Oroville daily Butte record., 1856-12-03
Ouuille Dailq Dutte Retora.
Kate Lansing.
BY PERDITA.

y
over one couch of pain and then anoth-
er. How anxiously she watched and
tended those sick friends--alas, in vain.
She saw the iifeless forms of her pro-
tectors, first, the wife, then the hus-
band, and finally their child-all COM
mitted to the bosom of the terrible
deep. Kate was alone, she felt that
she was alone; yet she sank not, but,
like an angel of mercy, she passed from
couch to couch, minstering to the ai-
ficted. 1t mattered not where sick
ness and suffering were, whether in the
steerage or the cabin, there was Kate
Lansing to be found, giving medicine
to one. nourishment to another, conso-
lation to third, and bathing the burn
ing brow and parched lips OF a fourth
1t was no wonder that they felt COM
forted when they saw her coming, or
that they greeted her, and spoke Of her
as "the kind lady" In this work of
womanly devotcdness, twenty,one days
passed away, before caching the en-
trance to the long looked for and well
come harbor Of San Franc sco The
sense of her loneliness pressed heavily
upon her heart, and she retired to her
room to pray that she might be pre-
served from all danger, and guided in
her future course, earnestly commit
ting herself to His care and keeping,
who had promised to be ga husband to
the widow and father to the father
less.' Hastily arrangln! her toilet,
she went upon deck to take a first view
of San Francisco, just as they were
rapidly nearing the end Of Long wharf.
This wharf was full of anxious faces,
eagerly looking for loved ones expect
ed to arrive by that steamer. AS Kate
looked upon all that vast multitude Of
human beings, and felt that there was
no one to look for her--no one 10 take
her by the hand and say, welcome 10
CaIifornia--a heart>sickened feeling
crept over her, and she retired to her
room, determined to wait till the press
of the crowd was over and the Captain
was dJ lClSuIC, uu'I tbCh SUM liO'h ''iii
advice as to her future course. Kate
had not waited long before the crowd
had nearly all dispersed. Night was
fast coming on, and she began to feel
uneasy, when light tap at her state
room door arrested her attention.
"Excuse me. madam" said a manly
voice, which she recognised at once as
belonging to one Of the passengers
whom she had nursed on shipboard.
81 know that you have lost your friends
on the passage, and have come to say,
that if | can assist you to find your
friends here, it would afford me plea
sure
"I thank you, sir" said Kate, "but
Ihave no friends. Those lost by the
fever were all l had to depend upon in
this country, now | am alone"
IL am very sorry to hear it madam,
but surely | can do something to serve
YOU. Do not fear to let me know if |
can; | have sister myself at home.
You may trust me as you would bro
ther; for Californians, though some
times rough and coarse among them
selves, know how to treat lady res
pectfully, and as gentlemen should
and am / not already deeply indebted
to you for your kind care while L was
tossing in the delirium of that dreadful
fever -
"Do not mention it," said Kate,
"but if you can inform me of some ho-
tel or boarding house where | can put
up for the present and feel safe, it
would oblige me very much"
"Surcly, that 1 will do with plea.
sure,' said the stranger, fortunately
| am acquainted here with widow
lady who keeps a private boarding
house With her you will be well pro.
vided and cared for. California is my
home, although business called me to
New York, from whence have, as
you know, but just returned, so that |
speak from personal knowledge"
The manly and courteous candor of
the stranger induced Kate to accept
his protfered services, and on arriving
there she found it all that it had been
represented to be.
CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT