bedj send it to my folks in Georgia, you
know wharJ en- tell 'em thet allhs lowed
to come home ef he'd struck enything right
good. But didn't. Thar was Gold creek,
Tomly's bar, Yank's hill, en- maby other
good digging me and you diskivered, en- we
left 'em to hunt better. Now here we are
busted en- 1 in the ground sluice. Now
pra'r, Bill, en- I'll slip Off Pm nifty tired
pard. I'll go to see the Wife en- baby left
twenty-six years ago. Eff sperits ever KUN
back you shall hear from me, fur we hes bin
together sense 80, en- never cross word"
Tears streamed from the eyes of his COM
panion, and, falling ON his knees by the bed,
in voice shaken with Sorrow and grief, he
broke forth in the following prayer:
"Just en- merciful Jesus, take my pard en-
let him down easy. Me en- him is old-tim-
ers, bin roughin' it menny years, en- now
he is a passin' in his checks. Thar never
was no better man. He is generous an
brave, eterybody's hiehdj his own worst
enemy. He is agwine ter leave fur whar
you only know. Ef he has been little off
ct times, it 'us more my fault then his'n.
Obi fur Christ's sake, let him stay a~hilB
longer. We hev bin tsrgether SO; so long.
Give him another chance. Just year.
He'll be better fit ter die, fur he'll chop sure;
en- he kin look after his SOUL fur he hain't
had time NV late years, beih' as we bin out
of luck. AK this fur Gods sake. Amen"
Raising his head and wiping his eyes,
he turned To look at the sick man. One
glance at his face, calm and peaceful, with
half-closed eyes, CLASSY in their terrible stare,
told palmer than words that "pard had
crossed the river.' Throwing himself by
the dead mans side, he wept as only a strong
man can weep Getting upat last he cross
ed the thin hands and closed the eyes of
him he loved so well. Then, standing over
him, he gazed long ana earnestly in the
faes rigid in death mutteringj "Dead! deadl
So titahy years tergether. Good-by, pard;
ole man, good-by. You hev struck the pay
otlOdh' Soh iSS ySi NOih aiOAS' 4 II 10
thar with yer. Pm notagwine ter cut loose
this way arter being tergether so long. l
hev got to go sooner or later, ennyhow, en-,
es am alone, I'll just step off and bar you
tothpahy'" . ..l."
Going to the fireplace he picked up a
piece of coal and wrote on the broad hearth
stone, Bury us in the prospect hole, on the
bar above the house. Thar's twenty ounces
of gold under our heads in a sack. Send it
akkordin to the direckshun on the sack.
Bury our shovels EN- pans with us, en- fer
yer trtbbe take our guns navies en- stock.
Treat 'em kindly. Do the right thing by
the dog rite on theend ofout rocker bottom,
that you'll find on ther bar:
"'HERE is TWO PARDs
Es HeU