Daily camera., 1901-10-08
Woolly Wisp
By ysA, Herald Haalla.

THE mere fact that he was shsep
gave him . woolly reputation. he
had not always docked with Virginia.
| denixens. yet he lived there when that
place reeked Of wild, western life. and
| the sheep seemed not At all out OF his
| element on the gay Comstock Lode.
| Woolly WAS . derelict, . lone lamb
when first he entered virginia's pre-.
| cincts. abandoned by careless shep-
herd and pursued by coyotes into the
very heart Of that bustling mining
camp. The miners were just chang
ing shifts when the lsmbkin darted
down C street, night shadows threw a
gloom abroad, and the diminutive. dit
ting white object mystified the miners
~ they trooped homewsrds. One
thick-tongued individual shouted out:
Look at 1t. boys! -is will o. wisp!"
The "wisp" bleated pitifully. and the
merry men laughed loudly - they be-
held . timid lamb. "Not will o. wisp,
slimps, but . decidedly woolly one.
mani"
In such fahsion did the sheep come
by his name. and from that date
Woolly Wisp played . privileged role
in Virginia's circles. No one person
claimed him. He was public prop
erty. and consequently Wooliy's
bringing up lacked q certain proper
tion Of home influence 30 essential
to the proper training Of young things.
The first real wicked deed Woolly en-
acted endeared him to the whole bevy
Of school children. II the sheep had
reasoning powers, one would be IN
clined 70 believe he malicioussy
planned his assault against Prof. Wig
site. principal Of the Virginia schooiA.
The principal adhered 70 the "rod"
motto. and the pupils hated him much
and feared him more. Prof. Wigstie
was partial TO tan shoes; he cared not
what style they were 30 long as the
color glea med yellow. His most recent
acquisition in shoe leather made glad
his hearts glaring saffron shade. and
soles that squeaked In . minor key,
thus attracting not only the eye but
the ear as well.
woolly wisp stood In . side street
one bright morning. The hang Of bis
head bespoken dejectedness; , bat
tered tin can. sufixed. explaining his
bad mood. Woouy frequently ratified
tin-ware through tho precipitous
streets on MI. Davidson's slopes. 1t
always rufiaed his temper. which WAS
pretty average bad At Its best. While
brooding in this ugly state Of mind. .
tall. spare man with wildly yellow and
noisy shoes sdorning his ped extrem-
tiles squeaked by in inso!ent complai-
sance. Woolly stamped his foot; the
can clattered behind him-o6 he went.
not like. but in reality, . battering
ram. Prof. Wigs,ie sprswled quite
across c street. Many of his irrepres-l
sibie pupils gathered about the fallen
owner o. yellow shoes and lost dignity.
Woolly wisp ;srried not, but continued
on his career at rattling pace.
After that star performance Of the
sheep. no youth in any Of the Virginia
"cliques" ever again attached things
TO his tail. He Was. In their eyes, 4
creature to be revered as the hero who
''downed" the terrible Wigstie. In such
guis< Wool!y commanded all due re-
spect from the younger generation, and
his future popularity was assured SIM
ply by that one daring act.
woolly wasn't . traditional lamb. for
he never veniurcd near the school
house. The truce established between
CURED st too recent date to carry any
weight with him. He dis,rusted impul-
sive youth. and many times be betook
himself to the outskirts Of Virginia
City that he might be entirely out OF
sight and hearing Of rough youngsters.
Prof. wigstie lived near the towns
edge, in house that looked three sto-
ries high. front view. and mere shed.
back view. The steepness Of the side
hill site accounted for this disparity.
The small front yard blased with big
sunhowers and brilliant dahhas.
Woolly admired this rare garden-spot.
and forced an entrance one luckless
afternoon. The professor. returning
from school, espied the trespasser;
his wrath Aared forth. and he bore
down upon the sheep In frensy.
Woolly realized that safety lay in
Aight, and he imme medistely took that
course. Away ws0t psdagogue and
ram, careening down the mountain.
Al . moment when the rsce seemed
lost to Prof. WIgssis, = dire calamity
befen the pursued. An old mining
shaft. partially ohsoured BY sage
brush. yawned directly In the aheep's
pa,h. He disappeared down Its black
depths. No sign. no sound could Prof.
Wigstie detect Of the ingulfed tor
ment
Good enough! That blasted beast
Is hoodoo. and It's good riddsnce Of
this petted woolly WisP."
The removing Of the S7oo, ,00o. 900
worth Of silver and gold from the
heart of Mt. Davidson necessitated q |
wonderful amount Of excavation. To
ay that the whole mountain is honey
combed Ia . plain statement Of truth.
n lOIce VI 01ch PscAiu8 Az tOIVuouS |
drift heard . muffied ba,a, ba-s, They
stopped work; caught the sound again.
md. With few strokes Of picks, broke
through into an old shaft. Rather an
emsciated-looking sheep met their
surprised gaze. One Of his horns had
,een broken OF; he appeared slightly
lazed-but they recognized in him the
DISAPPEARED Woolly
Wisp.
Poor woolly! You're sorry sight,
3nt we are right glad to see you
lgain." said Slimps, he who Arst dis
covered this will O. wisp. IN
It didn't take long to get the sheep
apt of his underground prison. nor did {
i consume much time fpF Aim 70 re-
yain his normal sprightlipess,
hdVpfti<p in Tho "a