"Old Harmless"

High among ridges, an aging prospector called Old Harmless lives in a solitary cabin overlooking a remote gulch. He tells his two young companions, David and Goliath, of a rumored vein of gold worth thousands a ton, while reminiscing about the once‑bustling Harmon's Camp that has long faded. His stories blend optimism with melancholy, and he speaks to the trees as if they were old friends. The opening paints a vivid picture of a life deeply rooted in the harsh, beautiful landscape.

When spring floods turn the creek treacherous, Old Harmless feels the quiet dread that even his beloved woods might one day vanish. Still, he clings to hope that the hidden gold ledge—or perhaps a strange, singing machine—might arrive and change nothing. The narrative balances humor with a deep affection for a frontier that refuses to disappear. Listeners are invited to share his reverence for place and the lingering question of what truly makes a home worth staying.