Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1908-01-24
New Mexico Never Gets Left

been carried around by a prospectol
in the Mogollon mountains during al
these years and is worn and yellow
with age. The following is the clipping
as it originally appeared:
A LEGEND.
/ WRITTEN BY ICON"
(The Enterprise takes pleasure ir
presenting a poem this week from the
pen of gifted unknown" at Black
| Hawk. In sparkling witicisms amalga-
mated with sarcasm it photographs the
inside character Of the average pros
pector in as strong light as was ever
depicted by the steel pen of truth.
Had it been written by Bret Harte OF
Will Carleton it would undoubtedly re-
ceive the recognition it so justly de-
serves from the press. AS it is, the
Enterprise opines that it will "go the
rounds" in the mining journals Of the
west.
One morning Saint Peter, upa the rate
Of Paradise safe, quite disconsolate;
And oe'r his brow, serene and benign,
There came an unwonted shadow of
of pain;
For Of late, in the course Of events
CELESTIAL,
There had come check, from spirits
terrestrial;
And about the trouble that oppressed
his soul
shall bend me to speak, in this quite
homely scroll.
OF late had been waited from 'Eterni-
TVS brink j..
Some spirits of mortals who'd been Kill
led, think,
BY a rowing society of murderous
Apaches-
Who, of all Government wards, are the
worst attaches
And among those spirits from down
below,
Came from Arizona, the land of no
snow,
Two miners. or prospectors. whose
spirits were rife
With the passions and longings of this
earthly life.
For as soon as they passed thro' the
'Gates Ajar,'
And mingled with those who delight,
from afar,
To look on the glories of that heaven
ly place.
They were filled with the greed of the
worldly race;
And their eyes were dazzled by the
glorious sight
OF the golden streets and their lamps
of light.
Which shone upon riches ne'er dreamt
of before.
And Immediately they wondered,
whence came all the ore?"
SO without more ado, with their picks
and shovel,
Through the principal streets they were
raising the ID,
In sinking and drifting, and stripping
the roads,
Seeking for ledges, deposits and lodes,
And thus in desire to develop the
place,
They rendered the streets Of very
rough face,
SO thro' any Of them it was quite hard
to pass;
And this was the cause Of Saint Pet
er'sdistress
And 10! as he sat, with his head on his
hand,
A spirit was waited to that heavenly
land;
And after scraping about and bending
quite low,
informed the great angel he was from
New Mexico;
But Peter abruptly said too him, "Be-
gone!
/ have already two miners from wild
Arizon,
Who have already caused so much
trouble and woe,
That | don't think | want one from
New Mexico"
Now, puzzled and worried. and "sore
distrait,
This prospector fingered around the
gate,
Til at length bright thought shot
into his head.
(Tis strange it didn't burst it) and JOY
full he said:
"Oh. thou! who art this camps most
prominent man,
If you'll listen a spell. I'll tell you
plan j.
Whereby. with the greatest Of ease. If
I on can Hre tneSe TWO men, 70 youf
life such tease.
I'll you'll go to their work, andto them
yo do tell
That you've heard there is quite an ex-
element in hell;
And that thousands are focking to that
awful rich strike,
Well-if they do not go. do with me as
you like" :.
The deal struck old Saint Peter as good,
And 18th quick steps he went, as fast
as he could,
To the "hole" they were sinking -as
deep as we'll
And told them about that excitement
in hell.
! Well, before he bad time to tell al