Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-03-15


period piled one atop the other in front of them
How glistened their hair with the village bal
ber's hair oil. How pronounced the creak Q
their tight boots as they marched up the aisle
How brilliant the hue of their neckties. Hoy
patiently and resignedly they listened to tn
sad discourse of the minister, knowing it woul'
be the last they would hear for many months
How eager the glances they cast up at tn
church choir, where sat the girls they were t.
marry on their return. How few returned
How few married the girl of that period
choice. How little weighed the words of tn,
minister year afterward in the hurry -scurry o
the San Francisco life of '4o and so.
What an innocent, unsophistcated, inexpe
rienced lot were those forty odd young Argo
nauts who sat in those pews. Not one of then
then could bake his own bread, turn fapjack
reseat his trousers or wash his shirt Not one
of them had dug even a post-hole. All had &
vague sort of impression that California was g
nutshell of country, and that they would see
each other there frequently, and eventually all
return home at or about the same time. How
little they realized that one was to go to the
northern and one to the southern mines, and
one to remain in San Francisco, and the three
never to meet again! What glittering gold
mines existed in their brains even during the
preaching of that sermon! Holes where the
gold was put out by the shovelful, from which
an occasional boulder or pebble was picked out
and flung away.
THE LAST SUNDAY NIGHT.
The young Argonaut, church being dismissed,
took his little stiff, shiny plug and went home
to the last Sunday tea. And that Sunday night,
on seeing her home from church for the last
time, he was allowed to sit up with her almost
as long as he pleased. The light glimmered
long from the old homestead front parlor win
dow. The cold north wind without roared
among the leaf1ess syca.lores, and clashed the
branches together. 1t was a sad, sad pleasure.
The old sofa they sat upon would be sat upon
by them no more for years. For years? For
ever in many cases. To-day, old and gray,
gaunt and bent, somewhere in the gulches-sup
North" hidden away in an obscure mining
camp of the Tuolumne, Stanislaus or Moke-
lumne, up in Cariboo or down IN Arizona, still
he recollects that night as dream. And she?
Oh, she dried her eyes and married the stay-at-
home five years after. A girl can't wait for
ever. And besides, bad reports after time
reached home about him. He drank. He
yambled. He found fair friends among the
senoritas. And, worse than all, he made no
fortune.
By spring most of the Argonauts had depart
I'd. With them went the flower of the village.
Their absence made big social gap, and that
or many day. The girls they left behind
ried for time to live on hope, and afterward
took up'' and made the most of the younger
generation of boys. They remembered that
lfter all they were not widows. Why should
heir mourning be permanent? 'Twere selfish |
or the departed Argonaut to demand it. And
Who knew how these Args might console them
selves on arriving in San Francisco?
sTRAGGLING BACK. !;
After many months came the first letters from
San Francisco, and then specimens of gold dust |
md gold pieces. The gold dust came in quills |
,r in vials, mixed with black sand. But this
lust was not always dug by the moral Argo-
lauts from whom the most was expected 1t |
vas often the gathering of some Of the obscur-
r members of our community. Fortune was
in her favors.
In the course OF two years a few Of the Ar
,onauts came struggling back. The first of
hese arrivals, l remember, walked up our
main street, wearing on his shoulders brilliant
ued Mexican serape. 1t created a sensation.
III the small boys of the village Gagged on
ehind him." sort of impromptu guard of
onor. The serape was about all he did bring
ome. He talked a good deal of gold and
rought specimens, but not in sufficient quantity
D pay all outstanding bills. The next of the
eturned was 3 long, gaunt, yellow case of
,hagres fever. He brought only gloom. Along
n 1854 came few of the more fortunate,
7ho had made ga raise" Two returned and
aid up their creditors in full, who had been
y creditors given over. But few came to re-
lain. They "stayed around" home a few
yeeks, turned up their noses at the small prices
sked for drinks, cigars and stews, treated
grew restless and were off again
relatives of the not returned beset them with
1quiries which they found it difficult to an
wer, because there was an idea prevalent in {
lie village that man in California ought to
lake money, and why didn't he? ,
Up to 1860 returned Californian" was an ]
bject of curiosity, and of some importance if s
e brought any money with him, or rather as
ong as the money he brought with him lasted.
Tut ''the war" wiped us out in this respect. 6
he California fortune of that time was mere I
imple compared with the fortunes made by :
lie war. A generation now exists to whom ]
lie whole Argonaut exodus is but an Indifferent s
ory. No one cares to hear about It, 1t is but G
5 family remembered dream. Why, the
,hool histories give it but couple of lines,
nd treat it as Of no more importance than
ay's pleasure excursion.
SAD MEMORIES. !
Sometimes on visiting my native village, .
and before one of those old d-fashioned houses. !
ON whose front door thirty -four years ago i,
ere went forth for the last time the young =
rgonaut on his way to the ship. There is :
ore than one such house in the village The =
Dor is double; the knocker is still upon it; the
indow panes are small; the front gate is the !;
me, and up to the door the same stones lie !.
BON the walk. But within all are strangers. 6
he father AMI mother are past anxious inquiry =
their son. The sisters are married, and live =
have died elsewhere. A new generation is :
about. They never heard Of him. The :
eat event of that period, the sailing of that I,
ssel for California, is sometimes remembered =
! a few--a few, rapidly diminishing. His =
me is all but forgotten. Some of him have g {;
dim remembrance. IN his time he was an .
lportant young, man in the village. He set .
e fashion in collars and the newest style of :,
ugs. Oh, fame, how feeting! What is :, :,
nerationa A-puff. A. few old maids recol- !,
Ct him. What a pity, what shame that we =, :,
all fade as leaf! :,
frt LIVING GRAVE. II
What a sad place; what aliving grave is b
is TOR him to return to-! Where would he tio