Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-08-09

Clc III III tiic IdIc ttCt W iHNuC thS tiNut
ship an good will of all who approached
her, and her life was spent largely il
promoting objects of benevolence and hu
manity. Returning with her new-madt
husband to California. she found herself
the center Of universal homage. A wo.
man so rich in beauty and womanly grace
and refined tastes, was rarity at any
time, but doubly so in the early history
of San Francisco. She often accom-
panied ler husband to the camps. and
became deeply interested in the miners
and their success. Wherever she went
her path was made a royal one. The
choicest of flowers, the sweetest of plants
and the finest specimens of ores were
lavishly offered her. and there was none
who would not have defended her from
the slightest insult with his life. She
walked fearlessly about the camp,
gathered the perfume plants that grew in
wild profuSion, oittimcs strolled 10 the
gulches. when she would shake hands
with the miners, call many of them by
uame, and say bright and cheering words
which were valued far above the spark
ling sands they were gathering. Often
could she be seen wandering alone among
the grand old forests, or seated upon the
trunk of some fallen tree. making bou
quets Of wild flowers, or dreaming hours
away amid the balsamic odors that made
the air sweet with fragrance. Sometimes
she would break the silence with song.
sweet and clear as the meadow lark in
the morning. and as the notes vibrated
through the still air, the men at work
far away would stop to listen, and some
of them raised their hats in loving revcr-
encc until the song ceased. The miners
felt her presence as q benediction, and
her artless confidence in their protection
and sympathy, made them proud OF her,
and added new dignity to their hospi-
,ali,y. Men who knew and cared nothing
for the Bible, to whom the story Of Beth
lehem was myth, the plan OF salvation
an old fable, knew she prayed, that her
life was holy, tha. whatever she did was
sacred from criticism, and must be re-
spec;ed accordingly.
Three children were born TO her, and
after few years Of cloudlcss happi ness
she was taken suddenly i'll and the COM
munity were startled with the news of
her death. Dead in the prime Of her
womanhood, and in the ripeness of her
beauty. Dead in the midst of her use
fulness and loveliness. Dead when her
stricken family needed most her gracious
care and affection. Dead just at the
time when the world around her was
mos, attractive, and its joys most dear.
Dead at the momen, life was most pre-
cious. Her loss nearly deprived her
husband Of reason, and for years ne
could not hear her name spoken without
emotian. lie placed his children in the
care of their grandparents and returned
lonely and broken hearted man, to
California.
Among his earliest acquaintances at
the mines, was huge, powerful man,
known as Goliath Jack. Nature had
endowed him with hereulean strength.
great power OF endurance "a mighty frame,
and a head and name that would have
graced lion. Simple hearted as child.
guileless in disposition, never quarrel
some excep, when in liquor. industrious
by turns, and spend'hriFi and debauchee
in days OF idleness, devoted to gaming, a
dead shot, brave TO recklessness, ignorant
Of books or moral obligations, ugly when
cross. tender and generous when moved
by tales Of distress or suffering, he was
by turns the terror and protector of the
camp. lie boasted that he always played
fair, never took advantages, did all things
on the square, stood no nonsense, knew
when he was well treated, could spot a
sneak on sight and allowed no mar to
play of any airs on him. lie loved the
mountains and the great trees, was at
home where nature was grandest and
only the beasts and birds his companions.
Yet he had been known to carry lost
child on his s,alwart shoulders, never
resting until he had restored it to its
parents. soothing its grief with ingenious
skill, and bearing its fretfulness and i'm
patience with the tenderness Of a woman.
In the early history of the camp scme al.
venturers. misled by his quiet ways and
inofensive manners, tricked and cheated
him, but they paid the penalty, either
with their lives or shattered limbs, and
experience had demonstrated that $50
Hath Jack" was an awkward man in a
row, and he was left to pursue his way
unmolested. As friend to the Alcalde
he had been INTRODUCED to his wife, and
had che LeeR white winged angel d.
rect from Paradise, she could not have
been more of surprise and wonder.
On one occa sion she shook hands with
him and laid her little white hand conf
dentially in the heavy paw of the giant.
1t seemed a snow. fake lying for an in
slant on the black mountain. Jack
trembled ell over. After she had gone,
he was seen gazing thoughtfully at his
hand, and finally he put it slowly and
reverently to his lips. As he did so he
exclaimed, "Durn my skin if it don't
smell exactly like clover blossoms. :"
When he heard she was dead he simply
remarked, 81 allus allowed that woman
had no business here: she kinder looked
as though she was waitin' to light out
for sudden. Nature never had no grub
good enough for her. She only lit for a
mint and then flew away"
IVhan Nal ratnrned IN the Damn