Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-04-26

.Wal, we gin'ally like to take q
hand in mos everything that's goin'
on" said Ephraim Gill, leaning on his
spade, and staring complacently around
HIM. "But we never thought o. SCOOP
In out this zero sloppy holo-none on
US.
Pm surprised at that, y said Jolf.
Surprised, be ye. squiro1p said cd
Gin, cutting a fresh slab of tobacco.
wal, now, whyi Been prospcctin'"
Looking around little, must con-
TESS" said the young artist.
Tried witch hazel rodi"
tNo"-rather surprised.
"P'raps you've got magnet2"
mo. did not suspect the presence
OF iron in this sandy soil," answered
jeff.
The grilz.c headed old mnn drew
long breath
THAR nin't no tellin' what folks will
finh," said he, plunging his spade once
moro into the earth. s.Dig away, lads
dig for you lives! Moon sets at eleven.
and thar amt no use workin' ar,er moon
set"
1--WE might get lanterns" suggested
"Lantcrns amt 10 good" was tho
brusquc reply.
When tho moon disappeared behind
the hills. every man left off work, and
departed without much ceremony of
adieu.
jeff made haste to pick up his tools.
"Well, said he. "wo've made pretty
considerable Roadway; but of all people
l ever saw these shore-men arc the most
eccentric. Ono would think well had
never been dug before"
During the day the neighbors hung
around the spot. staring, pceping and
prylng, rs if they were all eyes aud
tongues.
$50 yc'vo commenced to dig, chs"
said woman, in safrron-yell0w sun
bonnet and dyed cashmere cape, who
was going to the pos,o.iice to borrow
yeast-cake from tho postmaster's daugh-
ter-in-law, and who stopped to watch
Nanny in her occupation of sowing aster
and portulacca seeds under the window.
Yes" said Nanny.
"'Twon't be no good" said the wo-
man. Ever so many folks has tried it
afore. wish knowel how many
spade edges has leon worn away on this
plagucy COAST"
And she went her way, dra cling one
foot after the other with spiritlcss persc-
verence.
"IIaow ye gettin' on2" said a brisk,
fat. little female. who had been down to
the edge of the water, digging basket
OF clans. which she was now tri-
umphantly conveying home.
"Oh, nicclyl" said Nanny.
"Pitty the moons SO fur oil the FULL"
sud the fat woman.
"Will that make any difTerenco9" asked
Nanny.
"All the difference in the worlda" an
nounced the obese female. CANT no
use diggin' without ye dig by the light
o. the moonm
And She walked off. a sort of movable
waterfall dripping from the CLAIMS in tho
basket as she went.
At noon gaunt old man stopped MS
he drove his wagon of jingling tinware
past the gate.
'.I'vc hecrn tell rs we've took to dig
GIN" sad he. elbow camo ye ever to
settle on that there ma'sby piece o. ground
to dig ln:"
"My husband thought that there were
favorable indications there" said Nanny.
mo one ever tried that there spot
aiorc," said the gaunt old man. sBut
p'raps your man knows the kentry3n
49, s"iu not Ut all.
''Ef twas me. snid The man, pointing
with dipper handle, cpd a-dug furdeT
down the hill. roor old Jim Bean it
would a-donc his heart good to see tho
s'le turned up ag'in. Ye dunno Jim?
: He put up this house. 1t was him sold
it to Nathan Shorey-os bai gained it off
to you folks. He's in the tate Asylum.
Jim Bean is. Got to diggin', We see, an
couldn't stop; went TO his brain. Any
tinwnre to day, or croclsery9 No? Wal.
Igo by every Thursday mornin', and SO
goodday toyc!"
At the dinner-table Nanny amused her
hns and by an account of the number of
odd inquiries which had been lcveled at
her during the morning.
II think the people here must be the
most curious and meddlesome in the
world" said She
"hnt after ALL" said ack, carving the
nice little chicken, which. as Aunt Prre
complaccntly observed, twas grown on
their own premises" sit is rather
pleasant TO find oneself the object OF SO
.Luch genuine interest"
At that moment the door flew open
and In hurried a red faced, perspiring
man, "Sharesl" as he flung his hat on
one chair and himself into another.
".sir," said Jack, rising in some con-
fusion, ~ have not the pleasure of your
nc luaintancen
lin the man that owns the Big East
Meddor" gasped the newcomer
''t'olher side O. the stun wall where ye'rc
d:ggn'. And say shares! lc've ondor.
mined my stun wall, and | amt a.soin'
to be left out in the cold No, by lingo.
ain't-not if know myself"
''But. " reasoned Jack, ''your house is
half mile up the hill 1t wouldn't DO
possible to get sufficient Roadway to"
ooh, hang your headway!" said the
red faced man. "If any man dig, under
my stun wall, he's got to go shares
that's the long aud the short of it Amt
that the rule, Iarson Glcnn2"-.to a
small, .gentlemanly looking person, who
stood Knocking at the door.
What is oil this about2" imploringly
asked MIR. elf. Gentlemen, pray SIT
down! Let us get at the bottom of this
mystery"
Il have heard of your undertaking.
Mr.. elf" said he mild voiced village
1rJ