The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-16
A LYRIC OF THE WAsATCH

story which the verses HHluy"'
poem is an amplifcation of Mr. Lam
bourne 5 first ca ST Of tbe story, and this,
its final form, IL exceedingly tne. l ne
reader scarce knows which most 10 ad-
mire the entrancing description or the
charms Of the heroine or the grace
ful vigor in which the virlle qualities
of her lover arc set forth, or the
majestic descriptions of the glories
af The Wasatch and the rerrorlnsplr-
Ing storms and crashing snowsldes that
are sucn mighty activities ot the
rugged. overmastering heights. The
setting is the telling of Christmas
story by An old miner who is taking
his ease. but whose remem 6ranse OF the
old scenes in the hills is clear and
his power of narration great The
narrator had formed partnership with
Joe. for prospecting purposes, and their
,shin on the mountain side is thus. de-
scribed:
Our Home-that is our Goblin. JOS and
mine,
Stood in q hollow near the mountain top;
Where massive walls the blue sky seemed
A stern. bleak. strange. a lonely place
From whence down looking one could dis
The far-sunk canyon and Iedees damp
That sloped toward the little mining
sab5ylonish pile al one end rose
On which lay through the year the spiral
And at the other. lichened richly messed.
inlaid by natures hand. all Wild up
mass Of terraces did steeply lean.
While tumbled debris lay these heights
And higher stu the hoary mountain
passed
slcached into gray. but marked with min
eral stain
The source of which It was our hope TO
gain.
SO thus we tunneled and did slow pro-
coed.
Striving from day to day 10 reach 'the
Across the debris lay zis-zag track
our feet had made in climbing up and
back
And tween our claim and cabin, lost
A mountain lake lay cold. and dark, and
deep.
To this home came Plet, with her
father, riding ioyously: and they were
made welcome. Plet being a beauty, as
once sees from the verse, to wit:
And Plet-for later SO we found her
The very idol of the camp became,
roguish. wIlful tomboy. sparkling girl.
AS ever set a lovers brain awhirl.
Full OF all tricks. yet gold without alloy.
The pride Of all. and all her fathers Joy.
That day We heard how she her pet
name earned.
"You see her father said. in merry
mood.
While Plet sought quick our glauces TO
elude,
"'rwas This way" here her face he
I'VE found it well TO cut your name in
TWO.
Yes. darling, In those days that now are
we Pretty called you. Plctty your lips
said.
AS Pretty were YOU, 'Pletty' YOU be-
And soon wonld answer 10 no other name,
But In good time the 'Pletty' came 10
'Plct
The name We christened you / half forget.
This hair OF brown was then ali golden
curls.
Ere you had grown most naughty Of all
Before this time. when you all care repay,
with wicked guIles that turn my old
head gray.
Then Plet INDUCED in charming smile
That she was "papa's darling" none
could doubt.
golden letter saved from vanished page.
She promised solace OF his closing years,
A hope that came from out time oil
or children born 10 him the first and last
The image of her weIl-loved mother
passed.
Such PIet-whose noble. sympathetic
Had others caused 10 live better part
A pctticoa ted, pranksome, daring scamp
The dainty hoyden of a mining camp.
Joe. the young partner, was enrap
fured with her at once, and was worthy
Of her,
10 was pure-minded He possessed
That kept him always from the low an'
II ugly vice and sin upon him frowned
With head erect he flrmly held hi
When siren Pleasure spread her silkel
He was not caught. nor made con
science debt.
They found he was not of their kind
Who sought the brotheI. drink-shor
gambling den.
No roodytgoody-it was known at lengt
His action came from courage and iron
strength,
HIS virtues were NOT oi the meaner KING
They came from purity and clean de
No lack of passions strong nor mani
fires.
Their oye-making went on apace. ur
iii the crisis came, in snowslide, tn
old man describing In these fine lines
Crash, crash" crash,! God. wha
awful rear,
II bursts upon my hearing ever more
i rush. q fury; sudden bitter cold.
Confusion utter on my senses rolled:
rendiuR. grinding; hiss OF sliding snow
Enormous mixing OF dread sounds below
AZ though OF earthly things IL told I'll
last
Like trump Of doom 1t seemed to rend ii
sky.
And turn the brain TO numbness-
Where was ]?
Half stunned ! sat bolt upright In m
bunk.
Ms head swan round as IL had hee
drunk
Tho sudden noise had ended. all ws
stll.
And vet a tremor did The darkness III
our lamp still burned. red spot in "
gloom.
But all was chill and silent as the tom
] WAS too daZed, too lost To understan
Yet felt the snow drift on my face ar
hand.
But after the blind fury Of the resis
less crash came warmth and ioy apai
AS the poem fully and ftly describes.
Here is vivid word picture of III
terror Of the hills;
Crash, crash! orash.!! \ heavy. thunde
Gus sound.
Re-echoed from the snowclad mountai