Butte record., 1856-12-13
MARY ELTON.
A TALE OF wILKsBARRE.

He knew her in the budding flower;
lie watched her growth from hour to hour.
And loved her in her bloom;
But since her soul has flown from earth,
With all its native, sanity worth,
His heart lies in her tomb.
The expense and inconvenience at
tendant upon the transportation of
bulky material from San Francisco
into the interior, in l949, rendered 1T
necessary for California adventurers,
arriving here, to squeeze their person.
al paraphernalia into as small a pack
age as possible; and, consequently,
many who had landed with cumberome
trunks were obliged to store them until
they returned from the mountains.
Many of these were DESTROYED during
the terrible visitafIons of fire inflicted
upon this city in its days of infancy.
Those that were stored on board of
vess Is in the harbor and in houses that
passed unscathed through the fiery or
deals, as general thing, were left un-
reclaimed, and sales of trunks and con-
tents, "for account of whom it NAV
concern" were matter of every dAy
occurrence.
Having few shirts of my own living
miscellaneously around the room in
which lodged, and finding that their
original numper was rapidly deer, ing
by the simple rule subtraction, part
of arithmetic in which my room mates
were particularly well schooled, | re-
solved, in Justice to judicious self-econ-
omy, to purchase trunk, and thereby
remove all further temptation. With
tlis commendable object in view, | at
tended the next sale | saw advertised,
and was the fortunate bidder-i in of an
elegant and fashionable spring lock,
double-covered, leather travelling trunk
In looking over its contents, which con-
sisted of toilet knick knaeks, an assort-
ment of under-garments, &C. discov-
cred a Ms. carefully folded, and en-
dorsed: "My FIRST, LAST, AND ONLY
LOVE- Curiosity led me to open it,
and 1 found the following interesting
narrative:
In the still, lone hours ofnight, when
all around reigns silence, and man is
left alone to commune with his thoughts
how heeily memory wings back to the
moments of the past How vividly
appear, to the Imagination, the faces of
those we once loved and how freshly
are arrayed before US the scenes of pu-
rity and innocence that we passed with
them in our halcyon days. Again, in
thought, we gambol, with all the buoy
ancy Of youth, over the familiar fields
of green, and pluck natures choisest
flowers to present to the idol of our
heart or, perhaps, wander leisurely
with her along the rivers bank, gaz-
ing upon the bosom of TIE placid str cam,
as 1t silently courses to the ocean, and
liken our love to it-calm but flowing,
. and as exhatstlecs as its sourc.
Yes, there was a period when each
succeeding day rolled on with such un-
alloyed happiness-whsn requited love
gave sunshine and brightness to every
hour, that | now almost regret memory
remains to give me the power of con-
trasting that time with the present
Mary Elton was rare and beautiful
flower that bloomed iu the town of
Wilkesbarre, on the banks of the Sus-
quehannah. She was adorned by ma
ture with form OF excellent symme-
try and face of marvellous beauty
Although she was endowed with an
easy and fascinating grace IN society,
her manners were naturally retiring.
Her family, being in affiuent circum-
stances, had given her an excellent
education, which she made use of, not
to show others how far she was their
superior in learning. but to attract
them towards her, that she might i'm
part to them the treasures she had re-
ceived at the fount of knowledge: To
the poor she had endeared herself by
her benefactions her peers she had
won by her kindness and amiability !;
and her seniors she had cenciliated by
her veneration and tractability.
Though situated in vastly different
worldly circumstances and prospects
from Miss Elton, grew up, from my
earliest years, in her acquaintance
Our frienship, at the age of adolescence
ripened into love, and at length happi
ness for either was only to be found in
the others society.
Two years passed away. from the
kime we had first interchanged our
vows, without interruption to our hap
Piusss-
NV Mid had become so engrossed
with the entlralling passion which pos
sessed me, thas | could not pay that
strict attention te business which is so
necessary to attain success in the legal
profession. The reputation had
gained during the FIRST SIX months OF
my practice was rapidly waning for
the want Of exertion on my part and
/ at length opened my eyes te the m
judiciousness, if not folly, of my course:
There we're obstacles to our union l
had not heretofore reflected upon. The
object of my affection was the daugh-
ter Of a wealthy father; / must be
the architect of my own fortune.
Would it be right, would it be hoaora-
hs, to draw her down to nv own lev