Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-15
NO. ID.
Gales ano Skettbes.
MOONLIGHT.
\ STORY OF CALIFORNIA.

u Is certainly very interesting nttle
difficulty. Neither the squire. who has
been at home a deacon aud Justice of the
peace. nor Hoxtord. the English ex-col-
legian. held either knife or pistol; yet
Rriar. the most Accomplishment rufiian among
the miners at Pitts Gull. stopped work.
leaned on his pick. started admiringly at
the contestants. and wished that uncom-
Portable consequences might eternally af-
tiict his immortal part il it wasn't the
gamiest fight he had ever witnessed. Men
who always lctt the store or the bar on the
slightest indication OF u difficulty. now re-
manned while those to whom u fight was
the most delightful of stimulants crowded
did not understand either OF the disput-
ants when he spoke. and the subject of dis
agreement was one in which they took no
interest whatever; but they knew a fight
ing eye when they saw il; and so excited
were they that many larger bets would
have been made, had those who had de-
sired to risk money felt any confidence in
their own ability to determine when the
fight ended and who was winner.
For IIoNford and the Squire were talk
ing theology. The discussion was pro-
voked. innocently enough by Peel, the
his intention of trying to get m ex-preach-
er from somewhere up the creek to come
down some Sunday and hold service.
Farmer Blake, Doctor Cults, and Struggs.
the bankrupt contractor from the east,
thought it would be good thing to do;
Hoxford said he would be glad to see some
respect paid the day and the squire said
he should nightly like to hear the preach
ar ;r H., ,,,c cnunl Thon How c,rI with
the ghost Of II sncer, echoed the single
word sound" at which the squire. right
" considering himself challenged. opened
upon Hoxford Il heavy and well directed
fire oftexts. to which the collcgian prompt
" replied with ammunition similar to the
squire's own Both disputants were held
in high esteem in the camp the squire had
more than once given up his whole dinner
to hungry stragglers from elsewhere, and
at the risk of his own life he had stopped
two or three serious fights, Of which
whiskey was the only cause; while Hox-
ford. besides possessing generosity and
pluck equal TO the sqnire's. could COM
pound an exceptionally glories punch, de-
spite the limited resources of the camp.
But every Pitts Gulchte knew that the
squire loved an argument as dearly as he
did gold dust, and that Iloxford, who
had been Il wranglcr nj the university
whose name had been cockneyized and ap-
piled to him, did not intend that his talent
should rust so long as he could find some
one on whom to brighten it.
All other disputations persons in camp
had been successfully conquered and 81
lcnccd by either Iloxford or the squire,
so that discussions between these two
gentlemen were regarded with the atten-
! ton due (to use the terse expression of
Briar) to russell for the heavy jaw cham.
pioniship."
On this occasion the doughty warriors
had fought each other over almost every
strategic point on the field they had chos-
en-; and each one of them had occupied, in
succession. positions which they fondly
deemed impregnable. but from which
they were beaten with great loss. or from
which they safely retreatcd only by the
display of marvellous dextcrity. Finally
when the squire announced his
belief in the inHexibility of divine Justice.
| it was with the air of soldier who was
not only in his last ditch. but was fully
aware Of the fact. and who felt himself in
spred with strength equal 10 host. His
hat had fallen off, and his iron grey locks
had blown away from his face his strong
decided features seemed each little shar-
per in outline than ever before. his steel
blue eyes, though entirely devoid of ferOc-
ity. cleaned very brightly, while the de-
| fiant pose of his whole frame, as he lean
ed lightly on his long handled shovel. so
strongly affected Gambogc, the successful
artist. that the latter hastily drew forth n
! stumpy pencil and an old letter, and
scrawled study fora christian Martyr
'T'm in dead earnest about this" said
the squire, succeeding himself, after the
moment or two of silence which had fol-
lowed his last argument: "cos there S lots
Of men calm themselves ministers of the
word that are eoin' round doing pow
erful sight o. harm by loosenin' folkses'
ideas Of right and wrong Straight Is the
road an narrow's the way saysthe book
but to hear these fellers talk, you'd think
every trail led straight up to heaven. Ef
this preacher up the creek is that kind
/ don't want to hear him, an he won't do
the rest of You any good
''Aw- 'he that's not against us is on
our part, you know suggested Hoxford.
"Man is 'gainst us that goes round be-
littin' his Maker exclaimed the squire,
bringing down his long handled shovel
with a savage chop, rs if the offending
doctrine had taken on material form, and
lay helpless at his feet.
The worlds full of sinners, and they
oughn't to be coddled-they ought TO be
taught that God is just, an holy an i'm
mutabie, an
"Aw--loving. and merciful long suffer-
ing" said Hoxford, coming quickly TO the
assistance Of the squire, as that good man
hesitated while he racked his memory for
some more divine attributes which were
to his own taste.
"They don't need to be told that sins
wrong continued the squire, shrewdly.
regardless ofIIoxfords 8 untimely aid. .'but
they need to feel that they've insultcd the
dignity of Gods law-that they're In aw-
ful danger-that God is angry with the
wicked every day.
"Aw-and that 4 will have mercy and
not sacrifice you know" SAID Hoxford,
; nudging the squire suggestively with his
elbow. The squire dropped his eyes for
a moment, npon seeing which, q goddess