Grass Valley telegraph., 1853-12-15


ais sore and weary FORM
HiSzafp of hopes" was unstrung
And fancied nigh the gathering storm
He mourned his lot and often wept
To think he ever took the jaunt-S
And then he'd rave, and swear he b'leaved
He's soon to see the ELEPHANT
And thus "Uncle Zenas" solilOAlzed :-''I
onc't lived in peace and pros perity away
dewn in the State of Maine, and owned tew
ceows, ten oxen and three shoats-besdes
dear Polly, and Ike and Jake and Tabitha
and Sarah Ann and Eliza Jane. together with
the darling babe that was named Rachel, be-
cause she lifted up her voice and GCtpt when
| kissed her and departed for Californy !
Y-a-s, It's even l. 'Old Zenas, that's meow in
California, and haint struck a single pocket
nor creUice yet. and I've travelled e'en almost
as fur as tits tew hum. And here the road
forks! Wonder which of these oulikely roads
nears off to Uangtown? Helloa! I'm blaz-
ed eff here ant jest the surkumstance I'm
looking for. by golly! A guide-board, sar-
tin as preachin No 'taint, nuther-coz the
fingers are pintin up, and it reads
"Behold neao verse-ion of the Miners
Ten Commandments, By LaacS and Decree!
Which read as follows:
BY LAWS.
One claim thou may'st own and there drive your
| stake,
And cayote and crevice till you make you break;
Always find the BED ROCK, keep at work and pump out
Do any thing, rather than be running about.
If the gold isn't there keep cool and don't swear;
Nor either get tigIf and say You dopJt care.
Nor practice the art OF Talting' your claim---1 -
For by such Practice you'll get hard name sex
Climb out VERY COOL, with pick pan and shovel
And don't seek the cabin and pore over a novel;
But mark new claim and pitch in again,
And never have doubts of striking VEIN.
Should you strike rich pocket, a crevice or lead
| Don't drink quite barrel on the fortunate deed
But pocket your dust and go whistling away,
! Content to enjoy it some future day
Should you venture your luck in damming the rivers
And work in the water, getting COLDS, COUGHS, and
SIIIvERs,
Let 'old rye alone with wisdom of thought,
Sell out if you can, and bless him who bought
Wend your way to dry-diggings, purchase suce box
tOm,'
And claim too, if rich---judge of those you buy
Hire eight or ten Coolies'-come the CooLY at once
Thus showing the people you not quite Ounce
BY Johnny Celestial make two dollars per day,
| On the labor of each, you THAT will pay;
| Whereas if you hire Uncle SENS sturdy SON
You would pay more for labor, and hardly make ONE
And lastly, thus reads the Decree :
FSrStly-It is decreed unto all the people
of California that ye observe all that is here
in written, that ye avoid some of the shoals
and quiA ksands of this life, and especially
during your sojourn in California, where a
lesson of warning cannot be given too soon.
California is one vast amphitheatre- tain
ing an assemblage of human beings from ev-
cry land and every cline. All classes, all
celors, and all conditions, are each day be-
fore your gaze, and soon they are associated
more or less with you all. And now, my dis
ciples, this is why publish this Decree and
| give you this warning that ye may be prepar-
ed to meet fhe tempters.
SecOndly-It is decreed, O Miners, that
first publish unto you the d Zee ; as We are
the most numerous of any q the tribes of
California and pray you will hearken un-
to me with an attentive ear. that ye may be
profted thereby. Ye are indeed mighty, and
the wise men and the cOunsellors of ten, have
soug2thine abode to teach ye wisdom and
u4d ding.
y-And thus it is decreed that thou
SHAH 9 labor to thine discontinue and bod
lily pain. Thou shalt labor as becOmeth good
disciples, and shall not exceed ten hours each
day. Thy food shall consist ofothat which is
most wholesome and nourishing, and thy raj
ment shall be of wooden, and Of firm texture,
and each week thou shalt Gle he thine appa-
rel.
Fourthly-In default of the same, thy bro
ther miners shall take thee down, even unto
Feather River, and there cleanse thee-appa-
rel, body and all together, until thou wilt
lend thine own exertiOns to do it thyself.
Fffthly-If vermin infest thee or thy bland
kets, thou shalt be banished from the cabin,
thee and thy raiment until thou shalt rid thy
self of thine unwelcome visitors. And on
the day-yea the hOur-in which it shall ap-
pear that thou art ridden of all plaques, =
then in 4 emn procession shalt thou be march
ed with Thy brother miners even unto the cab
in, and aM6east sumptuously.
SirthIy-It is decreed that thou shalt not
be made servants one to another, only as each
serves the other in turn. Neither shalt thou
forsake thy brother miner while on the couch
of sickness and pain, but shall carefully watch
over him, and administer unto every necessa-
ry want, until he shall be able to rise again.
and proclaim himself well of his malady.