An Old Shovel

In 1890, cowboy Bob Womack found gold at the base of lofty Pikes Peak! In short order a ramshackle town was founded called Cripple Creek. Hordes of gamblers, 'soiled doves' and prospectors hopin' to make a buck, Heeded the call of 'Pikes Peak Or Bust' and fled west to try their luck! This 'peaked' the interest of a young Hoosier feller named Oliver Pence, Who ordered a shovel from the Sears Roebuck Catalog for eighty-seven cents. (He called Cripple Creek, Cripple 'Crick' since that's how Hoosiers speak!) He strapped the shovel to Fred his mule and headed west his fortune to seek! Oliver staked his claims and his shovel left many a diggin' 'long the way. His shafts and holes in the hills and vales can be seen to this very day! He'd found a few nuggets and a bit of dust but didn't 'mount to much. What he did find he'd blowed on gamblin', whiskey, wimmen and such! Often, he'd lean on his trusty shovel and muse 'bout his fate. He talked to the shovel, sayin, "We ain't had much luck as of late. We'll winter in the cabin and come spring we'll continue our quest; I'll strap you on old Fred and we'll head fer them hills to the west!" Seasons came and went and Oliver wasn't seen 'bout town much anymore. On a cold and dreary day, friends found him stiff dead on the hovel floor! They dug his grave with the shovel and buried him outside the cabin door. Six feet down the old shovel struck gold - the lode he'd been a-lookin' for!