The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-04
A Dream of Cold
AndWhat Came of 1t
BY MARY II. COATES.

a sign OF color have l 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; and 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 a 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 a 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 flared
up ftfully, 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 floated 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
daednlous net work, which gradual
ly narrowed, through the dream
alembic. to fixed distinctness; and the
moonlight on the stretching firtops,
the hollow blackness beneath and
the glowing Goals became a sunlit
valley, a dark cave and down in it's
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 tiny opening in the
folds of the fly. We'll! 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-that's
the point o, for dream book NY
kingdom for dream book" she said
under her breath, then louder: "Jim,
are you there?"
Yes, and breakfast is nearly
ready. You were all sleeping so
soundly / thought I wouldn't disturb
you; but it's late enough"
Wen be there in a few minutes.
Come. children. breakfast is ready
Doesn't the coffee smell good?" and
the quietness of the tent was at an
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 a valley anywhere
near that runs along so? High noun
tains on this side, and scattered fir
trees on this ridge, and over here
great spur of rocks that dips into the
chaparral below?" She illustrated
with the right hand and with the left
carefully held her blue calico skirt
back from the fire.
"Of course" he answered, care
lessly.
Really? Truly?" She spoke
eagerly, yet doubtfully.
Certainly. You have pictured Bear
canyon quite correctly. 1t is over be-
yond that peak where you see a
broken tree standing alone. Why.
what of it?"
Just this: I saw it in my dream
last night; and I'm going to ask you
to go over there and hunt for cave
and"
20, yes, know" anticipating her
recital. Gave, gold, pocket nuggets
in sand ridge, um-wealthy, healthy,
and happy ever after" checking off
with his fingers and ending in a half
trilled bar from a popular mining
song.
well, you'n 60" ignoring the
thrusts.
II think not. In fact, no use to go.
There's no cave there"
"Yes, my dear, there is" confident
y smiling.
''No, Emily, there's no cave in that
canyon. Have some more coffee?" as
ae poured second cup for himself
and set the smoke-blackened coffee
boiler on fresh Goals.
"But, Jim? If / saw the valley cor
rectly in my dream. why should not
[ see the cave correctly, too?" she
persisted.
II agreed to the valley; but to the
,ave-never! Can't explain it. Prob
ably Morpheus took you to his abode
asst night and while you were there
you were cast under some spell that