The Sierra citizen., 1854-03-04
Sketches from our Cabin.

CkeIcAeS from our Oao!l.
DOCTOR ARTAxERxEs TEAsEL' s MINERALoGI-
CAL INVESTIGATIONS UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
One evening in the spring of 1850, just
as the sun was going behind the hills,
tall cadaverous looking parsonage made
his appearance in town, followed by some
dozen less distinguished looking people,
who seemed to look up to the tall man as
the leader of some mysterious expedition.
The countenance of each seemed to express
sort of triumphant consciousness of pos
sessing certain important secrets which
had not been revealed to people in general.
Unlashing their packs at the door of the
nearest public house, the whole party pro-
ceeded to the bar and ordered refresh
ments, with an air that gave the bystanders
TO understand that expense was only a
minor consideration.
Late in the evening the distinguished
looking man was seen standing in the
middle of the plaza, surrounded by a
circle of his disciples in deep consultation.
They had selected this isolated spot in
order to be beyond the reach of eavesdrop-
pers, and were there settling the prelimina-
ries of some great expedition, the result
of which was to astonish the world At
last the curiosity of the loungers became
excited by the apparent mysticism, and
one old fellow, more far-seeing than the
rest, declared that something was upw
This startling intelligence spread from
one to another, increasing in Importance
as it went, until the more sanguine were
wrought up to a degree of enthusiasm
that threatened immediate explosion. The
report at last reached the ''study of Doctor
Artaxerxes Teasel, who was at the time
buried in geological Investigations
Rushing precipitately out of his shanty in
the greatest excitement, like the ancient
philosopher who ran through the city
crying Il have found it, the doctor
soon elbowed his way through the crowd,
but unfortunately he had not found it out,
as vet. The tall man cast upon the little
doctor contemptuous glance. just such a
look as one of the minor gods might have
expected fromS Jupiter Conservator, when
intrwdiHg in his councils.
But Doctor Teasel had heard enough
to satisfy himself that some great expedi-
termined to investigate The matter. He
hastily returned to his camp and began
lashing up his blankets and filling haver-
sack with provisions, at the same time
creating din of fry ing pans and tin ware
that would have half crazed professional
cook. He was aware of the necessity of
circumspecticn, for very often these ex-
ploring parties decamped in the night,
and on this account the doctor determined
to keep awake and be on hand the moment
the distinguished looking man made a
movement to start. Collecting his equip
ages together, he took upa position where
the movements of the mysterious party
could be seen, resolved to watch until day.
light rather than that they should escape
him.
While Doctor Artaxerxes is thus occu-
pied we may as well give a general idea
of his appearance, and few passages in
his early history. Doctor Arfaxerxes
Teasel was descended from one of the first
families of Virginia His paternal ancestor
could trace back the patronymic through
several generations to one Jeems Teasel,
who came over from somewhere at date
which we have forgotten. Being a man
of large stature, he was known as "Big
Jenny" and many will to this day re-
member with what mingled awe and
pleasure they have listened to the nursery
lyric descriptive of the wonderful doinss
of Big Jenny Teasel.
Doctor Teasel was therefore a man of
blood. He was the last Of a long line
and he had inherited the Iares and
Penates of the house of Teasel, but his
respected predecessor had neglected to
transmit the wherewithal to maintain
the dignity Of the race. In his youth he
had been remarkable for extraordinary
precocity. and early distinguished himself
in the estimation of maiden aunt with
whom he lived, by sundry scientific expert
ments, by which he demonstrated the
frangibility Of glass, also the arc which a
pebble would describe when hurled from
sling at the kitchen window.
The corporal dimensions of the doctor
were by no means in proportion with the
vast soul they contained. When very
yssng, prepoBdcraDce sf mind Asd