The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-02-16
tered in spots here and there. The next
day and the next, his labors brought him

tered in spots here and there. The next
day and the next, his labors brought him
the same result-ahout enough TO pav
! expenses, or as the miners call it, GRUB
money"
The fourth day, Just before he washed
out, in his last rocker of dirt, at sunset,
he found two pieces of gold, one worth
$50, the other full 5000. Bob was
happy that night, and tied the blue rib.
bon with leather string round his neck,
so that it could rest on his heart. The
next two days brought no big piece, but
the seventh he took pieces Of gold from
the clay-like cement weighing about
500. 1t was dark colored gold, pretty
solid, and twisted into strange shapes
with holes in it, but not appearing much
worn, or, in mining parlance, "washed,"
When the miners passed him daily on
their way to the divide they stopped to
ask what bis luck was, and when they
saw a very little coarse gold in his pan,
they laughed at him. But Bob kept his
humps of gold in his pocket, or buried
them beside the rock i'll his camp In
this wayne worked on, taking sometimes
large pieces of gold out, half as large ms
Nells little fist, and then for days very
little.
He now examined and weighed his
gold, and found that he had about SS, 900,
mostly in heavy pieces. This wasa pretty
good fortune for seven weeks digging,
and Bob felt an unconquerable longing to
go and tell Nell all about it. The next
morning by daylight he cleared up,
packed up his things and started down
the ridge to the nearest trading tents.
But in his blankets, carefully strapped
out Of sight, was heavy bag of gold in
place of whisky bottle.
1t was early in the day vet. and Bob
set out to find the ranch Of Nell v's PEG.
pie, leaving his pack, except the blanket
containing the gold, which was slung
over his shoulders ON his pick handle.
In a little over miles walking he
found a pretty valley at the mouth of
the creek, where some new log houses.
fences and clearings indicated Nells
home.
In back room, with her white, strong,
beautiful arms bare to the shoulder,
stood pretty Nell at the washtub, very
busy in stream of soapsuds and Ken
lucky jeans, singing free as a bird.
Bob put down his pack and walked in.
but Nell's quick ear heard, and she
turned and saw him, and her cheeks
flushed and her eyes sparkled.
"What! Bob, is that you come at
last? in store clothes, too?" said she,
glancing with bright eyes at the young
man, and with poorly disguised pleasure.
Certain, sure, Nell; you said l might
come"
yes, Bob! but how about the
whisky?'
"Nell, I haven't touched a drop Stree
you saw me; if ! have they may shoot
me. And what's more, / don't mean to
if you say so,' replied he
can Bob, did I bring luck to yer?
Was there gold up thar"
"Neil, thar's six thousand dollars and
more, rolled in them blankets thar, [
owe to your pretty self, or I'm niger.
And, Nell, just look here" and Bob took
from the breast of his shirt a package
carefully wrapped in paper which had
rested on the bow of Nells blue ribbon
he had found, and which she plainly
saw. Unwrapping it, there was piece
Of gold, in the shape of spread eagle,
almost exact in every part, weighing
over six ounces
"Nell, you said 7 might bring yer
specimen from my pile, and here tbs"
Eyes, Bob, but whit gals bit of rib
bon is that yer so keerful abont?" said
Nell, with a loving look, but turning her
face from him mischieyously, and stirring
the soap-suds.
"rhat ere" replied he, "broks loose
from the har of an angel that met me on
the mountains, youder, and said some
kind words to dead,broke man, that
gave him new life, and what's more,
brought good luck, the thing as charm
to tighten his thoughts when he felt
downheartened"
Eyes, Bob" said she, "but amt that
talk kind of airy? Angels don't fit
round these diggins, as | ever heerd ov.
eyes, Nell, that's so; but any womans
an angel to man that's going wrong,
who, in the loving kindness of her heart.
encourages him TO do right, and that's
what we've done for me. That ere gold
came to me by luck from you, and if ye'd
only take it with something else
with what, Bob?' but Nell still
kept her face turned away, while he was
edging still closer to her.
"Wel, Nell, if must make the rifle,
just take Bob with the dust and make
him happy man for the rest Of his life.
He loves yer, and would die for yer any
time, and Bob stole his arm around her
slender waist
Nell at lest turned her blushing face,
and looking roguishly at Rob, said;
Don't You think, Bob, it would be bet
ter sense to say you'd live ior Nell than
to die for herr"
Bob did not speak, but drew Nell to
him. and kissed her. Nell, somehow had
her hands so entangled in the soapsuds
and clothes that she couldn't resist, but
she pouted her lips, and Bob took his
kiss hack from than
Three years after the above events
happened, in that same valley, was
very pretty cottage, with a garden and
flowers around it, that indicated taste
and refinement, and the whole clearing
had become extensive, with its buildings
and improvements. Here resided Mr..
Robert Stinton and his happy wife, the
handsomest and hsppiest couple in the
northern counties.
Mr.. Stinton was q prosperous cat
tie dealer, well-to-do, and few remem-
bered that there ever was such q man as
Whisky Bob.