The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-08-09

ssBENJAMINv-
all emotions, joys, Sorrow. anger, awe,
hope and peace murmur from the val
leys, thunder from the canyons and:
speak from the heights.
Today-this sunny, glorious July day
sorrow and anger only found voices
for poor Ben Tribble. He was alone,
away up near the timber line; sitting near
the mouth of his tunnel. wondering
what had become of his dog. the only
friend he had left in the world.
Ben was one of the unlucky ones of
earth. Since 1879 he had been toiling
alone up there in the mountains, hunt
ing fortune. When he came.west from
Iowa, with only his dog Jonah and the
old rifle. Betsy he had carried through
the war for company, he had staked out
his claim in the San Juan, built his lit
tie cabin on the mountain side and gone
cheerfully to work, with his pick and
hand drill, confidently expecting to strike
lead soon, sell out and go back to his
wife and boy with bag full of gold
dust. The letters he got weekly helped
him amazingly. They were his incen-
tive, his stimulant. Jonah was faithful,
and Betsy was useful Occasionally Ben
would leave the tunnel and the cabin
and go down the mountain to Pay Dirt
camp, where he soon became popular
among the many good fellows. And so
at first, while he was strong, ambitious.
and hopeful, everything went very we'll
Afterward?
The years went by, and Ben did not
find his silver mine. Not that he was
not diligent. Never man in the San
Juan worked harder than Tribble. He
staked two other claims besides the orig
inal one, and in turns worked all.
His stalwart figure began to stoop; the
burrows deepened on his forehead; sill
vsr besprinkled his long, tangled. red
beard, but still fortune was shy. The
long summers drifted by his door, and
the winter SHOWS hid his tunnels Ev-
cry fall he said, "By spring, I reckon, I"
and every spring he said, II calc late by
fall kin go hum" but he never went.
His wife wrote regularly the news Of
her simple village life His boy was
grown up and earning fair living
his boy, whom he remembered as lit
tie sunny haired youngster stamping
about in his first pair of boots. Tribble
would sit alone night after night pic
turing the two he had left behind, won
dering about them, dreaming Of them,
longing for them. Sometimes he started
up in frenzy, crying out that he would
go-that day, that hour-baok to them.
Whas matter if he had no money? He
could tramp over the mountains, the
plains, to find Molly and the boy. Then
his eyes would fall on the mouth Of the
tunnel, and mechanically he would
shoulder his pick, take his lantern and
go back to his dreary search.
Then, one day, Tribble struck lead
Struck fair vein Of silverl The very
next week tho silver panic came
Tribble was dazed He could not un-
derstand Day after day he CROPPED his
way down to Pay Dirt to hear the news
from the east He joined the circle Of
hopeless, despairing men who sat watch
ing silver go down, down, feeling as if
the bottomless pit were yawning at
their feet.
Then suddenly Molly's letters STOP
ped. Tribble wrote again and again,
but could get no answer. A silence. "a
vast and awful as that which reigned
on the mountains swept between him
and the two lie loved.
Tribble grew morose, sullen and sus-
| Il
down to the camp, but dwelt apart from
all men, with no friend save Jonah
And now, here on this balmy, heavenl,
day, when all nature breathed peac'
and joy, Ben sat alone, deserted by all
Fortune, family, friends-yes, even hi
dog, for Jonah had Misrepresentation
ished, and no whistle of his master
could lure him from the canyon.
Tribble sat absorbed in bitter revert,
when suddenly crashing in the thicke
made him start and lift his heavy eyes
A good humored, smiling face met hi
the face of Joyful Jerry, well known
character from the camp below, a lazy
happy go lucky fellow, with few brain
and a kindly heart.
''Hello, Benp' lie called.
'Hellov' modify from Ben.
Thought I'd pay ye visit, - sale
Jerry, dropping down upon the grount
beside Tribble II tell ye, pard, YER
too lonesum up here. Why don't y
come down ter the camp? The boy
low ter hev celebrashun on the Fourth
Ye'd orter ter come down. They We sen
to -Silverton fer fireworks an powder al
a cannon. Lord, but they'll whoo]
things upi Ye'd orter come down."
To Joyful Jery's pressing invitation
Tribble returned no answer, but sud
denly and CURLY asked, ''Ye didn't se'
nuthin Of that thar ornery yaller dorl
Of mine, did ye, on your way up?'
II seed Jonah cuttin down the can
yon like all possessed, /" returned Jerry
CHOW what on airth's gone an tool
that thar crittur?''
"Hell mowsr' said Tribble savagely
After Joyful Jerry had taken his de
parture with farewell adjuration Il
Ben to be on hand for the ceremonie