Butte record., 1856-12-06
Kate Lansing.
BY PERDITA.

leA y Ou, ucdtc>t5 IL 10 VI HO uSc
talking. Ere another moon has waned
| shall be on my way to California, +"
we're the words addressed by young
widow to her sister, somewhat her SEN
ier, and also wido, as they sat in their
humble dwelling at the twilight hour
"Oh, never think of such step" ;"
was the reply; call that | have urged
against it is not a circumstance to wh hat
| can urge. Think for one moment
that the change of climate alone will
be hazardous to one of Your delicate
constitution"
"Ha, ha, ha ! fuss and nonsense,
sister; any change must be for good.
Have YOU forgotten the cold, dreary
winter. from which We are but just
emerging, that has been severe enough,
almost, to freeze the milk of human
kindness in the warmesl breast |
have not forgotten it, nor yet how hard
it has been to do without wood in this
beautiful climate of ours"
"SIster, do not jest, consider the in
convenience and danders to which you
will be esposcd,"
s.The dangers, my sister, are all in
your Imagination. The lsthmus is the
worst part of the route but remember
that, in addition to being good ho.se-
woman, | shall have the advantage of
riding mode de t'homme. My costume
you will see, it fits exactly, and is ex-
ceedingly becoming. | almost fell in
love with myself in the glass.
''Sister, lay aside frivolity, and real
ly consider what you are about"
"Consider! why, have considered
am going to California to make for
tune. Do not shake yolr head. Aim
high is my motto, it you do alight in
the dust; and | aim 10 free not myself
alone, but you, from ;his Calling power
ty. | would see your children plenti-
lully fed; l would see them educated
a. becomes the descendants Of revolu
tionary heros | would see your face
free from that pallid anious, overtask-
ed look. | can do nothing here. 1t
was but yesterday Mr.. Searl sent me
package of shirts to make, with word
that | must make them for twelve cents
piece. When be gave me fifteen
cents before, and labor as hard as |
could, it was all that [ could do to live
God knows | am not thoughlless noF
heartless. See, | have even parted
with my wedding ring, the gift OF my
sainted husband, to buy medicines for
my sick, dying babe. To me this. The
house of my early years, is but the
land of buried hopes, visions of hap
by childhood, surrounded not on y with
the comforts but the luxu'ies of life,
my footsteps watched and tended by
the best of mothers, my wants more
than supplied by most indulsent faith
er, and these ever haunt me now. Oh,
how were my childish sorrows soothed
by their ever ready sympathy oh, how
| remember what stimulus their words
of encouragement gave, to my childish
heart And then there was our young
er brother, the bright-faced happy fell
low, who gathered all the broken Chi
ma to deck my playhouse with And
when dolls and play-hous 5 were laid
aside, and hard lessons had to BE- learn,
ed, there was one who explained and
made those lessons easy 20 me, and at-
terwards took me home from school up
on his own haud-sled and then, in af
ter years, how many an hour We spent
1. | l, al .olI IL, FRO
ry thing reminds me of the happy sea-
son of early womanhood here are the
very paths we used to tread there are
the books we used to read, the memory
of his kind and manly voice is with me
still. Then, too, l found that | had
learned new lesson, for | had learned
to love. Years rolled by. will not
speak of our joyous wedding, nor the
trembling benediction Of our kind old
father, nor the blessing of my mother,
as her tears fell fast and hot upon my
head. \ short season of happiness
was ours, such as our first parents
might have enjoyed in the garden of
Eden ere they sinned, and then the
cup of happiness was dashed from my
lips. Death, the destroy er, came upon
my track; father, mother, brother,
husbond-oh, sister, where are they 2
sad nv darling iit,i6 one, whose eyes
never saw her fathers face, where, too,
is she: Last winter | laid her in the
cod, cold earth-the snow her cover
lid. What have / left save You, my
sister Oh, is not this, then, a land Of
buried hopes 10 me
"Too true, alas ! you have suffered
mueb fer one SO Young. Forgive, dear
est sister, my calling you thoughtless.
But am not | also bereft and if you
leave me, what shall do :"
81 leave you but TO come again with
relief for you and your children. ~
"Oh, my sister, California is no
place for lady, you are young and de-
iicate, your face is fair, and you will
be exposed 10 dangers you dream not
Of"
II fear no danger. Where my coun-
try's flag floats, there am | safe every
star upon her ample folds is to me "a
star of hope, and every stripe reminds
me Of the sufferings The patience and
fortitude of our forefathers. Sister,
their blood is coursing now within my
yeins-not slurrishlv but with ALI the