Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-07-24
Honest Miners.

| L u
been unusually wet but no rain had fdIe
for ten days before this particular morn
| ing, consequently the rotds were in goo
condition.
The air was soft and full of fraoranre
grass. flowers and foliage were displaye
IN the most lavish abundance and in In
brightest hues. Nature beamed abroad il
her gayest and most attractive aspect.
On the road leading from Suffers Mills
10 Coloma, to the historic town of Placer
vllle-o herwise Hangtown four miner
we're making their way, on fuor, towar
he latter place. Their names We're Rich
ara Jones, Stephen Pyne, John Bluome
and Joseph Kicks. Grazing upon The lux
hrlant Verdure frinTlnI the bank of In
rlver,-the south fork OF the American, -
near which ran the road, were two plum
mules-.loose and unteIhered. Jones an,
KICKS who were somewhat footsore, eye,
those animals enviously, and quickly de
termlned TO take advantage OF the situa
tlon.
"Shank's mare has played out, and ;
short trip on mule back Will uo me heap:
Of good" said Jones.
" And won't hurt the animal u bil," wa!
the remark Of Kicks.
Against the remonstrances of Bloomer
and Pyne, who were too conscientious
even 10 steal ride, the mules We're secur.
ed. The nose ropes of the hybrids served
is brldle reins; some pieces vi AN old liriat
found under tree, were fashioned into
strrups. Jones AMI Rcks mounted the
mules, and the four miners pressed tor.
ward again on their Journey.
AT the juncture of II birdie path with
the Sacramento road stood "a log cabin. the
property of Samuel Phillips, or " Old
Buckeye, AS he was flmillarly termed, one
of the pioneers of that section. rne sun
WAS midway between the HORIZON and re.
nith when a solitary d DIES rln. a yonuv
man named William Prince, stopped Al
this cabin, and asked for drink of water.
which was given him by "A cumely dam,el
the tlaugh er of MIR. Phillips.
The sweetest face have seen since 7
left B B,llimurew said Prince tn h,ms.lf
A real yentlem,ni The Iik.li4sl look
mo man lh,H ever n,.seL this hnn,ei, was
the mental comment of Mis-, Mary phillins,
rhe vouno man turned away win lnnx
of lonuing in ri, briyht, br1wn ewes. and
again look up his line of march toward
Hnnotown. Shortlv aft.rw,rI princ.
who was a viyorous walker. overronk ,h,.
miners before mrnIiuned. B.ino sncisIIy
inclined, he accommodated his pace to
theirs. and 1ruIord cheerfullv with them
,lon0 the ,lustv Toad. lie of conrse Knew
NOTHING abuut the t,king of the mules.
int su6posed Them TO be- the leo;I proIprry
of tho m,ners Thnv h,d rn,'h.i . MIN,
same five miles further on. when a fine
lookinp horse h.,riny = handsome vonrh
clad in lonse iltiny Garments of a miner
can,erel m,t, Prince thonoht that lhe
rider bor,. , wonderful resemblance tn th.
GIRL he had left h.h,nd him ut the loo
G,hin
" Her brother. no donbt tn, likeness is
h,n. .ha and he ,rn twins Rnt 7 Sb,ll
never see her more. in ali nroh,bilitv
Ilow her fac. cIinys to me-, i he said n
himself with A sim of r,yret. ns he tri.d
In dismiss the fair vision from his memo.
~, and rnirrpI nyain into a discussion ot
minino matters With his new cnmn,nions
The sun had reached The meri,lisn shen
the oulstretchlng suburbs of IIangtowv
were reached. iere The varty hailed fur
rest in the shade of Il pretty little grove Of
live oaks. throuch which me,ndersd tht
rust t-colored road. The two mules were
tuned loose, and started back in the drec.
tion OF the spot whence they were taken.
Before the animals were out OF sight the
catler of galioplng huufs WAS heard. and
II score of mounted men came nolslly int
view from the dust clouds kicked up by
their mustangs, driving the two mules be.
fore them.
Hurrah! The doggoned thieves are
here, we've got 'em!"
Bloomer. Jones. Kicks. Pyne and Prince
were Immediately surrounded, secured
and taken to the center of The town. A
call for meeting of " honest miners v
was met with speedy and cheerful re.
spon>e. Tue meeting was held upon
Preachers Hill, commanding ominence
whercon occasional itineranls delivered
Sunday sermons 10 such rs would lend
their ears.
The hill was studded with shady oaks
and tall pines, va'ed with clustering
MASSES of MLnsanita bushes. A grassy
carpet richly variegated with flowers clad
the long slope. Birds sang gleetully upon
the tree branches, and the west wind rus
tied gently through the foliage.
The sun shone brightly in the arching
sky. which seemingly, bent Itself to inclose