The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-07
Correspondence:
FOsTER's BAR,
Sept. 30, 1854.

Sept. 30, 1854.
Ed. CITIZEN 1T seems to me that
am under promise to write you an arti
Gle. But l can not do it. The only thing
which remains is for me, like ali homes!
man, to acquaint you with the fact; tell
you the reasons which render it impos-
sible, and throw myself upon your lehi.
ency.
For few days after l saw you, and
permitted you to enyeigle ne into the
aforesaid promise, it seemed a triAing thing
to me-one that could he performed any
time at al hours warning-and | felt lit
tie concern about it. But one evening,
having obtained half quire of foolscap,
and sharpened cedar pencil, / seated my
self to the task. In vain! After NOR
tai hour nothing was discoverable dpon
my paper save " MIR. Editor" written up
On three different lines" My dear Mac"
upon fourth--a rough h'sketch of a hound
slut doing the maternal" by Tor to-
choose between propositions an incredible
number of blind puppies-and an equally
veracious portrait of a Newfoundland dog,
who used to occupy the same Office with
me in distant State. Poor "Bruin !''
his portrait seemed to look upon me with
the same halt-comic, halfcontemptuous
expression which so often in other days
made me respect his intelligence, and
pause even in the act of committing some
folly!
However, newspaper "article" was
clearly beyond my ability on that evening.
Two days afterwards, thoroughly chagrin-
ed at my failure, and impressed with q
belief that it was owing to my recent un-
settled and rambling life, borrowed WIS
spirited mare, and rode through the hills
seeking ideas. Heavens! if one could but
write down with ink the experience of a
horseback ride over these mountains IF
one could but feel sure that a readers
pulse would beat with as exquisite enjoy
ment as thrills the heart of true horse.
man as he dashes. through these forests,
exulting in the glorious sport, sympathi-
sing with his eager horse, drinking in un-
speakable pleasure from the varying
scenery Of world where God seems vet
to be creating-laughing now with the
saucy brooks which 60 romping SO merrily
over gray granite and glistening quartz
awed and wondering, now at the untold
import Of the solemn winds which moan
and murmur, and seem to repoach as they
wind their unseen way among the trees
above him, and charmed into very child
ishness, again, as from some height he looks
down upon a valley where bright sun-
light and dark mountain shadow are bit
divided by silver streamlet-the truly,
it might be worth ones while to embody
all this IN an "article" for the CitiSen:-
But l was dismayed-knowing too well
the fai ure which would follow the attempt.
Once more-two days ago-I sought
the hills, expecting at last by calm and
diligent thought to hit upon something
you would accept as fulflment of my
promise. And this time | was Oh foot
turning from the river. / wound my way
along the mountain-side above one of the
brooks which are ever pouring their clear,
pure streams into our discolored and turbid
river After mile of walking | had es-
capped all sight and sound of men, and de-
scended into the narrow valley where the
great trees, long nourished by the brook,
had so shadowed it at last, that from
little distance one could not know that
brook was there. But for an hour / sat
beside it, upon fallen fir, and tried to
think of something to write to you. Now
and then, for moment, l would think Of
some interest of society which should be
sought after, or some wrong doing of sc-
ciety which should be exposed. But what
was human society Herewith all its
hustle of sel6shness, and its more disgust
ing hustle of well doing? Still, over its
pebbly bottom, under the shadow of the
D;,,o, ,,pdor danco, ,L.J .r a.
tains, laughing and singing childishly, that
brook ran on with its sparkling water;
and when flower would steal drop to
add fresher tint to its fading beauty, the
brook but smileed upon it; and when those
trees which had been robbing it for ages,
took fresh draughts Of the shiping water,
that thereby they might add other inches
to their height, and deeper to the shadows