The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-02-15
BIG BEN BOLTON.
1T EUGENE .. HALL.

remember big Ben Bolton, and the lt'c l. Onine
lie could carry on milestone, but rhe ruled hin
like Queen.
lie stood seven feet in his stockings she was hardly
three feet high;
But she wound hun round her finger, aud shc ruled
him with her eye.
Tho women used TO snickcr, and the hardy miner.
smiled,
To sec the brawny giant with the gentle liie child
And the gamblers, mp from Frisco, when they saw
them, used ~ swear
That they looked a. ftly mated AZ n rabbit and
bear.
lie would drop his pick md shovel when shc cam,
IN working hours:
They would go among the gu'clcs after gay and
lie would climb the dizzy cdgcp he would scale III,
Bearing her upon is shoulders, which he called her
" lite BRIDE
lie could bend an iron crowbar, he could nj half
ton,
With his fingers; but often used 10 mako us laugh
When we raw LcOniine cad him ss a butcher lead,
a. calf
When tho bard days work was over, when The
crescent silver moon
Arose above the mountain pines, wOmet at " B'ood's
saloon"
When Ben Bolton used to give Us exhibitions Of nj,
tk
III bending iron crow.bars or IN twisting of drill
One day Ezekiel Parsons sent to Frlaco on the sly
And bought bar Of tempered steel, for biawny Ben
20 Try.
The boys who understood the game came down u
Bllod's one night,
And stood scrcnely round the bar ard waiting 70,
tie sight.
Ben Bolton Rrasped the bar of steel, he brought
10 his knee,
And like locomotive pulled, the trick he could moi
zee;
The sweat ran down his honest facc upon his hands
he spit,
He tugged and worked with lll ns might, It woull
not bulge bit.
Ezekiel Parsons shook his sides, the boys all a led
aloud
Ben lost his reputation and had TO treat the crowd.
1t cut him no completely, and 1t made him icol 10
mean,
lie quit the camp next morning with the little Leon.
tine.
storm comes up the valley, cloud bursts on the
Tho stream becomes river, that sweeps away the
mills.
And downward through the hollow the Inaddcned
torrent roars,
Der rocks, through gens and gulche', and mining
camps II pours
cry comes from the hollow, and rushing down tho
ridge
The mincrsscc Ben Bolton like giant at the bridge
The water settles about him, the bridge rocks To and
fro;
He holds 1t with q crow-ba--!n minute IL must 10
Beneath the narrow ledge near by, with bright dls-
heyeled hair,
They SEC the little Lcontne-her hands arc clnspcd
in prayer
The structure quakcs tho strong man shakes, no
"Ho faye tho child,' he thonts aloud, I'm hold
the bridge in place"
Zeke Parsons bounds upon tho bridge, the women
wall with fear;
Ue lifts the child IN his stroug arms, the miners
.oudly cheer;
He leaps upon the trembling icgs, tho watcrS round
him roar:
lie slips he falls, no crecps h. erawls, he springs
upon the shore.
The Child is saved, Ben Bolton, bat who will hep you
now?
The crow-bnr in your brnwny hands breaks Ike a
And down the gcn goes bridge and man, with broken
logs aud stones
Ths! rend aud cash his salwart form and crush and
break his bones.
Adown the hill the miners run, with outcrles Of
despair;
They lini him wcdged between the rocks, and hang
ing helpless there
They hc.r his mauglcd form away without the glen
they pass
With words Of pity AMI of love, and lag him on the
grass.
The crimson blood runs down his face, he shullcrs
and he signs;
Ills pale lips move, he means, he groans then " q
cumrHdc cries:
ave saved the little Leontinc, 10 kind to her,
dear Joe,
r0 bent nad broke Zcte Parsons, for r0t really
nOw togo"
His lead droopS limp and lifeles down, his eyes
grow dull and DIM,
His broad breast heaves, nshyer runs through every
BROKE, limb.
Then, with a smile upon his lpl he sinks upon
the rod,
And the ,Oul of brave Ber Bolton 10 of rcacc with
man and God.