Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-15

gray CT dawn, wneu the men were un
their knees before the fortune in The
mine.
No man had tasted food. No man
thought OF that. And well enough. too.
NO ! Their first meal should be down
at the Flat. They would all take bacl,
their pistols. rifles, rings and knives, and
pay the men with the gold ravished from.
the unwilling river.
The boy sat on the bank, wrapped in
blanket, just above the knot OF eager.
GREATNESS men. The dull. blunt pick.
axes were driven to the eyes at every
blow. The wornout shoyels sent. tie
gravel ringing to the rear. Only one
foot now remained!
Was the gold hidden in the last little
creylce IL the river? Where was il? Tt
was there [. must be there, BDt
where?
At last the pickax struck through
ihe gravel sheived off and fell down
with dull thud, and a pan was washed
il trice.
Not 4 color
And not an oath was heard Draw &
RED line right here and remember it.
Not Il single oath was heard. And these
men We're neither unskilled nor out of
practice IN that line!
Quietly and mechanically the boy
vent back and gathered up the few old
blankets that would bear transportation.
Joseph went up the river little wav
opened the doodgates. and, as the last
man climbed out of the pit. leaving the
battered tools behind him, the waters
came booming over like a mighty in
flowing tide.
The huge and weary old wheel ceased
to creak, and the Sacramento swept on
III its Old swift fashion.
The group of men was not so de-
pressed, not so miserable, after all. as
You might think, as they hobbled back
10 e&np and took up their blankets.
True, they turned their heads for last
look 2s they climbed the hill away from
The bar. but it was noticeable that they
sill lid not swear. The man from Maine
mnttared something about yet making
sha river pay by rafting lumber down it,
but that was ali.
The boys legs failed him at the first
hill. and Nut Crackers took him upon his
shoulders. Soon another took him. and
SO N sort OF glorious rivalry these van.
q'l shed i'iojans reached PortugueseF Flat.
Mud rs, tired and heartless. they stun
i'let lnt' the town, they Justify sang a
song. with these words for the chorus ::
And we damned the Sacramento
Is it was never damned before.
JOSEPH, had tie boy on his shoulders.
while Nut Crackers followed close he.
hind and in this order they entered the
only hotel, with the others stridy Inc in
after them.
Barkeep'," began Joseph, as he set
tied the load on his shoulders. eve
wants to pawn this ERE boy. Yes. we
do. We want to pawn this boy for one
square meal to get away on, and we'll
come back in the spring and redeem
him. Yes, we will. If we don't. bar.
keep, may we never strike there O,
mp yonder."
And what dinner it was
But Joseph, Timothy, Samson, Lag.
arus, gentle Nut Crackers, where are YOU
now? And what befell you, brave sol
dlers OF fortune, after you came back in
the spring and redeemed the pledge !?
Are you climbing the mountains stille
Or have you left them forever and be-
come merchant princes, railroad kings,
and leaders of your fellow-men? Il
there IS one of you living anywhere, in
whatever circumstances, answer one who
loves you well, for he it was you pawned
tor your dinner when yor damned the
sacramento. -J0aqmin Miller