Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-06-07
A Dream of Cold
AndWhat Came of 1t
XHE MUST get out of here-tho
wv sooner the bctter-that's an
BY MARY II. COATES.


a sign OF color have I ever found ON
that claim"
Jim King looked across the gulch
To Prize Bar claim. which. in the
wake OF the latest gold stampede he
had hastily staked. md 60 which. in
his haste and premature excitement.
he had brought his family.
Prize BAR We ought 20 have
named IL Prize Humbug.'~ ne mutt
tered from his seat ON a log doing
chair duty. and absently tossed bits
OF twigs and fir cones into the camp
fire as he summed mp their situation.
Don't fret. dear" said his Wife
observing his downcast looks as She
came from the tent where she had
been putting the children To- sleep
Things may not really be as bad as
they appear"
"Couldn't be worse, grub nearly
gone. money. too. and I've rustlcd
among the boys for job. but nome
OF them really need "a rou>iaouut.
No. couldn't be worse"
20. YES. they could-but finish your
pipe. and come 60 bed. It's dark now,
but YOU know light comes in the
helps the brain co solve knotty
problems"
The flames OF the campfire fared
mp ftfullv. giving weird. white high
lights 60 the trunks Of the frs In the
shadow; and above. their piumed tops
were veiled. i'm haziness by the wan
ing moon.
Under the influence OF the balsam-
laden fragrance that fioated mp from
the fir boughs spread deep over the
tent floor. the remembrance OF their
harassing situation faded from Mrs.
Kings mind. The tired body found
rest. and the weary brain was soon
lulled Go sleep; but the dream-mind
fitted on. here and there. weaving
mountain. forest and campfire into
daedalous net work, which gradual
~ narrowed through the dream,
alembic. 20 fixed distinctness. and the
moonlight on the stretching frtons.
the hollow blackness beneath and
the glowing Goals btcame ca suuNt
valley. a dark cave and down I'm it's
depths glittered rystals-globules- -
what2 The brightness of them
pierced her eyes.
With q start she awoke and saw the
morning sun shining straight into the
tent through tiny opening in the
folds OF the fy. ~Wcn, What "a
dream Of gold it was,-and woven OF
nothing but sunshine. lt must GER
taiuly portend good luck-but from
earth or sky-which. I wonder-that'-
the point %. for dream book, Nv
kingdom for 4 dream book" she said
under her breath. then louder: "Jim.
are YOU there2"
YES, and breakfast is nearly
s-eady You were an sleeping SD
soundly I thought I wouldn't DISTURB
you: but it's late enough"
Wen be there in a few minutes.
Come. children. breakfast b. ready
Doesn't the coffee smell good?" and
the quietness of the tent was az ana
end-drowned in the children's laugh
ing chatter.
breakfast" called a CHEEKY voice
again. and they trooped out. After
all had been served. Mrs. King went
TO the fire and began marking in the
cool ashes with long stick
Jim. is there valley anywhere
near that runs along so? High noun
tains on this side. and scattered fir
trees on this ridge. and over here a
great spur OF rocks that dips into the
chaparral below?" She illustrated
with the right hand and with the LETT
carefully held her blue calico skirt
back from the fire.
'Of course" he answered, care.
9essly.
Really Truly?" She spoke
eagerly. yet doubtfully.
Certainly. You have pictured Bear
canyon quite correctly. IL is over be-
yond that peak where YOU see d
broken tree standing alone. Why
what Of it2"
Just this: / saw il in my dream
last night; and I'm going Ia ask you
TO go over there and hunt for a cave
and"
20. yes, 1 know" anticipating her
recital. Gave. gold. pocket nugget.
In a sand ridge. um--wealthy.h healthy
and happy ever after" checking on
with his fingers and ending in half
trilled bar from a popular mining
song.
well. youm CO." ignoring tn.
thrusts.
II think not. In fact. no use 10 go
There's no cave there"
''Yes. my dear. there is" confident
ly smiling
NO, Emily. there's no cave in thai
canyon. Have some more cOfTee?' "a.
he poured a second cup for himself
and set the oke-btackaned ccsYa.