Smyrna times., 1901-02-13
A Baby
in Camp.
IN AN

camp in Rocky Gulch, amogg them no
representatives of the gentler sex until
Joe Hardy Honest Joe, they dubbed
him drifted into the camp, accom-
panied by his brave young wife.
Some way the camp seemed different
after Mrs. Joe" came. There may
have been no less drinking, but there
was less brawling; there was perhaps
Just as much gambling. but there was
less shooting, aud when Joe's baby
came wave of reformation actually
swept through the camp.
1t became the custom to gather
around Joe's cabin every Sunday, and
the baby was gazed at with mingled
awe and admiration. As months went
by "Bahe" as every one called her, de-
veloped acute and affectionste ways,
and she was almost wOrshiped by
those rough 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 gath
cred in anxious groups little distance
from the cottage. St. Louis Joe closed
his saloon ught, and he declared not
one drop would the boys get till Babe
got we'll
''Ain't a-goin' ter hev some galoot
git full an git a-shootin' off his gun
disturbin' Babe, )" he said.
Half a dozen of the men remained
up all night near the cottage. "to be
on hand" they said, " ''ef Joe wanted
anything"
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 a mother, re-
marked Mrs. Joe, after Sam had been
ministering to the little sufferer.
Sam swallowed big lump in his
throat two or three times before he re-
piled:
81 had a little feller about Babes
age when left home two years
agone."
81 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 l left, said Sam.
Guess l was mostly to blame,
though" he added, "an' purity
hasty."
I'D 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
midnight, 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
required.
Joe struggled some minutes to reply
and then with a sob, said:
Babes gone," and rushed past the
group into darkness.
Every inhabitant of Rocky Gulcl
knew of Babes death long before
morning, and the most of them wer,
gathered at a respectful distance from
the cabin when Joe stepped to tn,
door after sunrise.
"Come in, boys, an see her." b,
said, and one by one they filed pas
the peaceful figure, which lay with
smile on the sweet, upturned face.
'It's cryin' shame" said Coyot
Pete, tibet the babe can't hev a gen
uine, first class funeral, but there ain
no show for a spread in this hole"
"Ef there was time I'd go ter Frisc
an tote a casket in on my back. " sal
Red Mike, "but there amt, SOS N
use talkin'."
"Now, don't ye fret" said Bald
Slick. Babes goin' ter hev funers
the like of which amt been seen i
New York ITSELF" and he unfolded hi
plan to the boys.
Two of Baldy Sticks tables wer
torn apart and a rude casket was con
structed of the boards. The insid
was lined with a beautiful dry mos
: gathered from the mountain side, tn
outside coated with fresh pitch, upo
which was sprinkled gold dust, contr
> buted by the unwilling miners.
A grave was followed out in a plea.
ant place near Joe's cabin, and tina
too, was lined with moss, upon whic
: was sprinkled some Of the dust.
When the casket was taken to tn
house Joe aud his wife broke dow
completely.
'Oh, it is so sweet!' said Mrs. Jo