The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-04-25

them who did not have made from
Montana gold some bit of jeweler' s
work, for mother, wife, sweet
heart, or sister. These generally
took the form of rings. do not
know who designed them, whoever
it was showed little originality in his
treatment, as they were much alike,
but all we're held to be of the highest
form of art, by the uncritical miners;
and many of them were really beau
tiful.
The favorite design was bunch
of grapes and leaves in different
colored gold, next to this was a rose,
| the flower, but no leaves. A tiny
ring, with the latter decoration, was
given to my little sister, by Frank
Worden, of Missoula, who was an in
innate friend of my father.
Besides rings, but more uncom-
mon, were brooches. They were
round, and a little over an inch
across, with a raised rim of polished
gold. Within this was wreath of
grape leaves and grapes, encircled
by chain of gold. The leaves of
the wreath were of a lighter shade
of gold than the stems, or the chain
and rim. 1t was a good piece of
workmanship. OF these brooches,
have known of but threee. One of
these belonged to Mrs. Nathaniel
Merriman; one to Mrs. Wilbur F.
Sanders, and the third, given to my
mother, is now my treasured possess
sion.
There were stories connected with
the ring gifts, that were tragic or
comic as one CHANGED to read them.
One of these was of a professional
mana kindly, gentle soul-who had
become engaged to a very young
maiden shortly before coming to Mon
tana. He loved to tell of his wooing
or being wooed-to any one who
would listen to him; and it was a
common knowledge that he wrote to
his inamorata every day, forming a
bulky letter which he dispatched once
a week.
One summer, although he knew
nothing of mining, this men spent in
prospecting, and found enough gold
to make one of the rings I have de-
scribed, and to pay it's expressage
east. Then the community awaited,
in breathless suspense, the denoue-
ment of the story. 1t came in two in
stallments. The first told of the safe
arrival of the ring for which the dom
or was thanked. The next brought |
the news of the marriage of the girl
to the other fellow. A vast amount |
of sentiment, several months work,
and little good hard gold-Montana |
gold-had been thrown away on a |
faithless woman. The only comfort
ing thought was that the discarded !
lover discovered her character before, |
instead of after marriage.
While many mined to have their
gold made into rings, chains or
brooches, there was one instance of |
some of these being dug up already
| have mentioned my little sister,
then but six years old. One day in
summer, she, together with girl of
the same age, was playing near the |
corner of our house. Like other chill
dren they were initiative, and mag
ined they were mining. Diligently
they turned up the soil with sticks,
instead of picks, when they we're de-
lighted to find a large gold nugget. /
4 hlo OnSOul o6Cu LlCh " NOhIiAuc
their work, with surprising results, as
hey brought to the surface more mug
gets, pair of gold cuff links, heavy
gold chain, and several other articles
Of value.
The children carried what they
found, into the house, and showed
them to my father, who at once made
inquiries to discover how these riches
came to be buried where they were
discovered. He found the rightful
owner at last, who proved beyond
doubt his claim to them. He had
been robbed, it seemed, while living
n the house we later occupied, but
ne could not understand why the
.hief buried his loot, instead of try
ng to realize on it. On regaining
lis possessions, the owner gave one
If the large nuggets to my sister
he remembered as generous
y, the other little girl, doubt, and
The was equally deserving of reward.