The Sierra citizen., 1854-02-11
Oak Valley Correspondence.
OAK VALLEY. Feb 7th 1854.

OAK VALLEY, Feb. 7th, 1884.
! Most Worthy Citisen.-The last echo"
from the mountains has reverbrated
throughout the length and breadth of the
valleys and the plains, bearing within its
kindly arms a little emanation kindled
from the ashes of the defunct O. V. j.
Good men die in pairs, and why should
not good papers, (Which are but the con-
centrated thoughts of good mem do the
same. Did you ever try to write an ami
able homelike letter when it was darkness
and storm without? if so, you can form
some idea of my employment now.
For few days the snow has dwindled
into nothing under the influence of warm
rains, which have put me much in mind of
my mud besprinkled days in Sacramento
last season, only here there is no noise and
hustle to relieve the monotonous drippings
from the caves of my shell-n courtesy
called a house. If it were a cabin now
with an arm chair--were it but barrel,
one might be more comfortable, for of
spirits have | plenty. Speaking of spirits,
| see one of the mountain papers rather
takes you up in your notices of the "crit-
ter" and ] am thankful that there is one
editor in the mountains who eschews the
ardent, although in this case, like the
"doubter" of one of Maryatts novels, l
would not like to test the sincerity in his
principles, with such smoking hot good
old Irish whiskey punch as sits beside me
now.
But to return tony sheep, that's a new
translation of f''rerenons nous mouton.")
| was trying to make you hear just as do
the solitude of this valley. Tonight it is
interrupted by the arrival of the the weekly
train from Marysville, with flour, India
rubber boots, and red shirts, and the
conductor, as he opens out his goods, tells
lamentable stories of the great rise in
prices and his decreased profits, to which
we listen most unmovedly and slyly hint
to one another that its all cover the left"
Money is an almost unknown commodity
among us, and if an unfortunate hom5re
makes his appearance with a ''tive' or
'ten' in his posses sion the town, like a
disturbed ant-hill, is in excitement until he
has made an investment either in the ''Last
Grand Rattle" or treated of his money,
and by making hims elf as poor as the rest
OF us becomes one of the crowd. Were it
not for this would extend to you an in
vitation to come and see us, but as you
are almost Il stranger some one would
doubtless 'take you In"
went the other day on a visit to Ne
vada, and journeyed part of the way on
the new road from your place to that city
OF cayota-holes, and most splendid road
it is, SO far as made; a hard days travel
took Us to the famed Omitted States" and
its most obliging host was truly so to Us,
perhaps because he was from the shades OF
Ashland and my name brought old assoca-
tions back to his memory.
The journey back by way of some pretty
mountain villages was a pleasant one; and
when [ once more reached home [ owed
you a letter, and down | sat and here you
have it, and like a mining population it is
somewhat scattered, but still never make
apologies; | never did but once and that
was when your quandum friend Mix S.
attacked the 0. V. J. in TIE co umns of "a
a scurvy sheet entitled the Podunk
Gazette. | clothed myselfin in all the digni-
ty Of the editorial profession, and called
upon him for an explanation He is a
large man, and a man of "spirit" too, and
most ungenerously refused. had but
one course left, to fight or retire from my
position, | went home, read Hudibras,
and in the morning | myself apologised,
and thus the matter ended with but little
credit to either party. | wot of many
quarrels among men high in office which
would have resulted less bloodily had
they but taken up my plan.
Mix is rusticating at Fosters Bar after
using incesantly for four weeks all his
abilities to forward an enterprise which
should engage much of the sympathics of
the mining population in this region Of
the country. l speak Of the Sierra Noun
tain Water Co., which have surveyed and
established the feasibility of bringing into
these soitudes five hundred sluice heads
Of water from the South Fork of the North
Yuba. OF its necessity we, who are
cramped for money with thousands of
dollars in the ground around us. can have
no doubt-that it will soon be completed
is our only hope and that it may be So the
untring exertions of the gentleman have
: noticed have never been wanting. His
reward will come afterwards, we give no
reward now.
| suppose you are now aware Of the
fact that [ have been learning the
Indian language, and in my next intend
to give you a tradition existing as to the
first coming of the gold hunters among
them, it is full Of amusing incidents con
nected with the early settlement of the
: State, and to succeed in publishing it is
the only wish of the 0. VI.
i THE BURIAL PLACE.-Gne may Judge
of the healthfulness ola village by visiting
the adjacent enclosure sacred to the dead
We were surprised to find so few graves
in the Downieville rial-place, when we
take in consideration the many thousands
who have sojourned here for time.
Death is at all times terrible, but how
much more dreadful is it to grapple the