"This is the man of whom we read,
Who left Deadwood for the big stampede;
He's now returned all tattered and torn,
By looking for gold on the Big Horn.
He has no malt,

He has no cat,
He has no coat,

He has no hat,

His trousers patched with an old flour-sack,
With for family use' to be seen on the back;
His beard is slaggy, his hair is long,
And this is the burden of his song:

If ever I hear, if ever I read,
Of another great or big stampede,
I'll listen, but I'll take no heed,
But stay in my cabin at Deadwood.
Her brother Bill is going away;

He wants me to go, but I think I'll stay;
He paid me ten dollars the other day
For a mule to go on the stampede.

He packed his load in half an hour,

Two gallons of whisky, one pound of flour.
He bought a shovel

And borrowed a pick;

He sported his watch

And went on tick

For a side of bacon and a can of lard,
Now look at his fate! my! isn't it hard?
He walked all day and most of the night,
And now he is back a sorrowful sight,
To the cabin he built in Deadwood.
Now, boys, be steady and stay at home

Where you have got a good thing, you need not roam.
For most reports are froth and foam,
That come in from the stampede.
Deadwood, Whitewood, Golden Gate,
Potato Creek, Gold-Run, all are great,
Ten cents to the pan at any rate,
Is better than a stampede.

Leave not your friends or girl behind,
For how do you know what you may find?

When you return with Bill or John,

What's been done since you've been gone:
Your girl not here,

The air is light,

With your friend

She took her flight;

Not caring for the love forlorn

Who now returns all tattered and torn
Bringing no gold from the Big-Horn
To the girl he left in Deadwood."

A miner thus describes his boarding house in the Camp:

The beefsteak is of leather,

And the pies are made of tin;

The bread you could not cut it with a sword,

The butter wears side whiskers,

The coffee is very thin,

In the little one-horse hash-house
Where I board.

About the liberality of the miner the following story is to the point :

A certain gentleman, whose name for obvious reasons is not mentioned, was out through these hills prospecting, dressed in gentlemanly garb, and with the dignified yet gentle bearing that is his. At a certain point the stage upset, not an uncommon occurrence, but quite a startling one. Mr. distinguished himself by his utter silence under the trying circumstances and by the gallantry with which he assisted the ladies of the party. been straightened up again a red-shirted been watching the Chicago capitalist said to him: "Stranger, will you take a drink?" at the same time producing an old flask.

After all had miner who had

"Thank you," was the courteous reply, "I don't drink."

The miner subsided for a moment, and then taking out a villainous looking cigar, said, “Well, "Well, pard, will you have a smoke?"

"I appreciate your kindness, sir," said Mr." but I rarely use tobacco, and do not care to smoke at present." The miner looked surprised. Presently they all alighted and partook of dinner in a rude frontier eating-house at $1

a meal. When Mr.

came to settle, the clerk astonished him by saying. "The bill is paid; that party over yonder fixed it." Our townsman looked across at the covered porch, and there sat his friend the miner, tilted back in his chair, complacently smoking his big cigar. He stepped up to him with the word: "My friend, I understood that you have paid my bill. Now, I am very much obliged to you, but I have a little money of my own, and am perhaps much better able to settle the bill than you are yourself, and I insist upon paying it."

"No, you don't, pardner," broke out he of the red shirt, "we don't have much religion out this way, but I want you to understand that when a gospel sharp comes along we know how to treat him white?"

And the Chicago ex-drygoods man had to submit to being taken for a preacher.

A wedding in early days is thus described by an eye witness:

About an hour before the ceremony was to take place the correspondent, accompanied by a leading citizen of the place was sent to the justice of the peace's cabin and found him poring over a large volume of the statutes of the territory, sweating like a horse, and looking terribly anxious. After greeting the callers he said: "The galoots that got up these yer laws hadn't gumption 'nough to last 'em ov'r night. I've run through this der blamed book an can't find a dod blasted word erbout matermony, an' how the hitching process is proceeded with. I've j'st to put the clamps on the couple, hit or miss, an' if I don't yoke them up legerly I can't help it." "Oh," said I, "do the best you can. Any kind of ceremony will do in this part of the country for no one will question the legality of the thing. I will post you as well as I can."

I explained to him how he should proceed, and the old man thought finally that he could worry through it. Ere long the couple appeared, followed by a crowd of the citizens of the camp. The candidates then stood up before the old judge, who, putting up all the airs he could command, to show

་

"Feller

his dignity, said in the most solemn manner: citersen, this yar man and this yar woman have appeared before this court to be hitched in the legal bonds of wedlock. If any galoot in the mob knows of anything that will block the game ef tuk to a higher court, let him toot his bazoo or else keep his jaw to himself now and forever more. All in favor of me proceeding as authorized by law, say 'I.'" Everybody said, "I." "Contrary,' No.'" Nobody said "No." "The motion is carried unanimously an' the court rules that there ha'nt been nut'ing to prevent the court from tryin' the case. Grip your fins." The candidates join hands.

"Amos Peabody, do you solemnly sw'ar thet you'll freeze to Maudy Thomas forever and ever? Thet ye'll love 'er and pervide fer 'er and treat 'er square and white, according to the rules and regulations sot down to g'vern sich cases in the laws of the United States, so help ye God?"

"Yes, sir, I do sir."

"That fixes yer end of the bargain.

Maudy Thomas, will ye solemnly sw'ar thet ye'll hang on to Amos Peabody for all comin' time? Thet ye'll be to him a good, true, honest, up an' up wife, under the penalties prescribed by law fer sich cases, in an' for this territory; do ye sw'ar this, so help ye God?"

66

I swear, I will."

"Then by the power in me vested as justice of the peace, in an' for this precinct, I announce ye, Amos Peabody an' ye, Maudy Thomas, wife an' husband, and legalize ye to remain as sich fer ever an' evermore; an' ye'll stand committed till the fees and costs in the case be paid in full, an' may God have mercy on yer souls, an' bless this yer union with his heftiest blessing."

The fees were adjusted and after the congratulations of the assembly the newly made husband and wife departed for their new home up the creek where they are happily living together.

A similar wedding occurred soon after before another

justice of the peace. He had been accustomed to draw up deeds, wills, and little else, when called upon to perform the marriage ceremony. When the parties appeared before him he addressed them thus:

"Hats off in presence of the court." The hats being removed he continued: "Hold up your right hand." It was done." You, John Marker, do you solemnly swear to the best of your knowledge and belief, that you take this woman to have and to hold for yourselves, your heirs, executors, administrators and assignees, for your and their use and benefit forever?"

"I do," answered the groom promptly.

"You, Alice Ever, do you take this your man for your husband to have and to hold forever, and do you solemnly swear that you are lawfully seized in fee simple and free from all incumbrances, and have good right to so bargain and convey to said grantee, yourself, your heirs, administrators, and assignees?"

"I, I do," said the bride doubtfully.

"Well, that there is worth a dollar and fifty cents." "Are we married?" asked the bride.

"Yes; know all men by these presents that I, being in good health and of sound mind and disposition, in consideration of a dollar and fifty cents, to me in hand duly paid and the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do and by these presents have declared you man and wife during your good behavior or until otherwise ordered by this court."

CHAPTER IV.

Myth of the Scythians.

LEGENDS.

As the Scythians say, theirs is the most recent of all nations, and it arose in the following manner: The first man that appeared in their country, which was then a wilderness, was named Targitans; that he