Show the pro prospector and his burro by will C higgins this is one of the neatest and most inviting little camps I 1 have hava been in for many moons said the prospector to his burro it is not only prosperous but it has that refining atmosphere that is only noticeable when there is one or more good women around and believe me I 1 have always found that when men are working with their wives and children near them that they do better work and drink and spree less while in such a camp a school house is to be found and more regard is taken of the sabbath and its observances and I 1 have always observed that whenever calico is in evidence profanity is less prevalent while the masculine element will don a boiled shirt at least once a week give the camp barber a run for his white alley and will spend a few dollars in candy and lemonade instead of pushing it over the bar all of I 1 1 which has an uplifting effect on the camp t r and makes it inviting for strangers who have the long green to invest in mines and 1 in town lots 1 fly you OU say continued the prospector prospect orp that you have been associated mostly with men but ut that it is really a picnic for you when you can get where there are women and children for then you can do any old thing without getting much of a calling down and that you begin to feel quite spiritual and angelic when you can mope along with two or three kids on your back which feeling you are led to believe means that your character is undergoing the refining process which would admit you to really good society if you could continue such association for a year or two but what you have to say has nothing to do with the story I 1 was about to relate regarding a man and his wife who made good out in the dooly mountains some ten or twelve years ago after enduring hardships that would break the spirit of an outlaw broncho at the time I 1 speak of I 1 was prospecting along the course of cincan creek in the dooly range and had pitched my camp for the night near a little spring that trickled off into the underbrush as modestly and as shyly as a hayseed couple taking their first osculation if you know what that means and my whole surroundings were of the most agreeable airee able nature as I 1 had plenty of grub good blankets and had met with no unpleasant incidents during the day it was well along in the evening and I 1 was enjoying my pipe after a good meat meal when I 1 chanced to look across the gulch to the mountain trail that led over the divide and was surprised to see a woman coming down carrying a man in her arms she would walk a few rods and then stop for a rest as if very tired and weary you can believe me or not just as you please but it did not take me long to reach her side and then I 1 heard a tale that was pitiable and illustrative of the heroism and loyalty of women it seems that the womans comans husband had been developing a prospect up the canyon near the divide and that the wife woman that she was had been with him for months cheering him along and helping in every way possible to begin with they had only a few hundred dollars and this had all been expended for powder and supplies while her husband was pushing work in the tunnel the woman would perform what little housework there was to do about the rude shack they called their home do the washing scout around for wood and then go up to the tunnel and muck out while her husband polished off the head of a drill for six months they had labored together in this bashi fashion on she cheering him on when the last stick of powder was reached and the supplies were down to low ebb the man was discouraged and wanted to quit but she would not listen to such a pr proposition opposition and being as game as she was pretty and good she walked ten miles to the nearest camp mid and pawned liev her wedding ri ring ng and a bracelet tira celet for a few sticks of dynamite a few candles and a few pou pounds ads of provisions during her absence her husband put in another round of holes and the powder came just in the nick of time for i a blast for it was late in the afternoon but for some reason not very clear one of the shots went off before the man could make his getaway with the result that one of his legs was broken and his side badly injured the woman who was just getting supper after her long and tiresome t 1 re ome walk rushed to the tunnel which she entered dispute the smoke and fumes and finding him alive but unable to walk dragged and carried him to the cabin where she examined and bound up his injuries as best she could then brave girl that she was she started to carry him to the nearest settlement for there was danger of his bleeding to death you can bet your sweet life that I 1 lost no time in rendering her what assistance I 1 could and lifting him to the back of my burro we had but little difficulty in getting him to the nearest settlement where he had the best of medical attendance that could be procured within a month he was able to return to the mine employing a good saddle horse this ame time I 1 went with him and so did his wife after supper we all went up to the tunnel the man using a cane and leaning on the shoulder of his devoted wife we did not expect to seq see much but a lot of muck and I 1 sure was dumfounded dum founded when upon examination I 1 found that the last shot had broken into a vein that was so pretty and nice that it might well be entered into a beauty contest for it was all quartz and spattered spatter edall aai over with the yellow metal just then I 1 though it best for me to retire and whan when the man and his wife finally came out their eyes were streaming with tears of gladness and happiness I 1 have about finished my pipe and shall soon turn in but I 1 feel that I 1 must tell you that the mine turned out to be a bonanza and that ever since the couple have been living in luxury the man always after claiming that but for the woman he would have quit long before the ledge was struck even if he had had plenty of provisions visions and supplies and she noble woman that she was mildly asserting that she had always teen been confident that the ore was there but in my mind mina I 1 have always given the woman the credit of the discovery and shall always maintain that the man when he found and won her had secured a treasure more valuable than gold rubies or diamonds 1 I want to tell you old long ears el ars concluded the prospector 1 I always like a camp or a mine where there is a good woman around her presence is always refining and means good goo d cheer while the encouragement coura gement she gives will always spur the and to the final men on to greater effort accomplishment of the object sought for they are not as strong as a man physically but their courage is greater their patience more enduring and th their air inspiration more far reaching and there you are and then some |