The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-11-20
a SIR E WD WIZ
OR AN USPRoF1rABLE TRIP TO cALIFoRNIA

Il think" said Mr.. Dana, as he pushed
back his chair from tie breakfast table, and
looking hard at his wife, pretty little woman
with large blue eyes. ''1'think that | should
like to try my luck in California. Darn it all,
everybody is going about here. Do you
think YOU could spare me for year, Nelly?'
Mrs. Dana made no reply; she appeared 10
be very busy turning out cup Of tea, though .
a kccner observer than her husband would .
have noticed an uncommon tremulousness in +
her hands as Mr.. Dana ceased speaking.
Il think | might do well there" the hus
band continued, though speaking to him
self.
Are YOU not doing well here, on your
fsrm?' asked the wife, at length.
I'm making living, perhaps. but it is
only BY hard work. Now, if l should go to
California, and be lucky, why, we could have
a great many more comforts than We are bles-
sed with at present
We have every thing that We could wish
for to make us cont ,nted. and | am l
sigh for no luxuries excepting what can al
ford" Mrs Dana replied.
Yes, we have enough 10 cat, and clothes
to wear, bat we can't buy lots of good furni-
'u1e, AMI have piano, like Squire Bolton.
Darn It, | want TO be rich as he Is, and then
should be contented,' said Mr.. Dana, rising
iron, his chair, and walking to and fro with
energy.
Mr. Bolton is far from being happy"
said his wife.
.'Well | know thai; but then who could
be contented with such wife as he has? She
is either crazy half the time, or else there
''Hush.' said Mrs. Dana. with repro" CHI
ful look remember, if she has faults, 50 have
we ALL
Bat what mean, Nelly, is. tha. if he had
such wife rs | have got. aud with all his
wealth. he could not help being happy"
And yet you want to leave wife you
think so highly Of" said she, with another
reproachfu look.
but don't you see that it is all for your
own benefit and comfort in the end? You
+ huom, NeIiy, that nothing could induce me to
quit you, unless it the hope of making
fortune in a short time, and would mt be gone
longer than year; and if liked the country,
and thought you would be contented there I'd
send for you
The young wife strove hard to retain her
composure as she asked-'.What viii you do
with the farm when You are gone away?
Il will get my youngest brother to come
and live here. and carry it on. lou shall be
left in full charge. Nelly, to do just you
please
Give me weak to think of it, the wife
replied; "at the end Of that time III make up
or not
Mr. Dana was too well pleased to obtain
. even this concession 10 think of arguing any
farther, and after bidding his wifa =, ro"' tt'
, accounts IN the newspapers containing the la
t test news from California, he started of to hi;
work
Mr.. Dana owned farm Of about one hun
dred acres, near the town Of Windsor, Yer
S mont. He was ayoun. man, aud person o
and lal fl1IrIu lIp
ority, saved small sum Of money which h
had safely deposited in the Savings Bank, un
til such a time as lie should want to use il
After he became OF age, lie had added to hi
capital, and when he thought he should lik
Nelly Perkins for a wife, and proposed I,
= her, and was accepted. he bought the farm W
r find him occupying. and was doing as well a
e any young farmer in the neighborhood
He had been married about two years whel
# the gold fever of l848-49 broke out, takin
= off thousands Of our most industrious mechan
les and farmers, and leaving many hearth
stone desolate and many wife to mourn a
= absent husband.
L After Mr.. Dana had left his wife, she wash
q ed her dishes and put them away, and the
n sat down TO read the glowing accounts of th
rod discoveries. The more she read, th
: more 'aso.Eaiel did She become, un.il at la:
Y sc cane ne conclusion that II she were
y man. sac would tempted 20 60 and try he
: luck Twice during the forenoon, did sh
: peruse the paper, and each time her roSoiutlo
of not consentlng 10 her husbands departu
: grew weaker, until she finally made up he
= mind, if he asked her consent again. she woul
e give it.
At Mrs Dana was a woman of eonsiderab
mind Ever since she a child she ha
e been obliged To labor. and by her conta
q, with the world she had acquired a knowled!
of business which did not, however. impa
d or detract from the natural modesty Of goo
l. womaa's heart or mind.
sr \ week had not passed before the husbar
- again alluded 10 the subject uppermost in h
mind A company was about leaving Win,
IS sor, and many o! the young men OF the tow
J. were enrolling their names. Mr. Dana lhoug
!! that it would be good time for him,
~ would have acquainlances to lend him a hel
ne ing hand in case he was taken SICK His w
{, thought the same thing and delighted b
husband by giving her consent to his going
Thev were not aware Of the selhshness {
q, hibitei in the mines whore each stru
IS rled for hinaselfand thought it waste oftir
" 10 help his fev.riSh friend 10 glass Of &C
re water. or make him mess of cruel TO he
at him from starving
he Mr Dana's arrangements were soon ma;
~, I've He had some money on hand, and with it
i. determined to cross the ISihmus. in co-nps
Il with hi> town>men as he thought he CO.
ast MAKE ttl0u i asSCi LIS a.t''at ~ d "Seh-
sso pay his passage. They wrote 10 engage ste
er- age berths, and received answer that the 81
nler w ould sail on such dav. and that th
a'a must be promptly on the spot. This ne
an caused the party to hurry up their arran
nal ments, and on the day before they were
o~ start. Mr.. Dana requested his wife 70 aeco
ere panv him to a alawver.