He was The builder of the hidden cabin; for Zola it was builded, for her boudoir. With loving hands, he axe and auger plied, Without compass, square or trestle board, But with all the tenderness that ever Mother bird provided for her nestling. He building, furnished it with draperies-- Bright Indian blankets, rugs and robes of Fur, arranging all as beautiful as Tho’ her mother’s spirit hands had guided His. Perchance they did. If love be spirit, And spirit love--or soul--then such as hers Might overleap the balustrades of Heaven and find its own; or such unselfish Soul as his might rise and view the palace Of the skies. He teaching, opened first the Book of Nature, and strolled with her among The flowers and botanized. Then to the rocks; He told her of the slow formations of The ages. From the books selected in The days when she was cradled on the sea, He, in learning, carried her beyond her Years. “PEG LEG, THE MINER.” They marked the changing moons until a Score had glided by and yet had seen no Other human face save one--and he, an Honest miner whom they found in sorry Plight, with broken limb, where he had fallen From an overhanging ledge. They succored Him until, returned to strength, he rose with One limb twisted hopelessly. They made--as Best they could--a wooden substitute, and Strap’d with buckskin bandage, he soon learned to Use it cleverly. Jokingly, he called Himself “Peg-leg, the miner.” He told them Of a mine that out upon the desert He had found, where three large buttes stood side by Side. Cedric gave him burros from his herd, And packs, and sent him on his way. He came Again with well-filled sacks of pellets round As shot and black as ebony, which proved To be pure gold. He left it there, and leaving, Nevermore returned. Miners to this day In vain have sought that “Peg-leg Mine,” and those Three buttes; and some have left their bones to bleach Upon the desert sand. The miner told Them of a nearer passage, a hidden Trail, that led downward to the valley. They Going, tarried there and Cedric sent the Indians to the mission for supplies. Once a cougar sprang across their path with Blazing eyes and crouching for a spring; when Cedric sent a bullet thro’ its brain; and From its den he took a pair of baby Mountain lions, made orphans by the shot. Zola, pitying, took them home and one, Surviving, grew to monstrous size, became Obedient to her command, and like A faithful watch dog, followed her. She Called him Zimbo. Other pets she had--white Kids of silken fleece, birds and animals, But Zimbo was the monarch of them all.