Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-01-02

my chums and civilization and made
fcr the never, never land by myself.
For the next 10 years had varying
fortune. Sometimes picked up a Few
nuggets and stored them until I could
reach civilization, when sold them,
and banking the money, went OF again
In search for more, seeking no man or
woman's company, yet carrying with
me the memory of what might have
been If fortune had only smiled upon
me.
AT the end of my 10 years sojourn
in Australia / had q sum of ee00 in the
bank and was looking forward to pur-
chasing section and settling down as
farmer after another year of wander
ing.
AT this time i was making bigger
journey than had attempted before
and found myself hundreds Of miles
from civilization, in the very heart of
hot and arid district of upper Queens
land.
was 35 now, but looked with my
sunbaked face and grizzled beard fully
10 years older and had been tramping
half starved and thirsty over desert
without sign of water or life OF any
kind for the last two days, when came
about sundown to one of those strange
ant cities which are sometimes found
in the dry portions of this country.
For miles in front of me stretched
long streets and countless huts, reach
ing from feet to in height, all de-
serted and silent-clay huts looking in
the distance like dry cornstacks and
close at hand like human habitations.
a weird effect they had upon me, tired
out and exhausted as was from want
of food. Fortunately had plentiful
supply of tobacco, and with my flint
and steel comforted myself with a
prolonged smoke before lay down to
sleep under the shelter of one of these
huts. There, with tho moon rising over
the horizon and casting long shadows
about me from these conc buildings,
gradually lost consciousness and had
the dream which altered all my plans
of life,
1 dreamed that saw five men strug-
Cling along the moonlit street in which
lay, each with heavy load on his
back -diggers they appeared to be,
bringing on their finds. They came on
which leaned, into which one of them
began to dig, while the others, pitching
the bundles down beside the digger,
formed themselves into guard, with
their rifles out and facing the north. l
soon discovered why they were guard
ing the digger, for looking past them
saw large tribe of aborigines dodging
among the other huts and preparing to
attack the white men, who stood there
in close ring until their mate had hid
den the gold they had brought.
a few vigorous digs with the pickax
and spade and n portion of the clay hut
was laid bare, while the Eve heavy bags
were hastily crammed inside and the
outer clay replaced, us the rifles played
on the ferocious but timid natives, who
seemed afraid to advance, after which
the white men began to retreat into tho
open plain, leaving their swags behind
them, while the sayages glided past me
with their spears in their hands.
saw the fight begin and end in the
open and saw my FIVE countrymen fall,
pierced with the shafts, while l still
lay unable to move and help them.
What happened afterward was too hor-
riblo to relate in detail, but can be con-
jectured by any anthropologist who
knows the revolving customs of those
ferocious and untamable cannibals of
northern Queensland. 1t is sufficient
to tell you that even the bones were
utilized, after which tho demons re-
turned the way they had come, to the
north, taking with them the five swags,
but paying no heed to the ant hill which
held the treasure.
The morning sun was warming the
country when awole, and with my
dream still vivid in my mind / began
with an eager heart to denolish my
shelter of the night, and there, as had
seen them laid, discovered the five
bags laden with gold dust aud nuggets,
enough to make me wealthy man at
last.
1 took what could carry with me
and after reaching the nearest town.
Bhip came back with couple OF horses
for the remainder, and then, after 10
years of absence, returned home to
my native village wealthy man, and
OF course paid visit TO my old sweet
heart, Maud Davis, now the wife of the
baker.
Fifteen years make wonderful diff
erence in young lovers. Maud, always
of slender build, had grown shrewish
and skinny, without single trace left
of what had been carrying 30 long in
my memory with tender regret. l had
altered from slim lad with comely
face into grizzled and heavy old man.
We both looked at each other for mo-
mont, and then1 laughed as Maud said /:
Lor, what an ugly man you have
grown, Franhl I'm glad didn't wait
for you after all, in spite of yoar mon
ey."
So was 1, as carefully wiped that
long kept picture from the slate of my
memory.-Hume Nisbet in London SGl.
JaeIson's statue ON the constftutlon.
In 1922 Gnrnrnniicrn Rlifct4 l,,la...ot1 :.