The Somerset reporter., 1888-01-04
SELECTED.
THE MINE JUMPER.

The Little Christabcl mine in Colorado
long ago went through a process vui-
carly called "petering out 1t IS NON
mere hole in the ground. The half dozen
shJnties and cabins near ii have long age
fallen iulo disuse. Their roofs have fal-
len in and it is years since the gulch IN
which their ruins are was the habitatiou
of men. The entire gulch is deserted
now, and the Little Christabel is only Il
memory to those who shared in the pros
peIity it once brought to Fairplay gulch.
A long, narrow pile of decayng loge
and parts of clapboard roof mark the
spot where the boarding house wa~.
There are still living many of the men
who once gathered around the long,
rough pine table that ran the full length
of the cabin. One of them told me the
story of Miss Milicent.
Miss Milicent Hay was the only Wom-
an ever seen at the Little Christabel mine
When Harley Vance, the owner of the
mine, advertised in Il Denver paper for II
cook for his boarding house, Miss Mil
licen Hay answered the advertisement in
in pt"s9n
She caine.Talking up the trail leading
to the camp carrying :? little hand -sachel
and Il stout walking stick.
II have been staying down in Camp
Crystal" she said to the surprised Mr..
Vance, who had advertised for a man
cook, land | thought the place would
just suit me. The stage brought me to
the mouth of the eulch and ! walked :he
rest of the way. 1t isn't more than six
miles, is ity"
She was small but resolutc looking
woman, with Il keen gray eyes and a
mouth indicating great irmness of char
acter. Her thin brown hair was combed
plainly back from a brow beginning to
show signs of wrinkles, although ,hc
was but 40 years Old.
"Do YOU think couldn't do the work.
she asked, II am quite strong and |
have known nothing but hard work all
my life
She held out her ungloved hands as
She spoke. II ey were rough aud wrin-
klcd, with bent fingers and eallouscd
palms,
"You might do the work." said Mr.
Vance. There are only about fifteen
boardcrs and we live in II plain, rough
way, and here is boy to help, But it
wouldn't be pleasant place for lady to
live. There are no women in the 9ulel
81 care nothing for that" said Miss
than womanS, she added, with tinse
of bitterness in her voice.
The end of it all was that Miss Miilicent
was installed as cook in the boarding
house. She had evidently come de
tcrmncd to stay, for the stage coach
that went rumbling through the enlch
next dav brought up little hair covered
trunk with M IL on the end of it with
brass headed nails.
Before week the boarders began
blessing the good angel that sent them
Miss Milicent. Such meals as she setv-
ed had never been seen before at the
little Christable; and 1t was Wondeflul
to see the change she brought about in
the dirty little boarding house and its
contents. Her energy and strength seem
ed unfailing. She went stepping brlskly
about, the ncatest and sprightliest oi
housekcepers, singing at her work and
smiling ON everybody.
At the end of a fortnight every man in
the camp knew Miss Millicent and had
felt the influence good woman eNcrts
in every community.
Old hats and caps were doned to her
wherever she went. No oaths or rough
words were spoken in her presence, and
the man who would have dared TO offer
her an indgnty would have rid on
rail, as my informant sad.
For year Miss Millicent lived at the
Little Christable, and in that time She
had won the sincere regard of every man
in camp. There had been great deal
Of sickness among the men that winter,
and some of them owed their lives to
Miss Mlliccnt's careful nursing, good
food and general good sense III every
thing pertaining to the care of the sick
lIel own checrfulncss and good heath
never failed her.