Bruvver Jim's Baby

"Bruvver Jim's Baby" by Philip Verrill Mighels is a story set in the Nevada wilderness that follows a rough miner named Jim, who stumbles upon a lost young boy during an Indian rabbit hunt, where it showcases Jim's journey from a solitary existence to becoming a nurturing caregiver as he takes the child, given the name "Skeezucks", under his wing. The tale opens amidst a chaotic rabbit hunt by the Piute tribe, where the boy is separated and left behind after falling from his pony, which begins the unlikely meeting between the miner and the boy, highlighting their blossoming bond and the communal spirit that surrounds them in Borealis as Jim faces challenges while creating a family. Themes of love, unexpected kinship, and the creation of a family are explored as Jim navigates caring for the child, and together, they face the trials and tribulations of survival, set against a background of a close-knit society.