The Sierra citizen., 1855-01-06
The Pioneer Magazine.


an opportunity of reading the Pioneer
Monthly Magazine, that every Californian
should have on his shelf. 1t is published
in San Francisco, and edited by F. G.
Ever, the author Of the famous papers
:" The Eventful Nights of August 20 and
2lst." Scarcely had the Pioneer. contain
ing the FIRST Of the above articles. appeared,
when swarm of critics made descent
on the author, for advocating the spiritu-
alism humbug, as they supposed, to the
great terror of women and children. But
after all the Eventful Nights" we're
eagerly read. for the strange power they
possessed over the imagination. Since
that time the Pioneer has been going the
rounds from cabin to cabin, and in twenty
four hours after the book store and FIX
press offices receive their first packages Of
the Magazine, not a number is to be had.
We give the following extracts to show
what sort Of stuff the Pioneer is made of.
The first is Swiss Sketch, by James
Pipes. Of Pipesville,' or Stephen G. Mas
sett. 1t is story of a little May Day
Queen, who in the midst Of the festivities,
was stolen away by tt e Angel of Death.
But to the story
"The sun never beamed more gloriously
than upon the May-morn about which |
am writing-the last browning Of the
{" Lilly Of the Valley" and though its lit
tie head was bent in sickness. the genial
sunshine, it was thought, would revive,
and the merry-making and excitement
prove beneficial, rather than injurious
And so they placed her upon her floral
throne.
The shou ings of hundred tender
voices went up; professions were formed,
and garlands, wreathed by little hands,
were tossed into the air. All eyes were
turned towards the throne of roses, and
her crown Of pure white lilies, that she
loved to wear, was placed upon her brow
She looked so lovely there. in her dress of
buds and blossoms; but she was gerry pale
and her eye looked up to Heaven! Could
she have heard them calling her away {?
She smiled SO sweetly, she could not be in
pain; and she tried to raise herself, but
the exertion was too much for her, and
just waving her little hand,
She fell, in her Saint-like beauty,
Asleep by the Gates Of Light!'
"rhe color returned not to her cheek,
and thus this tender floweret, in the very
height Of its May Day glory, was taken to
be transp!anted into the heavenly nursery
"'rle May hay dance wac over. Gar
lands and wreaths Of flowers dropped from
slender hands, that in their glec had held
them-and tears flowed like rain; and,
where so lately smiles, laughter, and the
joyous strains of music aoatyd in the air,
sobbings now were heard, and rejoicings
were at ali end.
II thought it was glorious way to die,
ere the young heart had grown familiar
with the paths Of sin. While cen the
spring flowers budded, bloomed and bios
somed on her very breast-.whiIe the shout
ings OF innocent voices greeted her-her
spirit passed silently away.
This is the story that they tod me;
and now I will tell you, my reader, waai
Isaw !:
.On the night Of the day that I arrived.
the funeral of the little May Queen took
place. Never before did feel 50 stongly
the impressiveness. nay, the beauty of
Heath, divestet as it seemed to be, Of all
its gloom and terror
"There was no cofhn-no pall-no raven
p!umings-none Of the trappings and
soInber liverics of the grave, seen there;
but, upon two pieces Of cedar ,uood, bound
tightly together with boughs of evergreen
and myrtle, forming sort Of trellis.work,
the body was placed, dressed in garment
of plain white, with u single fowef-the
Lily OF the Valley resting on the breast.
The scene was most imposing. It was
night; but the moon shone full upon that
lovely face; it was SO light--so very light
it did not look like Death. Aud, then, it
seemed to smile. as though q pleasant
dream Was hers; or. perhaps, she was
talking I, the angels. And, then, each
of the children kissed those Little lips, so
still now, and cold, and their hearts seemed
to think taut she could hear them and one
said, she knew she smiled when they called
her--but now she had gone to God to be