The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-11
THE MINERS STORY.

"Bess was my little girl, and as sweet
and pretty as your Dot. She was born
In a mining camp out In California, In a
little cabin close 10 the river. With my
wiie and child, my comfortable cabin
and claim that gave me more than
living, was perfectly content. but my
wife grew tired and unhappy. One
night ! came home 10 find Bess, then 4
years old, waiting for me at the door
with note In her hand. Her mother
had hidden her watch for me and give
me the bit OF writing. ! opened the
note to find that my vile hGd deserted
me and my child. II was heavy blow,
for loved my wife aud was proud Of
her pretty face and lady like ways.
And there was my baby TO care Tor, and
/ had to be father and mother both to
her. l used to call her my little com.
fort, for the touch OF her soft hands on
my cheek and Of her little arms about
my neck brought comfort to me daily.
"She loved the river from the time she
was a mere baby and wanted to 90 there
to play, but | was fearful OF accident and
30 bribed her 10 stay away with the
promise Of taking her there myself
every night alter supper. Sometimes
she would run along BY my side, come.
times l would take her on my shoulder
or In my arms. We used 10 like 10 sit
by the river and watch the sunsets.
zone day when went home Bess was
not atthe door watching for me. John,
the boy, who lived with US, said she
came in from her play all tired out and
gone 10 sleep. | found her tossing I'M
easily and her cheeks bright with fever.
When / aroused her she smiled and
Crept into my arms, but soon fell into
the stupor again. The nearest doctor
was five miles away, but 1t did not take
long to get him, for all the miners loved
Bess and were ready to do anything fol
heE;,
that cabin TO fight the fever, watching
over my little girl day and night anl
trying to pray 10 God to spare her,
hardly know how 10 pray. On the sixth
day Bess seemed better. She was moII
quiet and her cheeks were not 90 red
When the doctor came ! had more hopt
In my heart than since the night 1 fount
her sick, but there was something In hii
face when he looked at her that fright
enedame. = Z,
NBess turned away from him as hi
bent over her and stretched out her arm
for mo 10 take her, and as / lifted lie
from the bed she said quite in her nat
urSl tppe, i want 10 20 10 tho river
papa. / tiled 10 coax her Ryay from tht
thought, but she persisted, and the doc
. tor finally said, Take her down there, |
will do her no harm. Good God Il
knew what that meant. My BesS wa
/ dying and this last wish might as vel
! BIO grataed.
"How l struggled from the cabin will
BeS6 In my arms don't know. II wa
! lust uppset and the western sky was al
I rose and gold, but Q great darkness
4 seemed closing In all about me. "Whel
| reached the bank ! lifted Dess Vi
against my breast 90 she could see thl
I river. ! tried 10 keep her covered Will
the blanket / had wrapped about her
but she freed her arms and threw then
about my neck. Pretty river, she said
With smile, and then her head iel
back on my bhoulder-hnd I WIS AlOn,
10 the world.
" carried her back 10 the cabin ant
laid her on her little bed, Then / thinl
/ went mad for time. retnembe
that We buried hor by the river an
that the rough miners wept like children
while ! could not pry, though my hear
: seemed bursting.
/ after 4 while ! tried 10 take up m,
work again, but I could not bear ID
] loneliness 81 the cabin, and The I'LL
!, grave BY the tlyOrslde veil nigh brok
my heart. 90 ! BOld out and glAtted 70
b The East, You know how ! fell In Wit
your husband and there | hlye bee
!. these four years. That 10 all Ilu
Z when yoti read about The river ] though
! my little hess must DO lust there.
shall always think Of her 10 now, and
brings her nearer 10 me-
Twas crying before Ben's story va
finished. / could sec 20 plainly th6dea
child In her fathers arms, and Ben 40
| were better friends iromthat hour.
Then came a day that will AWAY
stand out In my memory with BtaEtlln
dlsLlnCthe6g, -
| waS citing BY my window With h
work aud Dot was playing with OFF b