Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-10-10
WHISKY B0B's OLAIM---H0W HE
FOUND IT,

FOUND 1T.
Whisky Bob was dead broke, yer,
tired. and wanted to sit down and stud,
out his situation and what was best tC
be done. He put down his rocker anC
pack very carefully on the grass; hi
blankets were strapped in it, with pick
shovel, tin wash pan and frying pan
with a bag containing a little pork
ham, flour, and tin pot for his coffee
and, peeping from the roll of blankets
was the neck of a whisky bottle. HI
had stopped at the bottom of higl
mountain ridge, not far from the Yubi
River, that made along for miles. i
was well wooded and shaded by ole
trees, had little underbrush, and just
below him there ran a creek amid the
bushes, clear and cool, over the pebbles
which was very pleasant to see and
hear in the hot weather of summer
Bob took the bottle from the pack,
and holding it up to the light, saw
there was only one good drink left. He
looked up the mountain side through
the big pines, and saw the flickering
sunshine where it fell through the thick
foliage and struck the earth in many
places; in some of these the earth was
of bright crimson color, like the
flames of fire, from the mineral sub
stances in it. He drained the bottle,
and fell into a soliloquy:
"Here l be again, the same burned
fool as ever, ruined by whisky, after
making piles of money; jest desarve
it. What doggoned fool human car
make hisself with whiskyr'
1t was very discouraging, this kind
of thing. But Bob, like many others,
was growing accustomed to his own
folly. Bob had left his ship in San
Francisco Bay in the early summer OF
1850, and gone to the mines for his
pile. From the first he was lucky
where he struck his pick into the earth
1T was sure to find gold. But he OBJ.
tanned it so easily, he thought he al.
ways could find it when he chose, and
accordingly threw it away on whisky
gamblers, and dissipation, until the love
of liquor had become besetting sir
that was fast sending him to ruin
Nothing but some new and strong i'm
pulse, some powerful awakening of hi,
better nature could save him. Justly
from his besetting sin, was his name
y
about twenty-five years, tall, strong
and well built, with curling black hail
and beard, brown, intelligent-lookine
eyes, and, in fact, as handsome fell
low as you often look upon. There
was a chance for him yet, if anything
might happen to change his life anC
bring forth his really good qualities
But what could do thisP He continued
his soliloquy:
''Yes, here l be again, swearing of
whisky, making pile-and always
going back to whisky worse than ever
Not a show of gold in my bag; few
pounds of ham, of flour, and pork, with
little coffee and tobacco, and that's
all I'm worth, sure. If could strike
pay dirt once more I'd try-yes, rC
try to be somebody. Whar can | strike
ltP Eff could only meet woman ur
here I'd put my pick in the ground
whar first saw her. A woman brings
me luck every time. But who can ex.
pect in this pace to see womanP
will pack my traps up this ERE ridge
where the miners go every morning tt
their claims, and eff see ANYTHING al
all, there l locates for luck, for q WON
an is out of the question:"
Taxing up his pack, Bob toiled slow
ly up the ridge under the trees until he
came to the top, where it flattened out
in little level places and slight depres-
slons. Birds were singing and flowers
blooming around him; and as he sal
down to rest he heard, to his astonish-
ment, not very far off, the clear, sweet
voice of a female, singing.
Peeping cautiously under the young
pine trees, there, in a little open flat,
sitting on rock, was the singer. Ii
was a pleasant picture to look at, for q
lonely man. A tall, shapely, buxom
young girl with light golden hair, blue
eyes and very regular, pretty features.
She was dressed in short, calico dress.
with moccasins on her small feet, and
sun bonnet thrown back from heI
head. Her hand rested on long, Ken.
lucky rifle. She was a representative
of the better class of Western girls, who
were continually, in those early days
arriving in tine mountains of California
from the long trip overland, emi0ratine
in families from old Kentucky and othej
States. Passing near their camp fire
at night, one could hear the auain
songs and ballads-often sung to negro
melodies-they had improvised on thei
march about the daily journey and it
incidents. Some of these songs wer,
musical and comical. She was sing
ing:
kentucky is my native place, Kentucky /
Apd here be across the plains to seek 70
gold, and roam.
Wake snakes, and clear the track
When Kentuck comes along.
Ny name is Nelly Green, boys;
I'm sixteen, young and strongly
whisky Bob listened TO the song witt
delight, and gazed at the singer in ad
mirahon; and then, with his pack Ol
his shoulder, coolly walked out into he
presence, and. putting the pack dow
not far from her, sat down himself. Tn
young girl looked at him little sur
prised, but sat composed and still, onl
putting her hand carelessly on the loc
of her rife. Then she spoke 10 him.
Well, mister, who might YOU be
that walks into young iady's drawinl
room without knocking, even on tn
bark of treep"
"Please, miss, I'm called Whisk
Bob-out prospecting" said he.
Z" No miss about it, Mr.. Bob. please
My name, for short, is Nell Green to al
friends, and TO others-well, Pm
shooting iron," said the girl, and con
tnued: "Your name of Whisky is
bad one, young man, and, reckon
shows you are being ruinated by cor
juice. Is that sop
"Well, Nell, that's fact-but rathe
rodgh." said Bob, who saw the girl ha
q half smile on her face.