Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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Buried Gold Xat Sims was sleeping peacefully under the spreading branches of a gigantic oak. a species of tree very abundant on his farm. His parched but . keen, face wore a smile of content, as he sat there dreaming, no one knows what, perhaps of wheat. But at any rate the dream was sufficiently pleasant to hold him in the thralldom of sleep in spite of an aggravating fly which persisted in using Xat’s bald head as a maneuvering ground. His lanky body swayed back and forth with the regularity of a clock pendulum, his head almost striking the trunk of the tree hut always missing by the same miraculous intervention of fate. 11 is slumber was. however, broken by the loud neighing of a pair of horses attached to a wagon standing on the roadside, passing the corner of the farm. He arose, yawned, and stretched himself as lie saw his neighbor. Bill Perkins, approaching. Well.” said Perkins, have you been enjoying a little nap? A pause and then Perkins resumed. Wa-all. tain't no harm to sleep on a hot day like this. Xo it ain't,” Xat acquiesced with a yawn. Sit down and make yourself at home. The caller accepted the invitation and seated himself on the bench. Xat. he began, vour boy came round this morning and said ye wanted to see me. A cs. was the answer. Bill, 1 have something very important ter tell ye. Now before I begin. I want ye ter promise not ter tell nobody 'bout this unless I tell ye to. 1 promise. All right. Listen. Bill, there's— there’s— he arose and gazed cautiously about the place, there's gold buried on this farm.” Gold. exclaimed William Perkins, who had never come nearer to the actu ality of a gold mine than pictures of the Klondvke region. Real gold? 'A cs. real gold, and lots of it. Piles and piles of it. Is that so! Mow did you know, Xat? How d'ye find it out? Well, I'll tell you. he said, the other day while digging a ditch my pick struck something very hard. I investigated, and what ye think! I found a pot full of gold. Wa-al I declare! ‘A cs. a pot full of gold. But inside this here pot was a note, not written on paper, but on soft leather. I tried my best ter make it out but 1 couldn't-I showed the note round town, but no body could read it until I showed it ter that city feller at the hotel. He said it was Spanish and that it was written by some of them explorers who were through this country a hundred or two hundred years ago. This note said that several hundred pots of treasure were buried by some Spanish general and that the owner would return ter claim it. So 1 took the gold ter the city, and put it in the hank and sold the note to a curio shop. Wa’al, this certain’v is the beaten-est I ever heard. “Yes, it is. But now. Bill, the reason I called ye is this: 1 want to dig fer the gold, but I ain’t got the money to pay for the labor. Xow I can get labor for nothing upon condition that I give them a share of the gold. But instead of giving it ter strangers. 1 might as well give it to mv friends and neighbors. fer whom I’ve alius had the kindest regards. Oh—I understand. Ye want me to come and help dig fer the gold. “That’s it exactly! But I want not only you. but all my neighbors. Man. I want ver ter go 'round, tell-

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Surprises Mildred leisurely sat down in the Pullman of the New York Limited, calmly removed her hat and gloves and opened her suit case to take from it one of the latest novels and a box of candy. Everything was ready for her to enjoy the trip all by herself. Hut she thought she would stroll back to get a drink and see if anv one she knew was in the car. As she departed for the cooler, she sent a wistful glance toward a winning youth with dreamy brown eyes, broad shoulders, and good looking clothes, who had been watching her. He, for his part, was musing. “How in this world am I to meet her? Ye are both alone and it would be fine to have a chat.” Quick as a flash, he jumped to her quarters to see if he could find her name anywhere on her belongings. It was of no avail, for Mildred was returning. He. went back to his scat with an expression of guileless innocence on his face. For a while. Mildred read studiously until the voice of the conductor disturbed her. 'I’ickets, please. Certainly. in a minute. It was a long minute, for she ransacked her suit case, purse, and vanity box several times. “Oh! what shall I do? I had it in mv hand a minute ago.” she cried in dismay. All that I can say is that you'll have to pay your fare.” said the master of the situation. Mildred’s excited glance traveled over the car and seemed to rest a moment on the young man with brown eyes. “But I haven’t the money. Can’t you wait till— The young man across the aisle leaned over. “Pardon me. but 1 don’t like to see the young lady annoyed. If she will permit me, I will lend her a ticket. I purchased one to New York for my sister, and at the last minute she was unable to go. No. no. 1 couldn’t—but then. I guess I might, as Father can repay you. And you can’t use it. can you?” I'he conductor passed on and things were again quiet. Mildred lay back in her chair, smiling mischievously, then, yielding to a sudden impulse, she leaned over and said. “Are you fond of candy ?” Extremely so. replied the young man. “1 was a perfect beast. 1 forgot to thank you for the service you rendered-W hat would I have done! “Well, please don’t worry in the least about that. It was very little to do. You know I go to Washington Seminary and I have been anticipating these two weeks of social life. I am to be maid-of-honor to Ruth Nelson. For months I have heard ami read nothing but descriptions of the man she is to marry, 1 think that I would know Joe Wilson, anywhere. Her companion blushed and looked out of the window. “Oh. you don’t sav so! No. I have not said so. Well. I don’t see why I didn’t know you at first. You arc just like all her descriptions. 'I'he time flew by. and all too soon, they rolled into the Grand Central station. Mildred hurriedly opened her purse, saying. 1 must give you the money for my ticket. “Oh! now don’t let that enter your mind. But it seems to me. if I remem ber right, you said you didn’t have a cent. Well. sir. you told one, too. because you said it was your sister’s ticket, and I saw vou take mine from the window sill” Mary Wagner. 11.

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ing friends about this, but don't ye dare tell a stranger. Well. I reckon I’ve got more sense then ter do sech a thing as that! ejaculated Perkins, a little wounded by the reflection on his ability to keep his mouth shut. “I want ye to tell them about it and ask them ter come round tomorrow night about twelve o'clock with pick and shovel.” Well, ye see we couldn’t afford to dig in day time fer that would be liable to rouse suspicions.” Ye’re right. Now I’m goin’ immediately and tell them what you said. iood-byc.” “Good-bye,” ami the men gave each other a hearty handshake. “We’ll be here tomorrow night. shouted Perkins waving his hand from the wagon- “Good-bye. Prother Perkins.” shouted Sims, and then took his place on the bench, yawned and stretched himself, again offering an invitation to the pesky flv to resume his operations. ()n the night of the following day at the specified hour a person passing through that section of the country might have seen men carrying picks and shovels, cautiously creeping through the woods and along the paths leading to the farm of Nat Sims, the great philanthropist, who so kindly bestowed the benefits of his new-found fortune on his brethren and neighbors. (hie by one these treasure seekers entered the gate, knocked upon the door ami in each case they were greeted by the smiling face of Nat. The en tire assembly made themselves comfortable in the parlor and their com er sat ion gave full vent to their eager anticipation. while they were served with apples and cider. “My friends,” said Sims in the midst of the heated conversation, 1 am glad ye have come and know that ye will be well rewarded. Now let’s go to work, friends, and let’s be very quiet so that if any one passes on the road we won’t attract his attention. Yes, better be quiet. reiterated Perkins. Do we need a light? asked one of the gold seekers. No. we better work in the dark. came the reply from Perkins. Quickly the assembly filed out and passed into a sloping piece of ground that la back of the house. Where's the best place to begin?” asked Perkins in behalf of his companions. Now I tell ye. replied Sims. I his pot was found in the middle of the field. Now the best thing ye can do. is ter dig from the four sides to the center and then we ll be sure not ter miss anything. Sims arranged the diggers with the skill of a general and gave the order to commence. Every man on the ground began to work with all the energy and vim he was capable of. There were no passing remarks and rhyming songs, but from the first moment to the last there was only the heavy thud of the pick and the scratching of the shovel. This work continued until the first faint sign of dawn appeared on the horizon. However, there was no disappointment. for no one expected to be so lucky as to find the hidden treasure at the first search. The second night passed as the first, but on the failure of the third search to reveal anything more valuable than rock and red clay, some of the neighbors began to grumble. Mv friends. said Sims. ’ I know that it is hard to work three nights thout finding anything, but there ain’t no doubt 'bout gold being buried here. Nobody says there ain’t, responded Perkins. her that reason. he continued. “I think we better get some more help.” Put then there’d be less gold. Perkins observed. 1 know, but if we can get a half a dozen niggers to help, their pay won't ’mount ter much. That’s right. exclaimed one of the neighbors- Well now. all I ask is that each one of ye bring round with ye tomorrow a nigger, the best on yer farm, but make him promise ter keep it quiet.” All agreed and departed with re newed hope. The following night the crowd was