Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-05-09
A MINERS STORY.

clothes made to fit 'em as if they had been
melted and run into 'em, especially chaps
what wear standin' collars and cuffs that
would make good cheese hoops. They al
ways mind me o. faro dealers and dance
house bosses. But somehow with Jim it was
different. He wasn't like the other men what
come swellins into camp as if they were
gon' to own the whole diggin's.
was a-sittin' on the bench in front of the
postofiice when the stage come a-rattlin
down the hill, brngin' the mail, and Jim as
the only passenger. | always did like to sit
round the postoflice when the mail come in,
with kinder expectant look on my face.
Not that expected a letter, and don't know
as | ever got but one in twenty years, and
that was writ only just to inform me that my
only relative was dead. But it kinder made
ne feel good to other folks get letters,
and then, too, the postofiice was in Sandy
Jones' bar room, the biggest room III his no
tel, and Sandy kept the best stock of liquor
in the FORKS. Its kind material to ask every
boly round to take sOmethn' when you get
a letter with good news i'll it,
As ! was IA ~ vim, / a sittin' there on
the bench when the stage come up. | no.
Bleed that Tom Roper wasn't alone on the
seat, fore he got to the office Sittin' side Of
him was Il young man, dressed to Kill, with
one of the most promising indications of a
mustache you ever saw. He was a smokn'
a cigar, and it must have been a good one,
for as he jumped down from the seat and
went into the pOstOffice past me, he says to
me, How de do!' good natured like, and
got a Whit of that cigar smoke, and it smelt
just like new cut meadow hay. Now, | don't
know much about new cut hay, farmin' and
such, ben' as | was born in the top hills and
always lived in 'em. But when poor Bill
Porter was took sick up in Del Norte and
wanted to go home to Vermont to die, he
coaxed me to 60 along with him to look out
for him on the way, if he lived to get home,
and care for his body if he died on the way
Well, went along with him to his fathers
home on little farm of 300 acres. During
the two weeks that stayed there fore poor
Bill died | saw the farmers scythin' their
grass, and can't forget the smell, cause Bill
used to say, "How good it does seem to smell
that new hay"
But was a-talkin' bout Jim. He went
into the postoffice, and after Sandy had emp
tied the two letters outer the mail bag and
put 'em in the box side o. the wall he struck
him for place to board. Sandy lowed that
the Spotted Tiger was the only shebang in
gave Jim lecture on what he called the
''meritsn of the hotel, and told him it was the
most homeike place in the mountains.
After Jim had got his truck into the best
front room. which Sandy told him he could
have till the Prince of Wales come and want
ed it, he come outside, and sat down side of me-
mice day" says he.
pretty mddlin So" says |, cold like,
cause didn't cotton to him to once on ac-
count o them clothes.
Any money in the mines heref' says he.
"MoneYY says l. You bet there is. I've
put more than one good thousand dollars into
'em myself. and | know lots of men what
have put in more'n | ever had to put in"
But don't they payf' says he, kind of visit
full like
"Some of em does, and some of 'em doesn't, y
says l.
He didn't say anythin' more for few min.
utes, but just sat still, chewin' onto that cigar
and lookn' off over the hills with kind OF
homesck look onto his face. Pretty soor
he handed me cigar. Now | don't go much
on cigars, cause Pm absent minded like and
forget which end is lighted. But took il
cause it was offered me- and make it a rule
never to refuse anythln' that's offered me, fol
sometime II amt just healthy.
Lived here long" he asked pretty soon.
always lived in the mountains" says l
"Came to the Forks fore shanty was built
saw the first settler settle, helped dig the frs
grave and run the first funeral Perhaps
you'd like to know who | be. I'm called
Deacon Scott cause I'm so peaceful like"
MY names Jim Bases," says he "Ou
east the call me James Edgar Bates, bu
here I'm plain Jim Bates VIII you, rs tn,
oldo iiLahitaut give me a welcomeF
tplt in my trousers pocket and found
hau q half dollar which Jack Stone had pa,
me thui mornin', so risin' up | says, Il will
put it there
H. suooA my hand and shook his, ant
thel says, Come in and name your horse
~, he says, Il don't drink, but you cal
take somethin' on me.
"Now look here, says l. it's lucky that it
r. - asked you, cause I'm peaceful and dom
liz to harm anybody. | never purpose
shot mau--of course Greaser or two or
Sioux Injun may have got in my way when
was practicin' shootn', and bit the dust
but them amt men anyhow But if yo
want to Ieep out o. trouble you don't wan
to give any one the chance to ask you t
drink leastwise if you do, you want to hav
drop on 'em with your gun when you re
iuse' else u 'nisn' nv oo neai'n1' ~"
somever, I'll not lay it up against you, 'caus
you're tenderfoot."
81 couldn't drink drop of liquor to say
my neck" he said, sober like Il promise
my dear old mother fore | left home that
wouldn't touch drop of the stuff that mad
any father die an unnatural death, and l.
keep that promise deacon, If it sends N
home corpse"
Now, | never was temperance man my
self; but somehow the boys words made IN
think of my mother, as saw her that mornil
when was little chap, as she lay on I'll
bed dyin', and somehow | wished I'd bee
good like she asked me to be, and new,
touched liquor. Without KNOWN what we
a dom took Jm's hand and said, THAT
right Stick to that and I'll stick to you"
Jim told me that he had left home hopin'