mine, which we have tramped over for so many years prospecting, will all be levelled off, fenced in, and planted with vines and fruit trees. Yes, they will sure; for people are just now coming from the East, and it won’t be long before you will see railroads running up into all these old deserted mining regions, just as there is soon going to be up into old Hangtown. Just imagine the bell ringing, and the engine whistling as it flies up through the ravines among the hills where we mined in early days. Why, boys, suppose when we were up there to work forty years ago, some of the boys had said that the time would come, and we would live to see it, when these hills and flats would be fenced in, covered with fruit trees and vines, and with nice pleasant homes around in among them, and that a railroad would be built, and a train of cars would be seen rolling up into old Hangtown, too. Why, they would have been called crazy, and the preachers would have been sent for to come and hold an inquest over them.”
As it was now getting late in the day, a few of the old miners who had fruit ranches near by were soon compelled to leave. The five old-timers were making preparations to start for other mining localities. Jeff was on his way to Arizona, having heard of the new mines there. Yank was about starting for the Yukon. Jersey was headed for the Cœur D’Alene silver region, where he was interested in a galena and silver mine, from which he was expecting to realize an immense fortune, whilst Tennessee and Jim had concluded to examine the Kootenai country, in British Columbia. Jeff remarked:
“Well, now, boys, we are soon to part again, each to go his own way, but all determined to continue in the old business of prospecting to the end, unless we strike a pile in time to enjoy a few years before we go, relief from our labor in quiet and comfort down in the big city by the sea.”
“Yes,” says Yank, “and we will continue in this business for all time. And just let the present generation hand it down to their children, and to their children’s children, as well as to all future generations who will make their dwelling places throughout the old mining regions, that those phantoms that are occasionally seen wandering about among the ravines and cañons in the dead hours of night, carrying upon their backs rolls of blankets, as well as an old tin pan, pick and shovel, are only the restless spirits of a few old miners who are, from force of habit, hunting for some spot
WALLACE, IDAHO TERRITORY.