Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-05-16

81 live in New York; mean uiu i've
there before went on the steamer North
ern Light, four weeks ago to-day. Just
three days before l started, found out
what an expense was to the family. My
dear, good mother is a widow; | am her
only boy; but have three older sisters.
who were making all sorts of sacrifices
and working themselves Ill to keep me at
a high-prced academy, dressed and pro-
vided for as il l was rich mans son.
My fathers cousin, Mr.. Mark Franklyn, is
a prosperous merchant, and he has charge
of my mothers small funds. Lately he has
treated me quite coldly, though his daugh-
ter, my cousin Nellie, is always kind and
good to me. That Saturday. mean the
one before the day / sailed-I ventured to
ask him what had done to forfeit his good
opinion. | shall never forget the shock
and surprise of his answer. He just spoke
right out and told me had been living for
three years on the daily sacrifices of my
mothers aud sisters; that was an exact
ing, selfish fellow, and-and-"
Here the narrator suddenly chokod up in
a way that seemed so out Of character with
the Spartan courage he intended to display
that his pride and sensitiveness had quite
conflict OF it. Those two elements OF
his temperament fought 1t ou. in series
OF strangled sobs and coughs, while their
victim walked up and down the store,
striving TO gain the mastery over both.
He soon succeeded, and, without entering
again on the subject that had so over.
come him, jumped at once To practical
point.
"As soon As | saw my duty started in,
Mr.. Finuigan," said he, and, although he
addressed the grocer, he kept his fine,
frank eyes on the groccr's wife, having
discovered from large cup OF fresh milk
she had given him, that she was valuable
member of the firm; but no fellow knows
till he has tried II how hard II is for boy
like me TO get employment. Twas too big
10 begin anything, they said, aud wasn't
old enough to be trusted with anything
that was begun. was almost ready TO
who had had n berth as cabin boz on the
Ocean Queen, but was too sick To 20.
Didn't lump into his place, though? But
there was Panama and the steamer on the
Pacific side 10 manage. and had to chance
them. was In luck. 4 San Francisco
gentleman WAS sick. waited on him, and
he paid my way on the North star. ] had
ius, money enough TO bring me here on
the stage, and not penny more, and 50
had TO get OIL.
Mr.. Flunigan laid down the pipe he had
been smoking, aud, going TO the door, mo-
toned his young companion TO follow him.
Pointing up the low gulch that formed
the main road or opening to the town, he
indicated with his stubby fore niger a short
pole stuck in the earth on the river bank,
on top OF which was an old tin pan.
dutch Jake and Squatty Boggs tuck
their lave NV that claim yonder this very
morning." said he. They've gone pros
pectin'. and any one that strikes his pick
in can claim that digcin'. You've come
good stretch TO lind JOB, and the sooner
you begin the better. I'll lend We the tools
till We can buy vans ov yer own"
Thereupon. the enterprising Mr.. Finni
gan, who had taken from Dutch Jake an
old cradle, spade and pick, because he
could not get 4 three-dollar liquor bill
owed by that foreign bankrupt, made men
tally an excellent bargain for himself in
transferring those articles 10 the boy miner.
"And now what's yer name, when We
want 10 call We TO supper" he asked. after
he had helped the youth TO transfer the
tools TO the scene Of operations, and given
him first lesson in digging and grading.
The boy hesitated moment and bright
color rose on his smooth, young cheek.
Och, don't bother yer head on that
score" cried the Irishman, observing his
embarrassment. Jack or Jill, it is all
wan to us up here"
my name is Jack" said the boy, eager
ly; "but | thought"
That's plinty; Jack it is, Thin and
now good luck 10 We, and reminder that
thin that finds goold has TO look hard for
il. Yen know 1t whin We come on to it, AZ
ter the instructions | gev ye."
Mrs. Fiunigan stood waiting for her hus-
band.
40, Tip, dear" she said softly, "that
boy hasn't broke his fast all this day, and
il seems hard like TO drive him in at the
work before he's fairly on his feet in the
place"
Tut" retorted her husband, coolly
Its good chance To show what he's
made of. Let him wrestle awhile with
Jake's pick afore he comes TO his tay, for
suppose nothin' will do ye but he must
board wild us till he's able 10 set up a cabin
for himself.
"Och, thin, but We have the kind heart,
Miles FIJI Lnigan." cried his wife in tones OF
fervent admiration at her husbands gen
erosity; land sure you'll nive: lose cint
by IT," she hastened TO add, knowing well
his fondness of gain. "Our own little
Murtagh had he lived. would have been
just the morrow of this lad, and troth
iale mother heart to him, so do"
The latter part Of her speech was low.
The tears that sprang with it were hidden,
aud Tip-so called from his birthplace,
Tipperary-resumed his pipe and received
the copiugal praise with discriminating
nod.
1t was early in November. There had
been one very heavy rain, but It had rather
beaten down than loosened the soil Of the
abandoned claim, and in Jacks untutored
grasp the pick swerved as 1t struck the
clayey bed, without dislodging much soil
during the first hours hard labor.
Then the boy stopped TO rest, 70: he
could work no more; the perspiration
streamed down his face, every nerve in his |
body thrilled from his unwonted exercise, |
and-though he tried to hide this last fact
even from himself-from his lack of food. |
Away up the river as far as he could see,
miners were busy plying their picks or
washing their dirt; some of them were |
standing up TO their middle in the swift |
running stream, and roaring snatches of
songs AS they rocked their long toms,
while others on higher ground contended
with the bed rock that somrtimes flew off
in spIinters and threatened the lives of
their comrades. But they didn't seem to !
mind danger. 1t made Jacks flesh creep
to watch their reckless movements, to see
them mount high, unsteady water flume |