Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-08-09
THE LITTLE
GOLD NUGGET
A Tale of the Australian Gold
Digglngs.

John Archer decided that the mug
get would be safer in his little daugh-
ter's keeping than In HIS own
"HOu must take great care of It, dar-
ling" said John Archer. "It is for
your mother" And Eme slowed the
little nugget away In a corner of the
old workbox which had been her moth
er's under the cotton and socks she
was darning for her father. She felt
duly weighted with the responsibility.
She knew that this yellow earth was
Of great value, for her father, leaving
her mother, who was very delicate,
with some friends In Brisbane. had
come a long. weary way to nnd It.
Having hidden the llttle nugget
away, Ellie came out Of the hut TO look
bround and see II any one was near
who might have seen her. No. No
one was near who might have seen her,
only Billy, the black-Klng Billy, the
aboriginal monarch. who loved rum
and tobacco and who was chopping
some HrewOcd for her.
This little girls reason for trusting
King Billy, the black, was somewhat
strange and Is worthy OF being re-
corded. She trusted him because she
had been kind TO him.
But Efle was only II.
As the child stood In the broad light,
her tumbled bay hued hair kissed and
ilIumlned by the bold rays OF the sun
and her round, trustful blue Eyes shad-
ed from the glaro by two little brown
hands, watching King Billy at his
work, n flock OF laughing jackasses
hlighted in n neighborlng gum tree
and set up a demoniac exclamation.
what made the III omened birds so
tnadIy merry? What was the joke7
Efie's trust? Billy's gratitude? They
failed to explain, but their amusement
was huge and sardonlc.
Drive them away. Billy" cried Ell
&c. aud the .Obedlent king dropped his
ny and threw n faggot OF wood at the
tree. which stopped the laughter AMI
dispersed the merrymakers.
''RIly tired now" said the black
griDning. TOO much wOrk-plenty
wood" and he pointed 20 the result
Of his labor.
"YeR that will be enough, thank
you. You're a good boy. I'll give you
gone tobacco"
"Bllly's thirsty"
Then you Fhall have Some tea"
mo tea. Rum"
mo. Billy. Rum isn't good for you"
"Geed for miners; good for Billy"
mo. Tvs not coed for miners" said
Ealc cuiphatically. 1T makes then,
night and shy wicked things"
Makes black fellow feel good" de
Glared Billy rolling his dusky eyes.
This last argument was effective.
Ehie went into her hut-hcr father had
returned 10 his work-and poured y
little spirits from John Archer's flask
into n pannlkin. Billy drank the
spirits with rolling eyes. smackcd his
lips and then lay down In the shadow
of the hut 10 sleep.
The long afternoon passed very slow
Is for Elle. Her few trlflng duties
hs h~ousGkeeper were o done. The
littlc hut was tidied and the simple
evening meal prepared and some hours
nrst pass before her father returped
AAUN EOllu NuE Dnnn AAE AAAAN 0AN
had only two books-a Bible and 0
volume Of stories for little girls. which
rho ind won as n prize nj school IN
Brisbane. But she was too young u
Appreciate the 6rst. especially as the
3ype WIS very small aud II was difficult
Fendlpg. and she had grown beyond
approaching the stories for little girls
having known them by beart thre'
years before. She would like 10 bnvS
slept. Everything around her suggest
ed and Invited the ~siesta-the stead,
heat. the brightness Of the light with
out the hut. the distant murmur o.
MIXERS voices which came from be
you'd yoaGer belt Of wnttle gums. tbl
monotosoUs bum Of the iocusts In TN
forest. the occasional Gretful cry Of
strange bird end the regular shores o
the fallen king. who slumbered In th,
shade Of the but Even the buzz Of tn
annoying files assisted the general ef
feet ana brought drowsipess.
TO remain SIN for a few minute
would have meant Inevitably faHinI
Rsleep Efie felt this and remembered
fhe little gold nugget. II she SLEPT
Bome thief might come end take II. Ant
20 she put Of her Dat and, f~orsakinl
fhe seductive cool and shade Of tbe bpi
went oct into the hrightpesF and heat.
Archor's hui Etood on tho edge Of IN
valley over against he loot Of th
blue. hes vlly umbered bills, About 3
yprds dlH,es, from H. bidder Hmoai
fbe 'Fees, YVES 9 hlg7 Ss0Hs gTow5 Foc,
- tie hgaP ~ T'hieA E0s had discover
rd ,.e ElaBuPE IND FNVt4esf OF nstuyn
EpginEs ThktNF ~ eAila eaS-i0okInI
bn,k ofien 20 re thar no y nppy0acs
- bf hvi " per absfRev-ip baIbs hf