The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-10
QUIZ LICK.
The Rough Men OF Strawberry Hin Loved
the Orphan.

Just at tho break of day ono summer morn
Ing some hunters camped on the heudwaters
OF thu Jefferson River heard firing and Yell
Ing at u crossing below. They turned out to
man and made all haste. 1t was as they ex-
pected. lone family. driving up tho valley In
search OF spot to call home. had been at
tackled by the Indians. Tho father lay dead,
dead were three or four half grown children.
while the wife and mother had put Ter back to
rock and with axe in hand was defending her
youngest offspring. u bit Of u boy about three
years old. whom she had snatched from the
wagon. Sho was a dying woman as the hunt
ers came up Those red devils had fred a
dozen arrows into her as ehe stood like O
tigress ut bay but tho boy hiding at her feet
was untouched.
1t was two days later when tho hunters came
into our camp at Strawberry HILL and one Of
them had little Jack on his shoulder. They
had buried the bodies: tho Indians had So
cured all else. They were bound to tho north,
and were ready to hand the little chap over to
the first camp which would take him. And
yet not quite ready. There were more than a
hundred OF us. ragged and unkempt digging
de!vinG and hoping: rude. rough minors who
hadn't seen child for years. but each Of US
wanted the boy as our individual property. 1t
wasLlnally decided to cast lots for him. One
hu'Ai w ohN soNch'cch WHlle UeuHS ana one
single black one were placed In q camp kettle,
tho kettle elevated to the top Of post. and
we formed into line and each man drew bean
In after days We said that Providence had A
hand IN 1t. Every white bean was drawn out
and tho h,ack one lett to Old Comfort, as We
used 10 call MN. iu was man nearly fifty
years old. soft spoken and always acting as
neacemaker. and there must have been some
father, back there in the valley. Little Jack
smiled and called him papa as the old man
vl9us and disappointed; We were also glad. 1t
viii seem sill and i,,diSh to You to road Of
our actions. The boy had been snatch ed from
had wrapped him in a blanket, Tho first thing
was to maxi him suit of clothes and every man
GA Comfort was making the iIrst snit TWO or
three others wrrr secretly under way. Ten OF
us knocked off work for half a day to enlarge
the old man snanty and make 1t weather.
proof and l. was unanimously agreed that the
camp should make ny 70 him the weekly allow
anee Hi M c,aim' and let him do nothing but
!, Every morning before we went down into
OF a barrel in the centre OF the camp and every
man had look at him. II We didn't see him
at at noon We heard from HIM and alter supper
furan hour. The little chap could master pa ps,
mamma i9 dog, cat. and SO on. and OLD Comfort
out n now word We were as enthusiastic as il
Son me had made rich ind. and sometimes
a m Is III MsaS sh nm
hands with all and emile at every one iut
b" cnnx to old Comfort in u way TO touch
casipnally and carry him about on heads or
shoulders b t he was not content to be long
out II tho ".d Ii:an s arms. n wa worr child
ish. what womb YOU say Of the gang down Mt
Albany ~ Two weeks after tho boy came
t. Ms an2ut h@2 Z, Of thnm came w one AZ
t'in',"n y 80" II 1t was real live hoy, with a
fund i was The saw him laugh and heard
suit WAS an Un"r Of orc. PROVISIONS md cash
a annrm to 500 bat we Laughed them to
Sn@y S IN the ri wy y ,Msre wasn't
i,t!G Jnrk cPmn To- u, in July ~, got him
evrryno,y. N"coUid have found bctter claims
further dow. ~ no no would 60 unless all
would nov", AS IT would be leaving thu hoy
n"niud Whom spring came we all notice that
ltt'le 'nrE IA out OF sorts. ! suppose IL was
or Oh, c"nrSc '"r" ~ much as anything oI.n,
IN sri'u Of 'Ild Comforts mothnrIy care
W., W" weren't a,!armsd. however nd non,dy
came, 'hpt our boy was sick Thrro lays
later b. WAS d"aI, On tho last day n" work
WAS M IN ara 1, " dT r T "5 10 Linz ana
At INST l.nIlyI and during tai ""ns niShti
""N u',lof loves dug n gr1vp ~ no sun.
shin" On 10, hillside, nud wn'm We nil him
Sen "rt ~" real Chatter ron rs Yockrt
! ill' nj ~" kThH". ana It WAS i'who mazda
IT, prhE"r ~ tones which t"li M nil how sor,
s." down ty them cy",. t. - 'yo, viii othors
n r. tearing down ana ln'giing. NJ 70 leave
wa n, singing No. m,G'in on the ndlNs. no
tF so% TO- "% THi or p the 70
enrh Other. nu' ~" rHn! W., ;" p's!"i that
Z 9E u" XII so Vent H s s"y% and ~f wye
sE@a,s:i "a "4r,y lisSf, il" was polnti1s up up