Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-14
Gales arto Skttfbts.
En- nAserE.

Jackass Flat. large plain in the vicini-
ty of the Castlemaine gold field. was rid
died with holes, each shaft employing two
men who worked from sunrise to sunset in
the hope of coming upon rich pocket.
As rule they had little to grumble at
When the rush first set in the half-dozen
gold miners working on the fiat had sue
ceeded in unearthing some tolerably large
nuggets, and were making 800 a week a
man. All were not so Fortunate but there
was scarcely a claim on the flat in which
fair wages were not being made. sufficient
To paw for meat three times day. drink.
tobacco, and for an indulgence in the
newest fashions in water-tight boots. fine
flannel guernseys and cabbage tree hats.
The sinking was shallow and easy; there
was no rock or tough foundation to get
through, and the golden gutter was gen-
orally reached at depth Of from twelve
to twenty feet from the surface. 1t occu-
pied but few hours to peg your claim.
dig your shaft, erect your windlass and
lay bare the precious gutter in which the
gold was found. Some Of the wash dirt
yielded two pennyweight to the tub.
some two ounces. On Jackass Flat there
were many prizes and few blanks.
As consequence, therefore, everybody
was in the best Of spirits; the men sang
over their work. The finest singer on the
Flat was Shad Ryley. whose top G would
have made professional tenor's mouth
water Shad did not know the value OF
that &, as he had not been brought up 10
the stage, but there is no doubt that had
his voice been cultivated he would have
made sensation in his favor-voicee
figure, face He stood six feet in his stock
ings. was broad in the shoulder. had an
eye as bright as sunlight, and laughing
mouth that women that way inclined could
scarcely resist Between him and his
brother PAT there was a wonderful resem-
blance, but Pat was built on smaller
scale He stood not more than five feet
and three inches, he was simmer in limb,
and his features were more delicately cut
II was true there was an important gap in
the ages of the brothers. Shad confessed
to 30 and Pat to not more than 30. though
the young fellow was rather stS about his
age. Boys like to be- considered men be-
fore they have arrived at that estate, and
that may have been the case with Pat.
He did not look twenty. and it was plain
there was plenty Of time before him for
HIS WulShtIS w etoW s'ldNi Ift'l u liut
pair of them. and could have grown a
noble moustache. Perhaps it was vanity
that prevented him; it would have hidden
his laughing mouth
The brothers were among the fortunate
ones on .Jackass Flat. Their clam paid
them at the rate Of twenty ounces per
week. and their hearts were light and mer-
nv. The first fifty ounces of gold they
made went flying away across the water
in the shape OF draft payable to II certain
Matthew Brady. and its mission was ia
bring out n whole family of Bradvs-blind
mother. lame father. their son Matt, and
not fewer than seven young Irish lassies
every mothers daughter of them. With
tears and smiles they babe adieu to native
land, and turned their faces to the gold
fields. where they were 10 make their for
tunes and live happy ever aiterward.
There were no greater favortes on Jack
ass Fla. than the Rvlevs. and it was pleas
ant to see the care the man took of the lad
giving him all the light work to do al
though Pat was not behindband in willing
ness. With everybody who knew then
it was Pat and Shad to their faces. an,
behind their backs they were spoken OF n
the Ryley boys; Shad. of course. stoot
for Shadracl. and Pat for Patrick but Il
have called either of them by their full
Christian name would have been like Civ
ing him slap in the face. which woul,
lead to shindy. They had Irish spiri
with their Irish blood. although. singular
" enough. they hadn't much of tn,
brogue-just the slightest touch of it, t.
render it captivating to the ear,
The iavorite resort of the gold digger'
after shutdown. when their work was done
was tho Rose. Shamrock and Thistle.
wooden hotel, the master of which was
woman. That was as it should be. a.
most of her customers were Irish. Sh,
herself. Rachel Cary by name. was
woman of Devon a comedy creature. no
more than - years ot age. Her brother
had built the hotel in the township adj
Joining Jackass Flat, and catching colo
NAL fever died OF it. He left the hotel t,
his sister. who proved herself ca
pable woman and conducted thu
Rose. Shamrock and Thistle with spirit
She was not exactly Boadicea. for sh,
was tender hearted and had fallen vic
tim to tho snares of Cupid She pinned tt
change her name. Cary was good enough
in its wav. but not to be compared I,
Ryley. II you have an idea she tell il
love with the proper man OF the two. the on'
who was suited to her in years and strength
YOU are mistaken. She fell in love will
the wrong man-too often the case will
the wilful women. Over head and ears
in love with Pat she fell. the foolish crea
ture, swapping her fingers at circumstan
ces of his being "A mere STRIPPING while
she was n full grown woman. at least five
years his senior. Il was somewhat re
versing the order Of things. what are tiv,
years or fifty. for that matter. or 500 if yot
please. when Cupid is PLAYING prank'
with you? 1t is & game. however. thai
two must play at. If it isto lead to agreea
BILE and satisfactory results.
Rachel Cary made hot love to Pat. anG
Pat blushed and twiddled his fingers apt
held back. and was ashamed (as some
times. not always. happens with raw lads)
and absolutely had not word to say sol
himself What made the matter worse,
was that it might have led to a collision
bet ween the brothers. for Shad Ryley was
rs much in love with Rachel Cary as that
headstrong woman was in love with Pat
1t was in everybody's mouth. and no mar
on Jackass Flat conld see how it wa
going to end. Shad R,ley told Rachel so
..Everybody's talking about it," he sale
to her.
- Al. 4