News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-24
Mary Jinkins. .
BY J. l.. HARBOUR.

BY J. l.. HARBOUR.
Lonnie Meeks was about eight when
he gloomily said to Bennie Barton one
day:
''There is no chance for fellow to
have much fun in Rocky Cliff. It's aw-
full poky here"
Rocky Cliff was such dreary, desc
late place. do not wonder that the
boys found it awfully poky."
The town consisted of a dozen or two
of log cabins, slab shanties, and four or
five tents, in one of the dreariest of
Rocky Mountain gulches. This town,
or camp, as the people call it, was up
on the mountain-side in growth of dull,
green, stunted pines. There were great
rocks and boulders everywhere, and no
grass even in middle of the short sum-
mer that came so late and went so soon
in Rocky Cliff.
Time had been when Rocky Cliff was
filled with life and gaiety, but that
time had passed, and was not likely to
return, although the few people remain
ing in the place hoped that the mines
would yet turn out rich," for Rocky
Cliff was mining camp, and its one
hope of life and prosperity lay in the
possibility of its mines producing gold
and silver.
Lonnie and Bennie were the only
boys in the whole town, and girls there
were none.
Lonnie had come to the Cliff with his
parents year before our story begins
During that year his father had died and
his mother was keeping boarding house
for the miners
She was small, sickly woman, and
the work was too hard for her, but she
knew of no other way to support herself
and Lonnie. He was only eleven years
old AID could not do much. Besides,
there was nothing for him to do in
Rock Cliff.
Bernie had a father, but no mother.
His father had brought him to Rocky
/ Cliff when the camp was blooming" as
the miners called it. Bennies father
had never been able to get away, and he
and Bennie were among Mrs. Meeks'
boarders But Mr.. Barton had been i'll
| for long time, and was out of money
and greatly in debt to Mrs. Meeks.
The outlook was gloomy indeed for
all of them. 1t was gloomy for all the
residents of Rocky Cliff. The men went
about sullen and detected, and the few
women were sad-faced and sorrowful.
''Seems like going to a funeral every
| day." said Bennie to Lonnie, as they
wandered up and down a narrow shallow
and rocky stream that went singing all
day through the pines in the gulch. 1t
was the only joyous thing there.
"'Tis funeral, anyhow" said Lon
ME; ''the funeral of a dead town"
"Well, wish't they'd bury it some
time then, and give folks chance to
get out of mourning" said Bennie.
Lonnie laughed. OF the two boys he
was the better natured. "Mebbe they
think they can bring it to life again, ,
he said. "I've heard about people being
brought to life after they'd been given
up for dead. l guess some OF the mer
think they can bring life into this camp
yet, and are hanging on to it for that
reason"
Nothing but an awful big strike viii
ever do it, Bennie replied. "Some o
the men are sure there is silver if j
could only be found. If it isn't founC
soon the camp will have to be deserted
Wish we could strike it in the Mar.
Jinkins, eh, Lon z"
''Don't thoughp' responds Lonnie
''My mother wouldn't keep boarding
house many days after that, and w
wouldn't be long in Rocky Cliff. Th
'Mary Jinkins'' was the joint propert.
of Bennie and Lonnie. A prospecto
who had left the camp in disgust month
before had given it to them.
9 81 amt got thing in the world t
give you little chaps to remember IN
by" he had said, when taking leave o
g the boys, of whom he had been yer
fond. "All had in the world is sun
in that old mining claim up at the hea'
of the gulch. It's the same as givin
you nothing, but if you want that Las
Nickel claim O. mine you can have i
and much good may it do you," he sale
r bitterly.
The boys were highly elated over the
= joint possession.
Lonnie did not like the name that ha
been given to the claim.
''It sounds so cheap and goodfo
, nothing; don't you think soY" he aske
" of Bennie.
'Yes, / don't know but it does"
replied, ''but what shall we call it2"
p Lonnie had very pleasing memories {
j. little freckle-faced, pug nosed, ret
:" headed girl, who had been his playma
and best friend in his Iowa home. H
name was Mary Jinkins.
"Sposin' we call it the Mary Jinkins
le he said.
M Bennie eyed Lonnie sharply.
"Who's Mary Jinkins? Your beau
is he asked bluntly.
The delicate question made Lonn
blush deeply. He never regarded Ma
in that pleasing light, and was, witha
n an extremely modest and bashful boy.
- "Oh, you Ben Barton!' he said, co
oo fusedly, and with some warmth IN
beau! $50 to grass with your beau
only just said we name it the Ma
Jinkins' cause happened to think
u her-or of that name | mean"
- At this open, but unconscious cOnfC
sion, Ben gave Lonnie poke with
g. stick he was carrying, i'll the unaccour
HI able way boys have of poking ca
others sides, and laughed outright.
al ''But wen call it the Mary Jinkins,
20 he said, gayly, ''and good luck with t
name. Hoorav for the Mary Jinkins !!
The name was printed on bit of 7
per and pasted over the name alrea
written on the stakes of the claim. Th
was all the boys had to do in order
become owners of the claim.
A mining claim in Colorado is a pie
of ground 1, 500 feet long, by 300 tt
in width. Anyone can measure oil tn
much ground in the mineral regions a
hold it lawfully, if it is not alrea
taken; or one man can stake oil as ma
claims as he pIeases and own them all
unclaimed districts. A certain amou