The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-02-16
WHISKY BOB'S CLAIM

Whisky Bob wns dead broke. YER,
tired, and wanted to sit down and stnd,
his situation and what was best to il,
done.
Here I be again, the same dernet
fool az ever, ruined by whisky after max
in piles of money; | just deserve it.
What a doggoned jackass human car
make his self with whisky"
Taking up his pack, Bob toiled slowly
up the ridge under the trees unit
he came to the top, where it fla'tened
ont i'll the level places and slight depres-
sions. Birds were singing and flowers
blooming around him. aud, as he sat
down to rest, he heard, to his astonish-
ment, not very far of, the clear swce,
voice of female, singing,
Peeping cautiously under the young
pine tree, there, III little open flat, sit
ting on rock, was the singer. Ii was a
pleasant picture to look at for a lonely
man--a tall, ,shapely, buxom young grl,
with light, golden hair, blue eyes, and
very regular, pretty features. She was
dressed in short calico dress, with moe
assins ON her feet, and sun-bonnet
thrown back on her head. Her hand
rested on a long Kentucky rifle. She
was representative Of the better class
of Western girls, who were continually
in those earlier days arriving in the
mountains of California from the long
trip overland, emigrating in families
frcm Kentucky and other States.
Whisky Bob listened to the song with
delight, and gazed at the singer in adj
miration; and then, with his pack or
Ills shoulder, coolly walked out into hel
presence, and, putting his pack down
not far from her, sat down himself. Then
she spoke TO him:
well, Mister, who might you be,
that walks into young lady's drawing.
room without knocking, even on the
bark Of tree?"
please, Miss, I'm called Whisky Boil
out prospecting"
mo miss about it, Mr.. Bobb, please.
My name, for short, is Nell Green to all
friends, and to others well, I've shoot
ing-iron," said the girl, and continued
"Your name of Whisky j, A bad one,
young man, and | reckon shows you are
being ruined by corn Juice. Is that 500
"Well, Nell That's lact--but rather
rough, said Bob, who saw the girl had
half smile on her face.
"Now, Mr.. without the Whisky
it seems to me-" said Nell, we're
throwing ycrself away, and there might
be something better for yer, ii ye'd seek
it," and she looked at him with all ex.
preston Of some interest.
81 know it, Nell, if | could only dc
it,"
"Got no folks, no family, to keer fol
you?' said Nell.
Marry one" replied Bob; "never had.
toted myself and pack up this ridge to
Jest seek my luck once more, and quit
the corn juice and reform. | said to my
self, Bob, if ye could only meet q wo,
man anywhere in these diggins, and
stake out claim where she stood, il
| would bring We fresh luck and We might
turn over new leaf, and be somebody
once more. And here, sure enough, I've
met you.
eye mean right, Tn sure" said Nell,
softly. '.But down the trail away yonder
see my folks are coming along, with
their fixings and plumber, pau, mau and
the rest OVEN. | must put out, stranger,
but Mr.. Bob, let me say kind word to
We on parting from short acquaintance.
You say woman brings We luck every
time. Now just hope I'll bring good
fortune to yer, and you may take your
pile out Of this ere spot, though | can't
see where it is. Mr.. Bob" said the girl,
hesitating, "ef We do not find it, and act
up to YER good intentions about the corn
| iuice-well, then, Mr.. Bob, my folks are
raising log houses and shed filings down
on the opening at the foot Of the creek,
away there you can see a break in the
trees. We mean to locate" And walk
| ing up to Bob, she put her hand on his
shoulder. "and Mr.. Bob, if We raise yer
pile yer can bring jest little piece OF
cold down for Nell to remember she
brought better life to We"
He took his rocker and put it In run
ming order down the ridge by little
pool of water, fed by small stream.
where he could bring his dirt and wash
out for half MI hour, and then pack down
more, while the pool was filling with
water again.
Next he went and rolled away the
rock where Nell had been sitting and
singing by the dry pebbles Of the rivulet,
and, taking his pick, began digging out
a ditch in the grass, about two feet deep
and two feet wide, down stream, and
took the dirt to his rocker. He worked
until sunset, only finding about six bits
of coarse gold, but in his last bucket,
when washed out, he found good solid
piece Of gold weighing three ounces,
In the morning he arose by daylight.
and after his breakfast OF fried pork and
coffee, ending with the usual smoke Of
his pipe, he went to work again, deter
mined to work the gold out for Nelrs
sake. il he did not make fortune.
He worked hard and steady through
the day, only stopping at noon for some
coffee and a smoke beneath the pine tree
camp The SUD was very hot, but he
didn't mind it. At night, when he washed
ont the result of the days hard toll, he
only had a dollars worth Of coarse gold,
but he found little piece OF blue ribbon
Nell had lost from her hair. This con.
solsd him amply, as he kissed it and said
to himself, bob, better luck to-mor.
row." His claim was what miners call
| L., .,i.ln Tar tln poid Nas srat