The Sierra citizen., 1854-02-11
Sketches from our CABIN.

LEAVES FROM THE MSS. OF AN OLD MINER
We had now entered in earnest upon
life in California. The state Of our trea-
sury being yet lamentably low,we thought
best to continue in our present employ
ment, i. e. thatof chief engineer on an OK
team. Every one remembers the continued
rains of the winter of 40, the difficulty
of transportation, and high price of pro-
visions. 1t was then no laughing matter
to wake up some fine morning, and find
oneself dead broke, both nOur-sack and
purse collapsed and provisions one dollar
per pound. 1t is true that gold was then
to be found almost anywhere, but the
greenhorn, just arrived in the Mines with
no money or tools to work with, often
found himself in a situation both embar-
RAISING and ludicfous.
The owner of the teams had formerly
been practitioner of the Healing art in
Arkansas and from all we could learn of
his history, we inferred that in unusually
dull times in his professional life he had
entered quite extensively into the contra
band horse-trade He was, however, the
most energetic teamster on the road. Often
times we travelled but few miles in a
day on account of the wretched state of
the roads, and whenever hight overlook us,
we unyoked the cattle and camped under
the nearest tree 1t mattered not whether
the rains descended or the winds blew-long
exposure had rendered us almost amphi-
bous. Rolling up in our blankets, we
were soon lost in the misty land of dreams.
Notwithstanding the severe tell of the day
and the scanty accommodations of the
night, we look back to that time with
pleasure.
Amongst the teamsters, there was one
genius that afforded us infinite amusement.
A series of unforeseen circumstances had
induced the Rev. Melchisedek Scorchem
to leave off watching the straying foeks
of Israel and emigrate to California, where
man of genius might have elbow room.
Arriving at Sacramento, he became aware
of the necessity of doing something for
living, and he accordingly undertook the
management of a herd of the bulls Of
Bashan; for which he was about as well
qualified, as he had previously been to lead
the quaking sinner to the Celestial gate.
The personal appearance of Mr.. Schor
chem was at once striking and picturesque
His frame was tall, angular and lathy,
looking as though Nature had become
impatient while giving the finishing touch
to his sublime proportions, dipped him IN
to a vat of cruditieS and hung him up to
cool, after the old fashioned manner of
making tallow candles. His legs were
long-drawn-out and attenuated-the ter
limitations hid in enormous boots, giving
him the appearance Of standing on pedes-
tails. His general appearance suggested
the idea of statue of one of the Iitans
whs had died in his boyhood before at
tanning his full proportions.
Mr.. Scorchem had an air and bearing
peculiar y his own. 1t was plain that his
thoughts rose far above the vulgar employ
ment that untoward circumstances had
forced upon him. His countenance was
grave and austere-just such coUnte-
nance as would establish the reputation of
Connecticut deacon, while enumerating
the coppers in a contribution box, after
an unusually scant bonus Oh the part of
the charitable. His manner of speaking
was grave and sententious. Disdaining
to use the common phrases of everyday
life, he launched boldly into the figura-
tive, reminding one of the sublime rawlings
of one of Ossian's heroes His financial
affairs not being in a very fourishing con-
dition, he still wore the remains of the
black coat, now in state of dilapdaton;
the tails shorn oftheir fair proportions, and
hanging in fringes, as though they had
been set upon by some bellicose dog be-
longing to the ungodly.
Our reverend ox-driver had been vic
tim of misplaced affection. At one time
he had been the champion of the ladies in
q certain town in Oonnecticut: delivered
eloquant Orations at anniversaries of sewing
societies, and had several times been
chosen moderator in aggravated cases of
village scandal His oratory had for
merly been considered rather of fiery
order; and on one occasion his soul-inspir
ing voice had reached to the bottom of
the pocket of an obdurate parishioner, dis
lodging shilling that had been deposited
there for years. Mr.. Schorchem had been
a distinguished operator in pyrotechnics;
and obdurate indeed must have been the
sinner who could withstand the torrent of
fire and birthstone that Mr.. Scorcbem
rolled down on the congregation of trem-
bling delinquents.
But shadows often darken the horo.cone
of the great, as well as the lowly. MIR.
Scorchem's fame had reached the culmi-
mating point, and the murky wings of mis-
fortune already hovered over him. Be-
coming smitten with the bewtching beau
ty of one of the lambs of his flock, he was
rudely repulsed with some ilLnatured re-
marks on his personal appearance. In
addition to that, an old lady, the sibyl of
the village, gave as her decided opinion.
that "our Minister was no better than he
should be-" This was the signal for the