Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-02-06

manifested OH Inut Occ0sion: the people ldIFly
clapred their hands and danced for joy,-and, it
is needless to say, that in the pleasing excite
ment to which this intelligence gave rise, was
a large paraker and if | did not immediately
resolve on starting off that same day it was be-
causP ] was at loss AT first how should raise
the necessary funds with which to pny my pas
sage thither. For three nights at least, couId
NOT sleep wink, for thinking of the gold mines,
and how might he there digging the yellow
treasure and when at length the agt'tlon Of
my Thoughts subsidized sufficiently TO permit ma.
ture to repose in llumber, it was to dream Of
g"'d"n vieiona.
Such in short, was the interest that had TAX
on possession of my mind In regard to the all
engrossing theme. that became convinced that
there was no way to quiet my feelings and allay
the fever into which it had thrown me, but to
pack mp my duds and set forth. Nor were my
friends in the least adverse TO my going. On
the cJntrary. my flther and mother we're quite
wiling i the prospect of my returning laden
with gold, that | should 60, and make my own
and their fortunes, as it was the condition OF
he agr cement, that whatever was the amount of
treasure was fortunate enough to bring home,
should half Of it go to Them They therefore
supplied me with about two hundred dollars in
money for my OIL ft,-a small portion of which
expended in purchasing pick axe, spade, and
digging knife, together with large canvass
sack and chest, III which 10 store and convey
home my treasure Of which they were confident
| should be- BILE to realize mill ms Of dollars
worth. Little, however, did they think, with all
their devotion to The god of Riches, what re-
ma;kabIe talisman the very approach towards
the regions of gold would prove, and the no less
wonderful effect which my beng actually en-
gagged among the mines would produce.
must not forget to mention, in connection
with this prend to the first act in the drama Of
my adventures in quest of gold, thIt had be-
fore this news reached me, became acquainted
with and enamored of a buxom damsel named
Fanny SiIverside, to whom hid for some time
paid my addresses She was fair girl, and
such was my affection for her, that had prevl-
ousIy thought that nothing on earth could cause
me to forget her. And surely had any object in
the neighborhood Of my home ,sse5sed inan
nnce enough To have c0unteracted the eff'ct Of
the gold fever with which was seized, and per-
Iaded NE to forego all this temptation, by re-
mining behind, Fanny would be the one. But
airs Tor poor Fancy: no sooner was apprlsed o
the gold disc very, and the field 1t openedfor ad
veLtu, ethan If she not absolutely driven fron
It NY mind, felt that to be able to embrace ba!
c of gold was more bliss to me than my most al
T. tectionate embrace OF her had ever been. Fare
" well, then, once beloved, but now lnspd idol {
"A NV heart a more powerful loadstone heckon
ID me. In truth. said 10 myself, what is wona
: or har love worth, unless she be bought wit
IL gold !?
t' A very few days saw me on board vess
= bound for Chagres, where embarked i'll II
" best spirits at the thought Of being nov actna
l. y about 10 grasp the opportunity 40 ardent
IL ongod for, of gratifying my desire lor unboun'
Is e.! wealth.
'F CHAPTER II.
III When had got on board the ship | was
'e take passale in, was surprised to fnd neih
y sails lor rudder, nor any more tixlngs than WI
:" necessary to render it capable of making its wa
. through the water, though she was built Ill
!" other ships with deck, cabin, hatchwyas, al
mold aud for the sake of appearance, the thrt
y nllsls with their rigging. Curious to learn Il
/" reason of this absence of what had suppose
q" to be the indispensable articles OF vessels &
to me) apparent oversight, when was told.
reply tnat the ship was ii charmed one ;-th
Ii the strong desire for gold, In quest Of which v
,'s we're g,ing, would, as | should presently Sc
,et operate in stead Of sails or helm to propel Il
in vessel towards the desiIed landing place. /
gth informed me further, that as we advanced on o
,as voyage. we should feel less and less in the nc,
"a of TO >d, and therefore they had only taken
r,n board barrel or two Of Weaihersield onioI
mr. two or three more Of rye biscuit, some bags
81, Indian meal, with IL basket Of beans, dozen
ION which would sometimes put hunger to fight.
ar re 'iuimatng US with the prospect Of the 60
.ho mines. Furthermore, the mlte told me, tn
i'd they had on board The California telescope,
bor order that when we . lined the height of la
II, on the Islhmus, we might by looking through
r,o obtain clear glimpse Of the gold region. A
~ here, going down into the cabin, he presen
rsr returned with it, bearing in his hand long CT
Der tube, about two lmhes in diameter, in
main part,-capped on the ends with sill
cover; winch he exhibited 10 ME, saying 'thi;
the telescope of which spoke, which we 81
make use of on reaching the isthmus,--
through which no one can see any thing now.
TIC Oh how did long TO reach this Mount Plsg
~ that might be favored, like Moses of old a
like Joshua and his h ,st, be permitted to er
u and take possession.
We, had hardly concluded onr confab, ere
captain called to US to pay attention; and,
dressing the passengers, sad:-
'We are nov about tn get under way.
will all, therefore, collect your thoughts and
rich them intenrly un California, and think of he
Cali IF gold, aud when wave my sword, you IL
vely all snout, California gOtdo
j ate Though it was scarcely possible for any oi
t thu to have our minds fixed more on this sub
Eu- than they were already, we endeavored ne
led 'hrless, like the Quaker, TO Invite the mo'
, has of the SPIRIT being allowed three minute
lbers prepaTe our minds.
Oing. An rradyr shouted the captain, as soo
ous, his time piece announced the expiration Of
allotted time when instantly every eye was