The Sierra citizen., 1854-09-16
[For the Sierra Caizen.]
Sketches from Sierra Valley.
BY ALICE.


BID YOU ever lock over the valley on a
bright clear Morning, following a rain
storm? Isn't 1t a picture to be dwelt up
ON and remembered, particularly when the
yellow sunlight is flooding the valley
where the settler has built his cabin, where
the bl.e smoke is curling up among the
trees, and the house dog is barking vocifi-
roasiy at some imaginary enemy, which
he has conjured up for his own amuse-
ment? Well: no matter whether you ever
did or not; but here am, seated on a big
rock, under one Of our tall old pines, which
books as green and vigorous as it did
centars age; the rain-drcps are hanging
from its slender 4eaves, aed every now and
then gust efwiaa shakes down shower,
which would greatly disccRccf+ = city
belle, perhaps throw her iate decliac--
Down among the brushwocd in the rsviae
the wild cherries show their red checks
through the leaves, and blush far more
deeply than they did yesterday Afternoon;
and the gooseberries, too, are growing
plethc.ic as aldermen; and even the ever
greens on the hilA sides, have wasked their
faces and look all the better Scr It. And
where can you fad q eurer atmosphere
than ia the snosntaiks Of California, fra
grant as it often is with the odor of the
wild flowers which blushed so long in the
wilderness unseen? There is the willow
lust down the branch hundred yards or
%, under whose branches l have passed
many thoughtful hour, striving to make
friends with it, on account of its resem-
blance to q tree which stood in the corner
Of field at home-a sad sentinel over our
family burial place. Who ever looked
upon willow tree with its long melan-
choly branches swinging in the wind, with
out recurring to the memory of some loved
one gone before?
But all our trees are not 50 melancholy
and suggestive of sorrow. Just opposite
me is IN old gnarled oak whose branches
haye bent sullenly in the storms of many
centuries; the winter SHOWS bent down its
stubborn limbs for while, but when the
sunlight streamed out from between the
clouds, the snowy mantle fell of, and they
looked greener than ever, in mockery Of
the season. Thus it is with mortals: when
the storms of adversely and sorrow come
the strong, stubborn ones manfully breast
the tide, while the more plant ones bend
and let the blast pass over.
Do you believe in the transmigration o'
soulsi I must confess am half inclined
to that belief. from the fact that one ol
our neighbor's dogs keeps up a continual
plulation from morn to dewy eve, and
am half persuaded that his canine tene.
meat is inhabited by the spirit of some
defsnct politician, who failing to be ap
preciated while in "the human form di.
vine" has taken quadrupedal semblance
in order to have free latitude for bowling
By the way, perhaps you may be poll
tician -may be inspired with patriotic
desire to do the State some service, in .
civil capacity, mean in the matter Of th,
loaves and fishes. If so, abe sure your
right then 60 ahead"
But about that dog: have tried har,
TO be patient. and reconcile myself to tn
maxim, "let dogs delight to bark and bite,
still when suffering from an amateur ca
pine musician under my window, hav
been sorely tempted to make summar,
application Of Colts revolver; howevez
after all let the poor fellow amuse himself