``Thou thrice-bestricken, madly` ``Mournful, melancholy mule. ```And he alone who strews ```Thy pathway with his cold remains ```Can give thee recompense `````Of lemoncholy woe.= ```He who hath sought to steer` ``Thy limber, yielding tail` ``Ferninst thy crupper-band ```Hath given thee joy, and he alone. ```'Tip true, he may have shot` ``Athwart the Zodiac, and, looking` ``O'er the outer walls upon `````The New Jerusalem, ```Have uttered vain regrets.= ```Thou reckest not, O orphan mule, ```For it hath given thee joy, and` ``Bound about thy bursting heart, ```And held thy tottering reason` ````To its throne.= ```Sing on, O mule, and warble` ``In the twilight gray, ```Unchidden by the heartless throng. ```Sing of thy parents on thy father's side.` ``Yearn for the days now past and gone: ```For he who pens these halting, ```Limping lines to thee ```Doth bid thee yearn, and yearn, and yearn. A MINERS' MEETING--MY MINE--A MIRAGE ON E PLAINS. Camp on the New Jerusalem Mine, May 28, 1880. |I write this letter in great haste, as I have just returned from the new carbonate discoveries, and haven't any surplus time left. While I was there a driving snow storm raged on the mountains, and slowly melting made the yellow ochre into tough plastic clay which adhered to my boots to such an extent that before I knew it my delicately arched feet were as large as a bale of hay with about the same symmetrical outlines. A miners' meeting was held there Wednesday evening, and a district to be called Mill Creek District, was formed, being fifteen miles each way. The Nellis cabin or ranch is situated in the center of the district. I presided over the meeting to give it an air of terror and gloom. It was very impressive. There was hardly a dry eye in the house as I was led to the chair by two old miners. I seated myself behind the flour barrel, and pounding on the head of the barrel with a pick handle, I called the august assemblage to order. Snuffing the candle with my fingers in a graceful and pleasing style, and wiping the black off on my pants, I said: "Gentlemen of the Convention: In your selection of a chairman I detect at once your mental acumen and intelligent foresight. While you feel confident that, in the rose-colored future, prosperity is in store for you, you still remember that now you look to capital for the immediate development of your district. "I am free to state that, although I have been but a few hours in your locality, I am highly gratified with your appearance, and I cheerfully assure you that the coffers which I command are at your disposal. In me you behold a capitalist who proposes to develop the country, regardless of expense.