Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-10-25

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for 10 draw his bref. an some fink
he died on dat count. reckon Jas
per's no 'cOuntneSs was lawn in i'm.
an | done druv I'm way for Whist he
couldn't hep
She found excuses 10 talk about him.
He was mighty wlllin' an 'bllcin'
bout some rings" she told a neigh
bor. He'd ten 20 de baby by de
hour. He'd alters carry home de wash
in done 70 de ladies in de town. an.
my. couldn' he play de fiddle heauti
full, Oar ain nobody roun' hear dat
could bring out 'Moneymusk' and he
Swanee Ribber' an gil out'n de way
ole Dan Tucker like Jasper could.
done miss his fiddle a-jiggitiu' away
out on de pooh oh n summer even.
Four months after Jasper's departure
from home stout. travel stained black
man. slightly gray. walked slowly and
YEARLY up the trail leading 10 a new
aud promising Rocky mountain mining
camp.
He carried a little bundle tied up In
a red cotton handkerchief. The out
lines Of a violin could he traced with
in a green cotton bag on his back, and
he gave his name. ut the mouth of a
shaft where he stopped To get drink
Of water, as Jasper Price.
well. old partner" said the man
Ii 81. IF ~
look as II you had walked all the way
from Georgia"
You done struck pretty close to de
trewf. sah." said Jasper ruefully. rs
walked many weary miles oh de way,
an I'd IA done walked de hull of ii EFF
1t hadn't "a been for dis Yer fiddle"
He had heard wild stories of the ease
and quickness with which fortunes
were made in this mining camp, and
In his simplicity he almost expected
to find nuggets of gold and silver I'M
regarded on the streets.
He found quite different state of
things People here had to work hard
for their living. as elsewhere, only the
reward of energy and industry was
perhaps larger and more prompt than
in the older parts of the country.
Jasper could get no farther, and pres
emily he found himself possessed of
some share OF the restless energy OF
the people around him. His dormant
powers seemed to be aroused by the
|. spirit of activity that was in the crisp
and eXhilarating mountain air.
No one could be supiuely idle long in
such place as this great mining
camp. Jasper was soon busy with AK
and saw and hammer, putting up lit
tie cabin for himself on corner lot he
had staked out as his own.
When the cabin was done Jasper
nailed pine board over the door on
which was the one word "LAWnDry.
He could not read or write, but he had
induced an acquaintance among the
miners to paint his sign for him.
In his spasmodic hours of industry
when at home Jasper used to help his
wife with her daily washings aud iron
ings and had in this way acquired
! something of the wonderful skill that
had given her the reputation of being
the finest lauadress in all the country
roundabout her home.
Since Jasper did not know how to dc
anything else, and as there was Il
great demand for the one industry II
which he had some skill, he had re
solved to open laundry.
His success was great and immedi
ate. There were as yet in the cam
very few women, and the prejudice
against Cinnamon was so great that II
was not safe for one of that race Il
come into camp.
Before the end Of the first week Jas
per was so overwhelmed with w0rl
that he hired poor boy who hat
strayed into the camp as an assistant
Another helper was needed early il
the second week and still a third be
fore the month was done.
Jasper had fiOurishing business anC
/ found 1t necessary to enlarge hi
shanty. He developed capacity fcI
business that he himself had neve
suspected.
His industry increased with his sue
cess. There was plenty of money il
the camp, and 1t was not long befor,
Jasper was possessed of ten times N
much money as he had ever seen he
fore. Moreover, his head was not turn
ed by his success.
He had queer habit of going abou
chuckling to himself and saying: :"
mus write lettah one of desc days
for fac, mus. Hi! bet hit'll b,