The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-12-05

And join your friends of yore.
"Then we again shall meet you
You will not cross alone;
Your warmest friends shall greet you
And guide you safely home.
1.-THE vision vivid ended there,
But still feel impressed,
Twas more than dreamland vision fair
And hints of final rest.
"Their leader, Sam, think you knew,
His claim was next to mine;
He proved jealous friend and true
In the days of 49,
"He crossed the last range, years ago,
saw him when he died,
But little thought he'd meet me so
Upon the Great Divide!
1.-THE other boys met by chance
Along life's weary way,
And Oft did aid the weak advance
AS faint and sore they lay.
But one by one they left my view,
TO explore another range.
And now return to cheer me through
The cold, bleak pass-How strangel
Z" / feel I'm going Over There!-
Oh, comrades, do not sigh!
Well surely meet in lands most fair
When your 'sluice-head here runs dry.
"But when by Time I'm 'panned-out' fine,
And you bear this form away,
Then place it meath that aged pine
Where oft III life lay.
"Enraptured by the rich, bright scene
That cheered my longing eyes
The crystal pond, the ripping green
sward, mountains and bright skies.
There let IT rest through eternal years,
While 1.-The soul-shall be
Released from all its pains and tears.
From all its woes Set free.
"But ere pass from earthly seems,
Please bear me where I'll view
The verdant vale, the lulling streams.
And mighty mountains. too"
At Ben's request they bore him
Out by the cabin door,
Where stretched the vale before him,
And hills he'd oft ranged DER.
The Eastern range was gilded
BY the sinking god Of day.
But all between was shielded
From that bright, golden ray.
"Ah, boysr' he whispered lowly,
For he had weaker grown:- -
"Life's sun is sinking slowly
The shadows DER me thrown.
sin memory's landscape behold
Youths lovely range gilt DER,
1t shines more bright in sunset gold
Than e'er it shone before.
"But darksome shadows lie between
The shades of bitter care!
And soon I'll view grander scene!
No dismal shadows there!''
Then hopeful smiles beamed in his eye.
As firm he clasped Sans hand;
"Tis sweet in comrades arms to die -
l see the Golden Land!
Dear friends, don't mourn so when I'm
He murmured low and sighed, (gone! ;
Then gaspcd for breath, one moment one !!
As in their arms he died.
Next day the "boys" from gulches round,
All gathered in to see
Their friends remains laid in the ground
Beneath his favorite tree.
No preacher there to sing and pray
Above the solemn dead.
But Sam, arising slowly,
He softly sighed and said:
"Old Ben and were comrades
For twenty years or more,
And such firm and faithful friend
l ne'er had known before.
with him I've cheerily ranged the hills
On many q pleasant tour,
And panned for dust in mountain rills,
Not quite from Reds secure.
,'But now he's left this gulch of care
And crossed the last range DER;
He's got prospect over there,
Beats all he had before.
"Now, friends! while in Times narrow
Let's work the diggings well; [gulch,
fear thus far we've wasted much
The last clean up will tell!
"Life's greatest boulders we'll remove
With levers of firm will,
And though the ground he rough or smooth,
Clean hOnOr's bedrock well.
We'll run down in the tailings. too,
The follies of the past;
But golden truth and friendship true,
In memory's rifles cast.
"And when we're all united, boys.
Across the great Main Range
Twill fill our cup With sweetest Joys,
Where Truth and Friendship reign
Sans sermon DER, the ''boys' all bade
Unto Ben's quiet face,
A last fsrewcll!-long, lingering. sad
Then to his resting place.
They bore him meath tree that stood
Majestic and alone,
Upon hOwery mountain side,
From which the landscape shone.
There digged his grave and laid him low,
Beneath that sturdy pine,
And 'graved in letters deep to show
Twas ben of 49,"
HENRY W. BRowN.