Squatter sovereign., 1856-04-01


gold discoveries. The more she read, the
more fascinated did she become, until she
at last came to the conclusion that if she
was a man she would be tempted to go
and try her luck.
Twice during the forenoon did she Pc
ruse the paper, and each time her resolu-
ton of not corsenting to her husbands de-
parture grew weaker, until she finally made
up her mind, that if he asked her consent
again she would give it.
Mrs. Dana was woman of considera-
bic mind. Ever since she was a child,
she had been obliged to labor, and by her
contact with the world, she had acquired a
knowledge of business, which did not, how
ever, impair or detract from the natural
modesty of good woman's heart or mind.
A week had not passed before the hus-
band again alluded to the subject upper
most in his mind. A company was about
to leave Windsor, and many of the young
men Of the town were enrolling their
names. Mr.. Dana thought that it would
be good chance for him, as he would
have acquaintances to lend him helping
hand in case he was taken sick. His wife
thought the same thing, and delighted her
husband by giving him her consent to his
going.
They were no: aware OF the sel6shness
exhibited in the gold regions, where each
man struggled for himself, and thoaght it
waste of time to help his feverish friend
to cup of cold water, or make him some
Cruel TO keep him from starving.
Mr.. Dana's arrangements were soon
made. He had some money on hand,
and with it he determined to cross the 18TH
mus, in company with his townsmen, as he
thought he could make enough in week,
after his arrival in California, TO pay his
passage.
They wrote to engage steerage berths,
and received an answer that the steamer
would sail on such day, and that they
must be promptly on the spot. This news
caused the party to hurry their arrange
ments, and the day before they were to
start, Mr.. Dana requested his wife to ac-
company him to lawyers.
Il am going long journey he said,
sand may be gone longer than i antici-
pate. / shall leave you the farm, to do
with as you please. If you get tired of
carrying it on, sell it to the best advantage;
shall make money enough when l am
gone to buy larger one when return.
But hardly think shall live on farm
when come back. Well get one of the
grand new houses in town, and live like
Squire Bolton
His wife thought at the time that there
might be failure in his schemes; but she
was hopeful, and would not say anything
to dash his bright anticipations.
The day of parting came, and with it
tears and mournful looks; but it was not
until Dana left the house that the young
wife felt the loneliness of her situation.
For week or two she was low spirited
and sad; hut as she received letters from
her husband in New York, written in a
lively vein, and bidding her to be of good
cheer, as he should certainly rejoin her in
the course of year, she became more
composed and reconciled to his absence.
We will not follow him in the crowded
steamship, nor across the Isthmusi where
he narrowly escaped drowning while as
cending the river, nor will we tell of his
arrival at San Francisco, and departure
for the mines, where he worked in the bed
of the river, and was quite fortunate until
attacked with the fever and ague, which
roasted hlm at tne moment and froze him
the next.
| He would lie In his tent and wish thai
the gentle hands of HE wife could wipe
the moisture from his brow or eozer him
with blankets when shivering with cold
All his adventure might be written out, and
perhaps Mr. Dana will, some day, give
the world an account of his doings In the
land of gold. They will possibly serve a.
warning to other husbands, and thu
prevent many heart from mourning fol
the absent.
/ MIR. Dana's fever got no better, and a
last the doctor told him he had better seel
a change of climate. as he might shake
himself to death. Dana thought the same
thing; for it appeared 10 him when th.
chills came on, that every bone in his bod,
would be wrenched apart. and when tn.
fever returned he imagined himself Al
i oven.
i He considered the subject one day, an
| determined TO start for home. A team
| was to leave the next day for Sacramento
,land as soon as his resolution was formed
- re~z.,n s<,Id ,H~lf T.;