Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-05-16
AN EPISODE AT DRY-UP.

When the stage-coach from Stockton
bound for Mokulomne Hill. turned of al
the small mining camp OF Dry-up, Arkan'
sas Hank, the driver, sang out in lusty
tone:
Now, where's that young un for Finni'
gan's? Look alive, and out with you, my
lad, for I'm going TO DO this down grade a
callyhootin'!"
The youth, whose hssty descent from the
stage top he had assisted rather unceremo'
niously, in his hurry TO be of down the
hill, and out OF the camp on the main road
10 Mokulomne again, was lad Of sixteen,
or thereabouts, though remarkably we'll
grown and developed for his age.
He was too dusty to be judged by his ap
pearauce at first sight; his clothes " ere
plain working ones, and his manner was s
confused and wandering as If he had drop
ped from the clouds.
The building before which he had alight-
ell was the most pretentious in the town.
II had porch over its doorway, aud with
in was alarge cotton-lined room that served
the inhabitants OF Dry-up as grocery, IL
qCor saloon, post-oiilce, coach and express
station, and an assembly hall in which was
transacted all public business Of whatsoev-
er nlture.
Before the door stood its owner, Tip
Finnigan, a small, red-faced man with 4
cunning eye and consequential smile, and
behind him was his wife, drawn from her
kitchen by the clatter OF the coach, aud
evidently disappointed at its spare deposit.
Tip, dear" she said, as she dried her
arms on her apron, why but ye AK yon
lad who he's after wanting: He looks IS
II he was dead bate wild the jolting he's
had, and sorra a wonder. Arkansas Hank
never misses a stone in the road. Sure, /
thought III be churned TO death the day he
druy me up here"
She had approached the door as she
spoke, aud her kind, motherly voice was
meant 10 reach the strangers ear. Invent
further, it touched his youg heart, and he
drew near; and his air, though full OF tim
idity, had nothing OF cowardice, as he said
II came all the way from New York.
stopped here hoping to lind work. Do
you think there is anything | can get to
do?"
He turned TO Tip, and the tone Of the In
quiry was so very earnest as TO be almost
tremulous.
Mr.. Finnigan made a somewhat lofty
and comprehensive gesture toward the
yellow river aud its broken and serrated
banks.
There it is, before ye," said he; Sup
wild yer pick and down wild yer long tom.
Thin that digs goold wins it IN CaliforDy,
aud there's plinty to work for, but not the
size ov a midge TO be had for axing.'
"Sure the young man was only axing
the way he must begin, Tip, dear urged
Mrs. Finnigan. "If he could jist wash
the dust out ov his eyes bit and safe HIM
self till be finds aise after the ioltipg he
wint through in Hanks stage, 1t would be
q blissin', SO it would"
Then show him the well, and lend him
the lack towel, - observed her husband with
dignity.
Kindly Mrs. Finnigan, who owed good
deal of her influence over her husband to
the show she made of deferring to him,
FASTENED to obey his command, and, as
she generally did, to improve on it, When
the new conner appeared again in his pres
ence so great was the improvement wrought
by washing, brushing, and hair combing,
that, impassive as he tried to be, Mr.. Fir
nigan was moved to compliment the
change.
"Now, We look like a Christian, young
man." said he smilingly, "and purity nate
one, too, if good looks were of any count
out here, which they're not. Sure, Mr..
Hanks the boy TO raise the dust; his pas
sengers might all be nagurs when they
reach Dry-up; if miner expictS friend
in the coach, he takes brush with him so
as to swape the dust of before he recogn!-
zes him."
Then, pausing suddenly in his discourse,
Mr.. Finnigan ran a critical eye over the
young figure before him.
"Youre not used to the working clothes
YOU wear, my young lad" said he; "what
did you come out here for, and have We any
friends in this camp?"
The sharpness and severity with which
he uttered these questions, invested the
grocer of Dry-up with an air of authority
which the stranger did not attempt to
question. He glanced at his hands re-
proachfully as if accusing their smoothness
of betrsying him, but said in frank and
manly way:
"I will tell you the truth, Mr.. F,nni-
oann He had read the name on q strip OF