The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-02-23

was able to be up and assist Charley in |
caring for the others, but it was far
into night before the last man could |
use his tongue in sensible manner
1t was Big Ben, and when conscious
ness returned and he saw the white.
faced boy bending over him the great
tyrant whispered:
"Aye! The corpse of the lad has
risen up to confront and accuse me! 1t
was cruel thing did to drive him
out, and the Lord will never forgive
me for it!''
While out of danger we were yet
weak and almost helpless, and none Of
us could attend the fire or do bit OF
cooking for nearly week. The whole
work devolved upon the boy, and no
one could have done better. He was
cook, nurse, doctor and protector, all
in one. He got three more hares and
a couple of birds. and I d ont believe a
spoonful OF the broth went down his
own throat.
Well, l, for one, had been watching
Big Ben to see what he would do.
The first moment he was able to sit up
he called Charley and pulled the frail
| little fellow down on his breast, saying:
''lf you'll only forgive me I'll pray
to the Lord to do the same. I'm rough
and wicked, but to turn lad like you
out O doors on such night as that
wasn't me at all. Old Satan must have
had possession of me-"
That great big fellow cried like a
child, and Charley cried with him. and
l might as well own up that we all
cried. What made it more solemn was
the fact that we had corpse at the
door. When it was known that Hale
was dead, none of the other four of us
could lift hand. How the boy got
body out of doors never could under
stand, but get it ont he did, and it was
three long months before we could give
it Christian burial.
On the morning when we got out of
bed feeling pretty strong again, Char
ley went to bed with fever. and be-
fore noon was raving crazy. tell you
it was awful to hear him cry out every
few minutes in his delirium:
80. Ben. don't drive me out. I'll
work. I'll work as hard as l canr'
Every cry went through the big fei-
low like a bullet. He nursed and
soothed the poor boy with all the ten.
derness he could command. and two
or three times carried him about in his
arms as a father would his ailing babe.
There was doctor at the Forks, and
after dinner Big Ben braved the bliz-
zard and made the trip down and back.
The doctor could not be induced to re
turn with him, owing to the cold. but
he sent some medicine. Poor Charley
was beyond human aid, however. HI
raved through the afternoon and night
and next morning was struck witt
death. His mind came back to him a
the last, and as we stood over him ht
calmly said:
81 know I'm going to die, but In
in Heaven, and perhaps Brother Jane
l is there too"
While we all felt bad enough, Bi!
Ben was completely broken down. II
l got down on his knees and bagge'
Charley to forgive him, and | neve
saw man feel the bitterness of an &c
l as he did.
"Yes. I'll forgive YOU" replied tn
boy, ''and if you pray to God, Hc'l
I forgive. too. Has it come night so 500
e again?"
y "No, my child" answered one {
e the men.
y "But [ can't see any of you an
l more. Good-by. Let me take yor
q hand, for
And with that he breathed his las
q and there were two to rest in the sno
It until spring came. Did you ever hea
of "Charley's Gulch?" Yes, of cour:
d you have. and if you have passed tn;
% way you have seen the boys gray'
: The head board contains only the nan
a cut deep by Big Ben's knife-bnt ii
e story of the boys heroism has bee
l. told in every mining camp in Nevad
< and it has never been told withol
q bringing moisture to the eyes of 8
re listeners.-N. T. Sun,