The record-union., 1896-09-13

haired woman said. Peacefully had
she died, and now standing by her
grave, her son remembered his promise.
And with the help of God / will keep
1t, too" he said aloud and solemnly.
How much furder is it, pa?" asked
weary little traveller.
Jest round the pint yander, honey.
Well soon be thar and then you kin
rest all you want to- So they toiled
on, an odd, pathetic looking company.
First came the head of the family tall,
muscular Missourian, a man with no
more brains than the law allows him."
as some of his friends had been heard
TO remark, but tenderly attached to
the trio ~ girls and the woman who
followed donkeys he led On the
pack OF Ieburro was strapped the little
tent tn had been the only home of the
travellers for years, and their few
clothes and cooking utensils. The other
purro carried their bedding and
miners tools, and occasionally one of
the girls was given lift on its back.
Following the donkeys came the
mother, a TALL gaunt woman, prema-
tureiy old, with an air of sublime in
dlfference to the capriceS of fortune. A
lie OF poverty and wandering had de-
prived her of the small amount of en-
ergy and ambition she had originally
possessed. She endured the vicissitudes
OF life with a degree of stoiciSm which
was remarkable if not admirable. Did
it rain till they were drenched to the
skin? Wal, it didn't do no good to grunt
abot it; she reckoned they'd git dry
sometime If their scanty clothing was
outrageosuly dirty and water and soap
hard to obtain, she would remark: wal,
I'd heap rather be clean, but dirt
hain't no disgrace. We're all made Of
dirt anyhow" She could not be better
described than in the words of one of
her friends: SAILS a goodhearted SOUL
but she hain't got no more gumptiOn
than a suckin' calf
Following her came the three little
girls, tow-headed, light-eyed, with
brown faces that contrasted strangely
with their white hair. They, as well as
the woman, wore sunbonnets that had
long since forgotten their acquaintance
with starch; to prevent obstruction of
vision, they were turned back from
their owners faces, affording no pro-
lection from the sun and being, that
as a wooden hood. Each child was at
tired in a dress of coarse brown denim,
apparently her only garment; their
and often striking against a rock or pro-
jecting root, drew from their owners
exclamations of pain or vexation.
Their wagon had been left in the val
ley below, for the trail that led to the
canyon was a narrow one and dan
gerous for vehicles to traverse. All the
supplies that reached the camp were
taken there on the backs of the patient
burros.
At last the point was rounded. Be-
fore them lay the mining camp of Dry
Canyon, so named whether on account
of the scarcity of water or the normal
condition of it's inhabitants, I am un-
able to state. The bed of the canyon
was narrow, and steep hills rose on
both sides. Upon these hills, In terraces,
were built the. cabins of the camp;
say cabins, for they were all alike, bu1lt
of rough logs, the interstices filled with
mud Dirt floors were the rule-foors
of planed lumber an undreamed OF
luxury.
When a man desired to erect a resi-
dence, he graded into the hillside,
space large enough for cabin of one
or two rooms. If he had children
which was not often the case-he made
allowance for a tiny yard. The yard
was fenced and the gate always locked,
for If a luckless youngster ventured OUT
side the yard and tumbled down, he
would never stop rolling till he reacheo
the bottom of the canyon.
The streets were more like long, steep
stairways.
Far away and blue in the distance,
the travellers caught glimpse OF pine
trees. 1t was from springs In thelr
shade that the water supply of the camp
was brought, in kegs lashed to the SIDES
Of donkeys Even the heart OF the
woman from Missouri failed her when
she learned that water was hve'cents
gallon. A train of donkeys came In
sight all with keg of water strapped
on each side. They came bray1ng along
and little white-h headed boy In the
door of the storekeeper's cabin began
ce,mical imitation of the sound, that
made even the tired traveller smile.
The strangers made slow progress.
,,,he main street of the camp, that is,
the he'd Of the canyon, was covered with
debris left by a recent cloudburst. Dur
ing an unusually warm day, when
fine. warm rain fell from the low-hang-
ing clouds and it was difficult 10
breathe in the thick, hot air, a roar was
heard, and looking up the can
Won the frightened denizens or
the camp beheld a great wave
advancing, bearing with 1t huge
houlders and trees. There had peen
cloudburst far above in the canyon
Every one in the lower houses fled Wlld-
ly to the upper terraces and from that
uiace of safety watched the muddy
water enter their dwellings through the
open doors and windows. Some CABINS
were swept away, but fortunately no
lives were lost. The water subsided In
few moments and people returned to
their houses to find the contents OF
most of them ruined and the floors
covered inches deep with mud and
gravel.
Our travellers at last found a clear,
vacant spot large enough to hold their
t.nt and commenced unpackng. The
erimy and much-patched little tent was
stretched and soon pot OF black coffee
was bubbling on the Goals Of the camp
fire; pan of bread, tilted at the cor
rect angle, was taking on a brownish
tinge, and delightful odors from skillet
of sizzling bacon were waited to the
nostrils Of the three little girls who
had discarded their shoes and stretched
their bare, brown legs restfully on the
bedding inside the tent.
After supper the woman made down
the beds and tucked the weary children
in. then she sat down by the fire-for
cool breeze came down the canyon
+o c,,,oEo har ooh nine and dream Of the