Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-21
and sha was almost worshiped by those

and she was almost worshiped by those
rongh miners.
( There came a sad day for Rocky
Gulch, however. Babe was i'll. She lay
upon her little bed, tossing her tiny
arms and moaning plaintively. The
miners knocked off work and gathered
In anxious groups little distance from
the cottage. ST Louis Joe closed his
saloon tight, and declared not one drop
would the boys get till Babe got well.
-'Ain't a-goin' ter hev some galoot git
fun and git a-shootin' off his gun an
disturbing Babe" he said.
Half a dozen of the men remained up
all night near the cottage, ito be on
hand" they said, 'ef Joe wanted any
thing"
The second night Silent Sam offered
TO sit by Babe to spell" Joe and his
wife. His services were accepted,
though Joe and his wife took turns sit
ting up with him.
"YOu are as handy as mother" re-
marked Mrs. Joe, after Sam had been
ministering to the little sufferer
sam swallowed q big lump in his
throat two or three times before he re-
piled:
Il had little Teller about Babes age
when left home two year agone."
Il should think you would want TO go
home to your family, SAM" said Mrs.
Joe; "they must miss you sadly"
"Me an the old woman had some
words; that's why left" said Sam.
Guess l was mostly to blame, though"
he added, AN purity hasty."
"Pd go back" said Mrs. Joe. softly.
Babe didn't improve, and the anxiety
of the community deepened day by day.
At last one night, shortly after mid
night, Joe came TO the half-dozen men
who still kept their nightly vigil near
his cabin. They gathered around him.
ANY change, Joe;" they eagerly in
quired.
Joe struggled some minutes to reply,
and then with great sob said;
Babes gone" and rushed past the
group into darkness.
Every inhabitant OF Rocky Guleh
knew of Babes death long before
morning, and the most of them were
gathered at respectful distance from
the cabin when Joe stepped TO the door
after sunrise.
Come in. boys. an see her" he said,
and one by one they aled past the
peaceful figure which lay with a smile
on the sweet. upturned face.
ats cryin' shame" said Coyote
Pete. that the Babe can't hev genu-
inc, frst-class funeral but there amt
nc show fer a spread in this hole"
EFF there was time I'd go ter Frisco
an tote casket in on my back" said
Red Mike. but there amt. SOS no use
taIkin'.n
Now. don't We fret" said Badly
Slick. Babes goin' ter hev a funeral,
the like OF which amt been seen in Moo
York itself" and he unfolded his plan
10 the boys.
Two of Badly Sticks tables were torn
apart ans 4 rude casket was construct,
81 OF The boards. The inside was lined
with beautiful dry moss, gathered
from the mountain side. the outside
coated with fresh pitch. upon which
was sprinkled gold dust, contributed by
the willing miners.
A grave was followed out in a pleas
ant place near Joe's cabin, and that,
too. was lined with moss. upon which
was sprinkled some Of the dust.
When the casket was taken TO the
house Jca and his wife broke down
completely.
%. II is so SWEET said Mrs. Joe,
land 1t Is so kind of you. We were trou-
0ied to think that Babe could not have
q nice burial. and now this-this--''
And she could say no more.
The services at the grave were sim.