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themselves were always ready to make up the value of a missing money…
letter and 〃keep the old man's accounts square。〃 To these functions
presently were added the treasurerships of the Masons' and Odd Fellows'
charitable funds；the old man being far advanced in their respective
degrees；and even the position of almoner of their bounties was super…
added。 Here； unfortunately； Daddy's habits of economy and avaricious
propensity came near making him unpopular； and very often needy
brothers were forced to object to the quantity and quality of the help
extended。 They always met with more generous relief from the private
hands of the brothers themselves； and the remark； 〃that the ol' man was
trying to set an example；that he meant well；〃and that they would yet be
thankful for his zealous care and economy。 A few； I think； suffered in
noble silence； rather than bring the old man's infirmity to the public notice。
And so with this honor of Daddy and Mammy； the days of the miners
were long and profitable in the land of the foot…hills。 The mines yielded
their abundance； the winters were singularly open and yet there was no
drouth nor lack of water； and peace and plenty smiled on the Sierrean
foothills； from their highest sunny upland to the trailing falda of wild oats
and poppies。 If a certain superstition got abroad among the other camps；
connecting the fortunes of Rough… and…Ready with Daddy and Mammy； it
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was a gentle； harmless fancy； and was not； I think； altogether rejected by
the old people。 A certain large； patriarchal； bountiful manner； of late
visible in Daddy； and the increase of much white hair and beard； kept up
the poetic illusion； while Mammy； day by day； grew more and more like
somebody's fairy godmother。 An attempt was made by a rival camp to
emulate these paying virtues of reverence； and an aged mariner was
procured from the Sailor's Snug Harbor in San Francisco； on trial。 But the
unfortunate seaman was more or less diseased； was not always presentable；
through a weakness for ardent spirits； and finally； to use the powerful
idiom of one of his disappointed foster…children； 〃up and died in a week；
without slinging ary blessin'。〃 But vicissitude reaches young and old
alike。 Youthful Rough…and… Ready and the Saints had climbed to their
meridian together； and it seemed fit that they should together decline。
The first shadow fell with the immigration to Rough…and…Ready of a
second aged pair。 The landlady of the Independence Hotel had not abated
her malevolence towards the Saints； and had imported at considerable
expense her grand…aunt and grand…uncle； who had been enjoying for some
years a sequestered retirement in the poorhouse at East Machias。 They
were indeed very old。 By what miracle； even as anatomical specimens；
they had been preserved during their long journey was a mystery to the
camp。 In some respects they had superior memories and reminiscences。
The old manAbner Trixhad shouldered a musket in the war of 1812； his
wife； Abigail； had seen Lady Washington。 She could sing hymns； he
knew every text between 〃the leds〃 of a Bible。 There is little doubt but
that in many respects； to the superficial and giddy crowd of youthful
spectators； they were the more interesting spectacle。
Whether it was jealousy； distrust； or timidity that overcame the Saints；
was never known； but they studiously declined to meet the strangers。
When directly approached upon the subject； Daddy Downey pleaded
illness； kept himself in close seclusion； and the Sunday that the Trixes
attended church in the school…house on the hill； the triumph of the Trix
party was mitigated by the fact that the Downeys were not in their
accustomed pew。 〃You bet that Daddy and Mammy is lying low jest to
ketch them old mummies yet；〃 explained a Downeyite。 For by this time
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schism and division had crept into the camp； the younger and later
members of the settlement adhering to the Trixes； while the older pioneers
stood not only loyal to their own favorites； but even； in the true spirit of
partisanship； began to seek for a principle underlying their personal
feelings。 〃I tell ye what； boys；〃 observed Sweetwater Joe； 〃if this yer
camp is goin' to be run by greenhorns； and old pioneers； like Daddy and
the rest of us； must take back seats； it's time we emigrated and shoved out；
and tuk Daddy with us。 Why； they're talkin' of rotation in offiss； and of
putting that skeleton that Ma'am Decker sets up at the table； to take her
boarders' appetites away； into the post… office in place o' Daddy。〃 And；
indeed； there were some fears of such a conclusion； the newer men of
Rough…and…Ready were in the majority； and wielded a more than equal
influence of wealth and outside enterprise。 〃Frisco；〃 as a Downeyite
bitterly remarked； 〃already owned half the town。〃 The old friends that
rallied around Daddy and Mammy were； like most loyal friends in
adversity； in bad case themselves； and were beginning to look and act； it
was observed； not unlike their old favorites。
At this juncture Mammy died。
The sudden blow for a few days seemed to reunite dissevered Rough…
and…Ready。 Both factions hastened to the bereaved Daddy with
condolements； and offers of aid and assistance。 But the old man received
them sternly。 A change had come over the weak and yielding
octogenarian。 Those who expected to find him maudlin； helpless；
disconsolate； shrank from the cold； hard eyes and truculent voice that bade
them 〃begone；〃 and 〃leave him with his dead。〃 Even his own friends
failed to make him respond to their sympathy； and