Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-07-31
A Dream of Cold
And What Came of 1t
By MARY II. COATES.


Jim King looked across the gulch
to 'Prize Bar" claim, which, in the
wake of the latest gold stampede he
had hastily staked; cpd to which, in
his haste and premature excitement,
he had brought his family.
"'Prize Bari We ought to have
named it Prize Humbug,'" he NUT
tered from his seat on log doing
chair duty, and absently tossed bits
of twigs and fir cones into the camp
fire as he summed up 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 rustled
among the boys for job, but none
of them really need a roustabout.
No, couldn't be worse"
20, yes, they could-but finish your
pipe, and come to bed. It's dark now,
but you know light comes In the
morning-who knows? sleep often
helps the brain to solve knotty
problems"
The flames of the campfire fiared
up fitfully, giving weird, white high
lights to the trunks of the frs in the
shadow; and above, their plumed tops
were yelled, in haziness by the wan
ing moon.
Under the influence of the balsam'
laden fragrance that aoated up 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 to sleep; but the dream-mind
fitted on, here and there, weaving
mountain, forest and campfire into a
daedalous net work, which gradual
ly narrowed, through the dream
alemb;c, to fixed distinctness; and the
moonlight on the stretching firtops
the hollow blackness beneath and
the glowing Goals became sunli'
valley, a dark cave and down in its
depths glittered crystals-globules-
what? The brightness OF them
pierced her eyes.
With a start she awoke and saw the
morning sun shining straight into the
tent through a tiny opening in the
folds of the fly. "Well! What a
dream of gold it was!-and woven OF
nothing but sunshine. 1t must GER
tainly portend good luck-but from
earth or sky-which, wonder-thats
the point. o, for dream book! Ny
kingdom for dream book" she said
under her breath, then louder: "Jim
are you there"
Eyes, and breakfast is nearly
ready. You were all sleeping sc
soundly I thought 1 wouldn't disturb
you; but it's late enough"
well be there in a few minutes
Come, children, breakfast is ready
Doesn't the coffee smell good2" ant
the quietness of the tent was at al
end-drowned in the cbildren's laugh
ing chatter.
breakfast" called CHEEKY voice
again, and they trooped out. After
all had been served, Mrs. King went
- the fire and began marking in the
cool ashes with long stick.
"Jim, is there a valley anywhere
near that runs along so? High noun
tains on this side, and scattered fiji
trees on this ridge, and over here {
great spur of rocks that dips into thu
chaparral below?" She illustrate;
with the right hand and with the lef'
carefully held her blue calico Skin
back from the fire.
"Of course" he answered, care
lessly.
Really? TrulyP" She SPOKE
eagerly, yet doubtfully.
Certainly You have pictured Beal
canyon quite correctly. 1t is over be
yond that peak where you see
broken tree standing alone. Why
what of it?"
Just this: 1 saw it in my dream
last night; and I'm going to ask you
to go over there and hunt for cav
and"
so, yes, 1 know" anticipating he,
recital. "Cave, gold, pocket nuggets
in sand ridge, um-wealthy, healthy
and happy ever after" checking of
with his fingers and ending in half
trilled bar from a popular mining
song.
"Wen, you'll CO." ignoring thu
thrusts.
81 think not. In fact, no use to go
There's no cave there"
eyes, my dear, there is" confident
ly smiling.
mo, Emily, there's no cave in tina
canyon. Have some more coffee?" al
he poured a second cup for himsel
and set the smoke-blackened coffet
boiler on fresh Goals.
"But, Jim? If saw the valley cor
rectly in my dream, why should no
I see the cave correctly, too?" sh'
persisted.
II agreed to the valley; but to thu
cave-never! Can't explain it. Prob
ably Morpheus took you to his abod
last night and while you were Their
YOU were cast under some spell tina
gave the appearance of reality" H
presented a wise and profoundly in
terested countenance.
every probably. But you possibl,
remember, too, that Morpheus is
guardian of dreams, and fashion
them as the gods desire them to b
given to us. Surely L have favor il
their sight"
"Still, Emily, think your dream
came through the ivory gates of tn
dreampalace. Have another cup {
coffee-do."
mo, thanks. And you needn't TT
to take my mind from that cave. 70
are going over to Bear canyon to-da
to dig for gold in cave you will I'm
there. Do, please, give this one day