The Sierra citizen., 1854-03-11


journey, the first thing to be done was to
erect suitable dwelling wherein to spend
the winter; and the father of the family
having been rendered almost helpess by
his misfortune, the labor of building it
devolved exclusively upon his sons, the
youngest Of whom was a mere boy. AMI
mated by a most noble spirit, they fell to
work without any delay, and in the course
of ten days had accomplished their first task
and were the masters of comfortable
log-cabin. 1t stood on the sandy knoll of
an g oak opening" and in the immediate
vicinity of a sparkling rivulet. The only
evidences of civilization which surrounded
them were the stumps and chips, and de-
caying branches, which coveted the site of
their labors; but the emigrants had home,
and though rude and apparently comfort
less one, they were satisfied if not happy.
The winter days passed rapidly away ;and
while the disabled emigrant did little else
than keep himself warm by his huge wood
fire, his sons were telling the trees On every
side and doing their utmost to enclose their
domain. And at night when gathered at
the evening meal, or in circle around their
hearth, and the newly cut wood was Kissing
| under the influence of the bright flame,
they would talk over the pleasures of other
days, experienced in distant portion of
the land, and cherish the hope that the
future had even more happiness in store
Within their cabin was to be found the
spirit of genuine religion, and, as the hope
| full music of woman's voice was there,
and their hearts bound together by the
chords of holy family love, they were
indeed happy.
1t was now the springtimc Of the year.
warmer tint was in the sky, and all around
the wilderness was beginning to blossom
| like the rose. The birds were building
| their nests, and their sweet minstrelsy was
heard throughout the air; and there, too.
was the tinkling of bells, for the cattle
sought their food in the remote dells, and
returned at the sunset hour with their
udders teeming full. The brush and waste
wood of the girdle clearing were gath
cred into heaps and burnt-in the daytime
forming fantastic columns of smoke, and
at night making the midnight darkness,
save where the fame was particularly
brilliant, more profound. And then the
plough was brought forth, and made to
try its strength in turning up the virgin
soil. Our emigrant friend has now entirely
recovered from his late disaster, and, hav-
ing manufactured for himself al artificial
leg, he begins to think it time for him to
lend helping hand towards acceleratng
the Improvements of his 8. farm" The
smell of the ploughed field has given him
a thrill of pleasure, and he determines to
try what he can accomplish in the way of
planting corn This effort proves success
full, and, as he becomes accustomed to
the use OF his new member, he takes the
lead In most of the farming operations, and
thinksno more of his past sufferings than of
the fact that he is what many people are
pleased to term poor man.
As industry and virtue are almost invar-
lably followed by prosperity, we must not
wonder at the future career of our
Western pioneer. Five years have passed
away, and as his crops have been abundant
we find him the possessor of half thousand
acres of valuable land instead of one hund-
red. He has also gathered the means to
build himself new farm house; and as
the :" harvest is past and the summer ended
his barns are filled to overfiowing. On
every side are spread out extensive fields.
and his hired men may be counted by the
Dozen They have gathered in the crops,
and, after a brief furlough, portion of
them will take possession of the barns. and
devote themselves to the fail. while the
remainder will enter some neighbor;no
woodland with their axes, and proceed in
their laborious work of destruction.-
Winter comes, and still the sounds of the
fail and the axe are heard in the barn aad
in the forest The coolest of winds may
blow, and the snow may fall SO to bury
the fences, but what matters The genius
of health reigns supreme. All the day
long, and at night, huge fires are blazing
in the dwelling of the pioneer; his larder
is filed with an abundance of the good
things of life, and his numerous cattle are
more comfortably housed that himself
when first he came into the wilderness
Spring has returned once more, and a new
iife has been instilled, not only into the
earth but also into the blood Of man.
s 1t IS now the delightful season Of mid
summer, and we see before us basking in