Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1886-02-16

Multiplying, misconceptions inqu-,
as tn how he got ON. Il haint struck
yet, boys" he would answer cheeril7
leaning on his spade, but the bed-roc'
lies deep just hereabouts. and l recko,
well get among the pay gravel to-day
Day after day he returned the same repl
with unvarying confidence and cheerful
ness.
Ii was not long before he began To sh "
US the stuff that was in him. One nj /
the proceedings were unusually violent 4
the drinking saloon. \ rich pocket hlt
been struck during the day. and III,
striker was standing treat in lavish AM
promiscuous fashion which had reduced
three parts Of the settlement To "a state D
wild intoNicatiDn. \ crowd of drunSer
dlprs stood or lay about the bar, cursinc
wearing, shouting. dancing. and here ant
here firing their pistols into the air url,
fpure wantoness From the interior o.
he shanty behind there came similar
horus. Maule, Phillips. and the rough,
who followed them were in the ascendant
and all order and decency was swept
away
suddenly. amid this tumult of oaths ant
drunken cries, men became consc Gus of {
quiet monotone which underlay all Ctlei
sounds and obtruded itself at every pause
in the uproar. Gradually first pne mar
and then another paused to listen anti
there was general cessation Of the hub
bub, and every eye was turned in the di-
rection whence this quiet stream If words
flowed. There. mounted upon barrel.
was Elias b. Hopkins, the newest Of the
inhabitants Of Jackman's Gulch, with q
good-humored smile upon his resolutc
face. lie held an open Bible in his hand,
and was reading aloud a passage taken ut
random-an extract from the Apocalypse
il remember right. The words were en-
tirely irrelevant and without the smallest
bearing upon the scene before him, but he
plOdded on with great JUNCTION, waving his
left hand slowly To the cadence Of his
words.
There was general shout II laughter
and applause at this appariton, and Jack
mans Gulch gathered round the barrel
under the impression that
this was some ornate joke. aud that they
were about To be treated to some mock
sermon or parody Of the chapter read.
When. however, the reader, having fin
ished the chapter, placidly commenced
and having finished that rippled
on into another one, the revelers came
10 the conclusion that the iuk"
was somewhat too long-winde,l
The commencement of yet anothec
chapter confirmed this opinion, and
an angry chorus of shouts and cries with
rs H. t1ggirg the reader ~
Knocking him old the barrel rose from
every side. In spite Ut roars and boots
b iwever. Elias u. Hopkins plodded away
~ he Apocalypse with the same serene
looking IA ineffahly con-
itLted AZ though the babel around him
NHre the most gratifying applause. BE.
IRE long an occasional boot pattered
.gainst the barrel or whistled past our
irson's head: but here some Of the more
lricrly of the inhabitants interfered in
Lvor of peace and order. aided curiously
enough by the aforementioned Maule and
Phillips who warmly espoused the cause
II the little Scripture-reader. The little
'uss has got grit in him. the latter ex-
,lained, retiring his bulky red-shirted
nrm between the crowd and the object of
Is anger.
At last the drunken portion fell asleep
lnder the drowsy refrain. and the Others
With many a sullen glance at the imper-
reader, slouched oil to their huts,
eaying him still perched upon the barrel.
finding himself alone with the more
rderly Of the spectators the little man
ose. closed his book after metholically
marking with lead pencil the exact
pot at which he stopped, and descended
rom his perch. Tomorrow night. buys,'
e remarked in his quiet voice. the read
NJ Will commence AT the 9Th verse Of the
9Th chapter Of the Apocalypse" with
rhich piece Of information, disregarling
ur congratulations, he walked away with
he air of man who has performed an
byious duty.
Never WAS II moral revolution brought
bout more rapidly and more completely.
'ur parson carried his principle into pri-
ate life. have seen him, ON hearing an
nguar,led word from some worker in the
ulches, rush across, Bible in hand, and
erching himself upon the heap of red
lay which surmounted the offenders
lain, drawl through the genoa logical
rec at the commencement of the New
testament in most earnest and impress
i've manner, as though it were especially
ppropriate to the occasion. In time, an
atli became rare thing amongst us.
was on the wane. too. Cas-
al travellers passing through the Gulch |
sed to marvel at our state of grace, and |
nmors Of il went as far as Ballarat, and |
xcited much comment therein.
There were points about our evangelist |
hitch made him especially fitted for the |
'Ork which he had undertaken. A man
ntirely without redeeming vices would |
ave had no common basis on which TO |
FORK, and no means Of gaining the SYM !
athy Of his flock. As we came to know !
.lias H.. Hopkins better we discovered |
hat in spite Of his piety there was
eaven Of old Adam in him, and that he |
ad certainly known unregenerate days. |
lie was no teetotaler. On the contrary, |
C could choose his liquor with discrim-
nation and lower IL In an able manner |
lie played a mastery hand at poker, and \
here were few who could touch him at /
cut-throat eucherr He and the two ex- |
nffians. Phillips and Maule, used to play |
Dr. hours In perfect harmony, except |
hen the fall of the cards elected an oath |
,om one Of his companions At the first |
these Offenses the parson would put on |
panied smile and gaze reproachftlly at
ne culprit. At the second he would |
each for his Bible and the game was over
Dr. the evening. He showed us he was |
ood revolver shot, too; for when we were
ut an empty brandy bottle out |
de Adams bar he took up friends pis- |
II and hit it plumb in the center at |