WNP: 012913    “The desperate forty-niner took one last scoop of gravel into the pan and slowly started to shake it.”

Holding his breath, Smitty closed his eyes and said a silent prayer.  Working the mine was not an easy task, but the rewards would pay off big one day.  It had to.  He had taken all of his savings to stake this claim. Perhaps today would be the day.  He had staked out his claim more than a year ago and he was losing hope he was desperate for some sign...  Fortunately, the past few days there appeared to be signs that there might be gold at this site.  He looked up at the sky and the sun was beating down on him, it was so hot, he thought, “It must be a hundred degrees out here…can’t stop now.” Even though the sun was burning him through his shirt,  and sweat came through every pore in his body, he continued to dig.  He wiped the sweat from his eyes, and gulped down a swig of water. His arms ached from the digging and lifting, they cried out for some rest, a brief respite would do.  He was operating by rote. He ignored his aching body and forged ahead. Scoop after scoop he threw into the pan and slowly began to shake it, and there it was, the glimmer of a prize…