The Shasta courier., 1855-01-13
Dartmouth Keeping New Years. Eve.


We are indebted to the subjoned history Of
DartmCuths manner of % watching the old year
out and the new year in" for sundry spells of
hearty laughter. Many of our fun-oving read
ers, after perusal. will make the same acknow-
ledgment. We have taken the liberty of inter
spersing appropriate headings through the mar
rative. 1t is. however, slight draw back to our
full enjoyment of " Dartmouth'sn unfortunate
position, after having - left the world and elm
IA tree, to see him write mournfully. There
is a strain of melancholy mingled with much
penitence and little bit of chagrin. running
through the entire narrative-the effect of which.
in conjunction with our excited mirihfulness,
brought the salt tears into our eyes, and which
adown our cheeks each other chased % like
pumpkins down hill" Bnt read:
Dartmouth museth and Hkeclse marue1s.
OREGON GuLoH Jau , 1855
DEAR EDs.:-I was Eliminating a few days
ago upon an article which lately appeared in the
Courier headed, The Gals are Coming. o no !,
o ho!" wondered if it was really true that
five thousand smiling damsels were about en-
barking for California, with the avowed deter
minaton Of taking captive AN equal number of
the lords OF creations; and if so, whether any
of theI. would be likely to emigrate to this
place. In anticipation of such glorious occur
renee, was devising plan ( will explain it to
you at some future day for your own especial
benefl) whereby the affections of one of them
might be secured, when was interrupted in my
meditations by the entrance of an old friend and
schoolmate, whom l had not seen for several
years; and on his remarking that be resided but
few miles distant, [ volunteered to pay him
visit that evening.
He Airsteth after Egg-nog, and goet6 therefor.
l may as well here remark that my friend, in
his hacyon days, had been noted among large
circle of admiring friends for his skill in mixing
the delectabe beverage known as egg-nog
Judging from the fiery appearance ut his physi-
og. that his attalnments In that respect had not
suffered through age and adversely for the want
of practice, | procured The necessary ingredients
and started for his dwelling He was residing
in small cabin in the depths of a lonely forest
and on my arrival the fire replenished and
the nog mixed to our mutual satisfaction. We
managed to pass the time very pleasantly until
near midnight when The last drop of liuuor dis
appeared, and very soon after, my friend disap-
peared under the table. and | then foolishy
concluded to start COR home.
Hauing drank has friend o6liUious, he departeth
had not proceeded far on my journey before
/ became conscious of having wandered from
the trail. and simultaneous with the discovery
found myself swamped in the bed of muddy
tI,,tr, n,lx,
deavoring to discover the path over which l had
passed with such joyous step but few hours
before, | saw an object few yards ahead which
Immediately induced me to climb the nearest
tree.
Haring rison and climbed tree, he contem-
plateth The peltorman.eof an old Grizzly, got mp
for has iadioidual Qualification.
If you, in your peregrnations, have ever been
placed IN the same interesting situation, You
will have full conception of the suffering that
endured for the next three hours sitting astrde
OF all old oak limb, watching the antics Of a huge
grizzly he made futile attempts TO dislod ge
me from the elevated position.
He piously acatcheh HE old gear ont and the ner
gear IN
have frequently watched .the old year out
and the new year in, - but this was the first time
/ ever had the pleasure of doing it from the top
of an oak tree. While changing my position on
the limb my hat Ga new beaver) was knocked
from my head and fell to the earth. Bruin soon
had 1t in his paws, and as qnietly watched the
destruction of my property. thought it was the
most 6ear-faced piece of impudence that | had
ever witnessed
Ocing to circumstances orer achick he has control
he and the bear raceth, nip and tick, for many
score yards
After sitting patiently upon the limb for about
three hours, missed the bear, and was congra-
ulatlns myself upon his final departure, when
The limb suddenly broke and fell TO the earth,
carrying along with il, as matter of course,
your humble servant. Phansy my feelinks, y
when | arose from the ground to see the bear
coming towards me, with open mouth, at the
distance OF twenty or thirty PAGES. With the
hrm determination OF letting him swallow me
before would again mount tree, i" let nv