Year: 1871

rods from the door, roared in a manner which
told of their fast gathering strength


" This is a sweet Old place for man to be in
on New Years Eve, solloquized Jake, who,
like men generally who are much alone, had con-
tracted habit of talking to himself. "Its
just as good though after all, as to be down
town. What's Christmas or New Year more
than any other day to a fellow in the mines ?
Let me find that lead once that the Fleming bows
had and I'll get to civilized country, quicker" 4"


Oh, ho, Mr.. Morton. SO its the search for
lost lead that keeps you a resident of Iumbug
Well, we know great many miners who have
hunted for pay-streak that somebody had in
former years, but its not very often they find
it.


His eyes wandered sleepily around until they
again rested on the old shovel in the corner.


You've been a pretty good shovel in your
day." said Jake, apostrophizing the battered
tool. You've helped me work out the best
spot ever found in the Gulch. ia like to find
another spot like that"


"What good would it do you?" returned the
shovel, which seemed to take on some semblance
to a human form and advance toward him.


Jake started from his seat at hearing the shov-
ell address him so curtly. But the shovel was sit
ting just as he had left it, and he settled back
in the old chair again.


"Steamboatedogain, - muttered jake "though
could almost swear it spoke to me- But it's
as big humbug as the Gulch itself"


There was no mistake that this time the shovel
did walk out of its corner, and slipped in be-
tween Jake and the fire.


$50. You think Pm humbug, do you?
Well, since we are Oh lIumbug and on humbugs,
what are y0u, sir?"


The idea Of an old fire shovel walking about
the room and punning in this manner was too
much for him he couldn't answer a word.


You're an Nrrant humbug, yourself, Jake
Norton" said the shovel answering its own
question. "And now want you to tell me what
good it would do you to find another good spot2'


ara go back home, responded Jake


"Fudge Why DIDN'T you go when you had
finished working the first spot?'


Jake couldn't form suitable answer, SO the
shovel answered for him again:


lou were too proud to do it. You thought
you might be laughed at if you came back from
this golden land with few hundred dollars
on would be just the same way again. You're
a pretty good fellow, Jake, and generally mean
well, but you've got your faults, and must get
rid of them. You must tomorrow, commence
with the New Year, and turn over new leaf.


Jake did not know whether to be angry or not,
at being talked to in such plain language But
he wisely concluded he could make nothing by
quarreling with the old blade, so he held his
peace.


" You went to town on Christmas Day and
took nine dollars with you. You bought ham
and some little things besides, and came back
broke. How did you spend your money!


Jake was ashamed to answer. But his com
panion seemed to read his thoughts and answer
ed for him as usual.


"Tll tell you, Jacob. You bought a rattle
ticket for something that you couldn t have used
if you had won it. Then you fell in with some
of your old chummies and treated them. To
wind up with, you played a few games of cards
for the drinks, and came home without cent"


Jake felt that he could not dispute word
that was said


"And Pm sorry to say, Jacob, that this fault
cal games just to pass away time. Now, you
think that glass of liquor occasionally does you
good. In this way you squander enough every
year to take you back to your old hOme where
loving eyes grow dim watching for your return.
Look to the East"


Jacob turned his eyes in the direction indi-
Gated and looked upon a scene which brought
his heart to his lips. 1t seemed as though the
broad expanse Of mountain, hill and plain which
stretched between him and his former home had
been leveled down, and while every landmark
Of the long and tedious road which he had tray
eed years before was marked down with photo
graphic mnuteness yet space seemed to be an
and he could look into the old farm
house of his parents as easily as if he were stand
ing by the kitchen window 1t was familiar
scene to him and one which he had often recalled
in imagination-an old couple seated by the ta-
ble-the old man reading aloud from newspa-
per, while his wife piled the knitting-needloa.


AS Jacob looked, the old man laid down the
paper and taking off his spectaces, drew his
chair nearer the fire. For n few moments there
was silence, broken only by the click of ,he



If Jacob was only with us tonight" said
the old man, half to himself and half to his com
panion.


The knitting work fell into her lap and as
she bent her head over it the tears flowed silently
upon it. Poor boy" she said at last, " was
thinking of him all day"


8" It's nigh onto fifteen years since he left us,
wife, " said the old man, after little. " lie
was only to be gone three years, and it has
stretched out to this time.


"It's not his fault that he hasn come, ! II be .
bound, said the mother, coming at once to the