Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-05-01

Thy worth and Seeuty nov 70 DO ~
.as L rom ne s ses s asi'
Rose Terry Cooke. in Christian Unton.
THE HERMIT. n z
a Tale - nlial.s Lare n TIE assr. HaAre
Away up ON the raain srnnge- sh,
Sierra AAdre -of the Rocky Mountains
twelve thousand feet above the sea
rests a little mining camp Of some
twenty or twenty-five rough log cabins
Right on the edge Of timber line! Tall
spruce pines below; bare. Jagged rock
above. North;,' south, east and ives,
huge peaks tower In their massive
grandeur and rear their stony heads t.
the rising and setting sun, and seen
like grim old sentinels keeping watch
over the lille basin in which are the
cabins, collectively known as Mineral
City. The mountain sides are scanned
and ribbed with the rich silver veins oil
San Juan, and scores Of cuts, shafts. and
tunnels echo daily 10 the sclang of DIN
and sledge as the hardy miners deIve
after the metallic treasures of these
great storehouses. re- I'd
Near the blacksmith shop, where the
not unmelodious ring of drills and picks
being sharpened is heard all the day
and far into the night, little cabin
stands unobtrusively upon its rocky
foundation. There is an al. of neatness
about its hipped roof of nicely split
shakes" and its carefully-hewn door
that speaks well for the patience, taste
and skill of its builder. In fact, the
cabin is pointed out as . fine specimen
of frontier architecture.
The solitary owner and occupant OF
this little building was known through
out the camp as "the Hermit" Not,
be it understood, because of his imita-
ting those poor old beings Of ancient
story who dwelt in caves and fled at
the approach of any one, but simply be-
cause he was taciturn, quiet old fell
low. who worked his mine alone, and,
when joining the rest of the men about
the fire in the saloon, always sought a
corner and rarely, if ever, took part in
the conversation.
He was vastly different from the rest
of his fellow laborers. He never drank;
he never swore; but in mis- quiet, unob-
trusive way would sit and gaze intently
ut the fire, unmindful of the stories, the
hearty laughter, the social drinking and
the absorbing games IF cards going on
around him. Tall he was, with de-
cided stoop in his shoulders; long
beard. plentifully streaked with gray.
and pair of wearied; restless, nervous,
yearning eyes, that somehow appealed
TO the rough but good-hearted miners.
Mail came twice q week in Mineral
City, and the saloon was the post-oftice.
Regularly upon the carriers arrival the
Hermit would join the crowd and listen
witlran eager. expectant air as the su-
prescriptions Of the various letters were
read out by the saloon-kceper. and
then, when the last missive had been
reached and either claimed or set aside
he would lower his head and slowly
slip away to his seat at the corner Of
the fireplace with. never word.
Every mail that went out carried let
ter from the Hermit, always directed to
the same party, and every month he
registered one to the same address,
which the boys shrewdly guessed con-
tanned such money as the poor fellow
""S opAo ~ ccAopO eAS6ScuoA 1kOnA We
scanty yield d his mine-the Alice.
The Soys had often debated upon
writing letter to the Hermit, for his
continual expectation and his regularly
bitter disappointment touched them,
but they argued that it would not be
what he wanted. and 80 the idea was
abandoned. Several of them asked the
postmaster to lay aside their letters
without reading aloud their addresses
that the contrast might not be so. pain
full to the Hermit, and none of Them
gave vent to any joyful exclamstions
when the mail brought them fayors, as
was their wont. The old whisky keg,
at the corner of the. fireplace, was al
ways reserved for the Hermit and
come when he might he never found it
occupied, nor, when sitting there was.
he ever crowded. And SO these rough,
frontersmen showed in various ways
their sympathy, for their lonely and
silent companion, of whom they. knew
nothingssayc WHIST his pinched, care.
worn faee and yesrning eyes told. 10 a
Ono day the mail came in and the
Hermit Mas not there. This was SO
unusual that it led to considerable
speculation among the, boys. Then
Honey, whose lead lay near the Alice,
remembered that the Hermit had not |
been to work that day o. theaay before,
and when night came on ana the key in |
the corner remained iunoccupied the
boys concluded that investigation was
"Psrds,' Il reckon the Hermit may b
q leetse Of and might kinder need
help" said Georgia :. an it sorter
strikes Ne Ne might call in an see.'
As this met tbegappDyal II al tho
men, Georgia and Roney started up TO
the Hermit's little cabin. "a dim;llght 4
crept around the edges Of The old dour I
sack that acted ss curtain for the
little Square pane Of gisss constituting /
q window, and, after cohsultation. the
two messengers concluded 70 take .
peep before making their presence
Georgia put his face to tbe; glass and
peeredJ infsntly within. The Hermit
at on the earthen fooe enyeoped in
torn and miserable blanket. His hat
vas al md fis long, gray ihair. was
tangled md pnkempt His eyes, which
CsorHs c6dld plainly see. - hs ~
nearly afael4k the window. coenhincd 4
With aseif a5sal pleading expression = I
Dort Of Ieycrish Sitter; md the whole n
~ fs.I his S,,2 Ia Ss ss3s H6sa .Spssrsd %
be . phq5ogt sph aid IAN pld BITTER. I'd
= 4 nss s ~ acS ss 40 ans sssR VIA
h Geoexia's Geld Of vision betokened
plesnlil6n, ,butist ~ came TIME ex;l,