The Sierra citizen., 1854-08-26
Downeyie Sierra County California Saturday August e. 1854

ed away saucily, as much as to say "catch
us if you cam" Every now and then a
hare would start from under bush, and
scour away in great CONSERVATION, as
though he expected that we were going to
cdirl the duckshot after him." One poor
old fellow came hobbling out from a
clump of trees, and put his best foot fore
most. He was probably the oldest in
habitant, the patriarch of the tribe, for he
was greyer than the rest, and held one
foot from the ground. He had been pur-
sued by some villainous fox, or perhaps
been taken unawares by valorous
sportsman. who succeeded in breaking
his leg with hail gun," couldn't help
thinking of the couplet Of the ploughboy,
''Inhuman man, curse on thy barb'rous art,
And blasted be thy murder aiming eye."
We soon came in sight of the farmer s
house; and at our approach his honest,
manly face was lit up with good humor
and hospitality. Casting aside his hat
and wiping the perspiration from his brow,
he threw himself down upon his new
mown hay with that self-satisfed air,
which seemed to say,that wealth and hap
plness is like bright winged butterfly
which, if too eagerly pursued, will keep
beyond your reach, but if you sit quietly
down it may light upon you. We left
our friend swinging his scythe, while his
cattle were quietly grazing at distance,
just as though they knew that a strong
/ and provident arm was laying up store
for them when Winter shall have thrown
his snowy mantle over the hills.
Say; did you ever, when child of care
less joy at home, steal away to the mea-
dows and roll on the swath behind the
mower? know you have, nnd when you
draw back the veil of memory, you still
see the sunny brow of your little play
mate, and hear the same sweet voice
which even yet rings in your ear with
ga sound as sweet as fairy's feet.
Stepping on silver sand.''
We arrived at the brink of an inbridged
stream, and we could only draw therein and
clear the dangerous space at bound, nor
did we stop till we came to well known
ranch-a rude looking house of shapeless
logs, but ever lit up with domestic cheer
fulness, which lights up the chimney cor
ner in the settlers cabin, as we'll as in the
more aristoCfatic habitations of the rich
and great. Our horses hurried down to
the brook that ran past the door, ,wheremy
horse seei1ied determined to spoil all my
fnery, by stamping and splashing, not
knowing what serious misfortune it is
for lady to have her best gown bespat-
ted with mud. There on the banks sat a
couple of sweet children, with miniature
fishing tackle, trying to decoy spcckled
trout from his native element. On being
discovered, their black eyes sparkled with
intelligence. Blue eyes, languishing and
soft as new churned buttermilk. may do
for dreamy poets, but give me black eyes,
sparkling with mischief and good humor
After racing in the garden; RECALLING
ourselves with everything we codld find,
we resumed our journey, and were not in
terrupted till we reached the foot of the
mountain. where, to our great delight, we
found the ground literally covered with
tempting Strawberries, which were gath
cred by the merry crowd with the eager
ness of children; nor did we cease until
our dishes were full to overaowing, and
the noontide heat made us seek the shade
of the towering pines that skirt the val
ley. After resting while. we began to
reconnoitre, and soon came to conside-
rable stream that came tumbling down
over the rocks from the mountains side.
lashing itself into foam in the vain hope
of making people believe that it was a
stream of Importance so it was to
the fishes, and to the little birds that sang
iu the willows, and to the deer that crept
stealthily down to its margin to drink
The wood was vocal with the songs Of the
feathered tribes, harmonizing SO well with
the wild scene before us. We followed a
narrow path, which became more precipi-
tous as we advanced. But on we went
for nearly mile, watching the play Of the
inpatient waters as they leaped over huge
masses of gray stone, with which the bed
Of the stream was thickly strewn; every
here and there, a rock, larger and higher
than 1l the rest, forced the stream to throw
| itself down . miniature waterfall to q
htaeaddy, only to be pitched down into