American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-30

The little mimi r camp of ROCKY
Cliff" had been well-named. 1t was
sheltered by huge rocks and powders
in a land that knew nothing of the
beauty of flowers and green fields
while towering mountains, magnificent
in their dreary grandeur, threw great
shadows over the rock -shcltered ham,
let. keeping it in perpetual gloom.
The snow never disappeared from the
uplifted mountain-tops. The stunted
pines, that hungcred and struggled for
life in the barren soil, were all there
was of natures living green to relieve
the dreariness of the cold gray noun
tain sides.
Here, lonely and imprisoned, the
little hamlet OF dozen or more houses
seemed guarded and kept from the rest
of the world. In its early days, when
gold could be washed from the narrow
gulches near by and silver ore was
found hidden in the forbidding noun
tain sides. quite a city nestled in the
grand old canon. But the mineral beds
were soon exhausted and nine-tenths of
the population sought new fields of
labor. Now few rambling cabins
were all that was left of the once lively
camp.
But intercourse with the great out
side world was still maintained. Every
Saturday evening the stage coach came
rafting down the mountain side into
Rocky Cliff. Its arrival with the mail
and an occasional passenger was the
one great event of the week. The boys
of the hamlet would climb mile up
the mountain side to meet it. 50 as to
get a ride on the boot. The drivers
who were usually rough, jolly fellows
would sometimes, when there were
but few passengers, give the eagenlatls
n ride, telling them to "pile in;'' a re-
quest that was literally obeyed with
shouts that made the canon ring and
put new life into the tired horses
One January night, when the air was
cold and the winds were wailing
mournfully as they passed in bitter
gusts through the gloomy canon, the
driver failed to meet the lads at their
accustomed resting place.
Its too cold for the youngsters
tonight, l reckon" he mumb!ed be-
hind his great muller. Don't blame
'em for huggin' the fire. It's cold huff
to freeze brazen immidge and-hello,
you little rats! There you are, eh, in
spite of this here blizzard?'
A trio of boys stood in tile road, with
blue noses and chattering teeth. They
had sprung from behind huge bowlder,
where they had found shelter from the
wind.
pile in! pile I'M few passengers to-
night, and you've armed yer ride, COM
in out in this cold"
The boys glanced into the coach.
Not seeing any passengers there, they
concluded it was empty, and Sammy
Hooper exclaimed
There amt nobody in; that's fun;
we kin have seat apiece! I'm goin' to
jump inter this here pile of buff Ter
robes on the back seat"
Clambering over the middle seat
Sammy landed on the blankets and
robes that were piled up in corner;
when from them came sharp, slirill
voice in angry remonstrance:
''Git off'n me. Git off | say! Don't
mash me alivep'
to the middle seat, tumbling over the
other boys. There was silence for Il
few moments. In their surprise the
lads had lost speech, and awaited fur
Their developments.
These were made slowly; but ut
length. from under many coverings,
appeared the curly head of girl of
about ten years of age. Her face could
dimly be seen, and from it a pair of the
blacklist eyes glared at the three boys.
half in wonder, half in fun. The little
scarlet hood she wore had been pushed
back by the robes, revealing a broad.
white brow, over which hung a tangled
mass of black. curly hair.
The astonished boys looked with
wide ofen ewes and mouth at the
stranger. Their wonder could not
have been greater if grizzly" or
some other unexpected monster had
made its appearance on the back seat of
the coach. Sammy was the first to
speak. -
Il didn't know you was there. else
wouldn't rolled Onter yer. l didn t
go to. and'--
..You just nearly killed me, but
don't mind it now. Amt we most
therep I'm most froze. It's a mercy
if none of my legs and arms amt broke,
a-bangin' around in this old thing all
day"
In spite of the cold, there was the
usual number of men and boys assem-
bled on the platform in front of the
board shanty that was called the hotel,
to witness the arrival of the coach.
Peter Jennings, the bustling keeper
OF the house, fastened to the coach
door. threw it open, crying out pom
pously. Come right in TO the fire, gen
tlemen. and take off your wraps. while
good Mistress jennings takes up hot
supper"
In response to this invitation, out
jumped the three giggling boys Peter
turned away with disgust.
.'Hold on, therer' cried Sandy, the
driver, as Peter was about to enter the
house, from the open door of which
came, in glowing flashes. the light of
the great ire of pine knots in the open
fire place. Here's passenger that II
be glad enough of your hot supper and
good fire."
"Ah. indeed! beg pardon; beg par
don. sir-or DlddIinr'
The last part of the sentence was
fairly bawled out, as a feminine head
appeared at the coach-door. The sight
caused general commotion among the
the spectators, which brought good
Mrs. Jennings to the stage, bustling
with curiosity and kind intentions.
The arrival OF female was an event,
to be sure. In the short summer
months, ladies sometimes visited Rocky
Cliff, with the parties of tourists who
came to the mines to trough it" for a
week or two. But who had ever known
n woman to visit the place alone in win
ter, when even strong men did not like
to cross the range?
ALLOW me, malam.' politely said
Peter, extending one hand.
A little hand encased in a soft blue
mitten was laid in Peters buckskin
glove. a little foot was placed on the
step of the coach, and with bound the