The weekly Placer herald., 1853-08-20
A Sketch.
BY A FORTY-N MINER


Behold that long line Of anxious faces
reaching far out from the delivery window
of he post office, each treudng closely
IA on the heels of his predecessor, and
all actunttd hy common emotion an
earnest desire 10 hear from home-that
far off home where they left kindred,
friends, and all that makes life dfnr TO
Them, 10 seek in the land of gold. that
vhich shall gladden. the hearts Of those
behaved ones, aud make them more conn
tortalle, itnot happier, uron their return:
Glance along that ,engtkentd line, and
YOU viii see, clad in his red shirt, coarse
pantaloons and heavy boots, with long
card, hard hal ds and >unturned coun-
tenarcc, the hard, miner, " ho, rerchnnce
has iust returned from the nontnins, the
main liect of his wearisoine journey, to
get letters from home. Next TO him
stands one whose more gfnietl ha'''li-
ntnts, well brushed cont and polished
boots, show him to he engaged in some
profession " hose lighter duties allow him
TO bestow more care upon the outer man,
Here can tie seen every caste OF c0uhte-
nuilce, from The snnoih-fnred clerk to the
| rnrzcd features of the hardy lahOrer---
fath lould upon one common errand,
each actuated hy one general desire.
Note The various emotions aroused ny
success or disappointment, as they each.
one by one, rench that little pigeon hole
in the ,ffre window. and are disposed OF
by the lusy clerks inside. A Renteel
ynurg man places his face at the window
,i1 oi,cs j. nape 10 he clerk. while be
follows with anxious eyes, every motloa
of The clerk AZ he looks over The huge
L. IL IL
ior him; Lut as the dreaded words "no-
thing, sir," fal upon his ear, with sor~
rowtul counienancp and half hesi'atng
air, he turns away 10 give place To the
next in turn. Can II be 1oSsih e iht c'erk
may have over ook.d il? D! that hs
could louk oyer ihaip pile If Ieiifrs himself.
l hey must have written, those htiDyf1
nnfs, why does he not Lear from thfmf
Can they have forgotten hn! Three
mails have passed, and still no word to
cheer the wander'r';; feart, or tell hlm ct
the welfare of those around the raternat
hearihstone AT home, and he must now
" ait until another arrival shall ahd new
diSaJ poinln.nt to relIeye his doubts.
Pni let us turn our attention to the
next app icant, II stalwnrt miner, VINO has
Just deposited his name with the atten-
tive clerk, his yoice ire nulons Win hope
| ard fear that aeiraie bis bosom. All! ne
j. more successful. A letter is placed in
his trembling hands, The hostage hastily
Exchanged, and with IA quick step he
>.,ks The nearest shelter from cur'ons
observation, and with eager fingers breaks
lhc seal And while ne cruises that pre-
cious rpi.ile, IA lear drop gathers upon
either elelid, and drops upon the thrkly
leitered page, n pearly tribute to unchang-
ed affection. But that ha.f smile upon
his liIs, the joy which perv"des every
feature, shows those tears to he the pure
offspring of gladdened heart. Yes,
those cherished ones are well, and well
come raccs teem " th Miie's fond solici-
tude for n husbands welfare in distant
Iald; Tiny hands have sketrhed, IN brIef
and irrpcu ar characters, their iifa'ltiie
PRAYERS for fathers safety; and the best
wis hes of friands and relations make up
It's ioyous contents. And with light
heart and huoyant ster, he turns away to
EEK n tc,nuorary home amid the rlacers
of The distant mountains. Toll, fatigue,
The hot sun, the heating raIn-whaf are
,hey 10 him3 He is roiling for those
dearer TO him than life, and The remem-
lrance of their sunny sni es and fond
affection, makes labor sneeI and fatigue
a recreation.
But another has retired from that offics
window, and he too has received letter
from his home. But rs he scans the un-
folded page, II cloud gathers upon his
changing brow, his lips quiyer with in-
tense emotion, and lurning tear moist
ening his eye, tells of II heart III which
The arrow of grief has inflicted severe
wound. Yes, that little sheet is the bear
tr of nnwe come news-Ihe illness, per-
haps death OF some he owed form, dear,
very dear to the heart of the wanderer.
And with deep sigh and heaying bosom
he turns away, to indulge his g''ef' whei .
no curious eye may intrude upon Hs
sanctuy - Golden Era
There are three thousand children In