Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-10-24
Miner of the Old school.

He was returning from long prospecting tour,
driving n melancholy looking donkey covered
with blankets, frying pans, tin cups and Kettles,
mining implements and the whole worldly estate
OF his master He carried II long. heavy rifle,
huge Colts revolver, aud n bowc-knifc about Is
inches long His beard was long, and his whole
appearance was grotesque in the extreme. His
hat was set firmly on his head, with an air OF de-
termination, and rs he slowly climbed the hill.
every now and then applying stimulus to the
donkey with long switch, we thought we could
distinguish an air of manly independence and
self confidence which some day or other, would
force the hills and streams to reward him Tor ev-
cry step he had taken aud we were nos mlsta
kcn--he is one Of the wealthiest men IN the
mountains always in advance Of the crowd ana
about when money is to be made Rough as he
looked, he was well educated aud we'll informedi
but mining was his vocation, and he cared little
for appearances.
A iollv, Independent fellow is the miner, when
the world goes well with him and the dlggings
nav Seated on n stool before roaring TIRE, he
listens to the patcring of the rain on the roof, or
watches the snow piled up round his cabin, with
the utmost Indifference, knowing that when the
storm is over. he eau shovel away the snow, ana
every dav Law up something for that much talked
OF dny--thc day OF going home. Not so with
the unucky onc--everyt thing he touches seema
to wlher and fall to tho ground like rotten
branch, lie has toiled long and faithfully ana
the harder he worked the less he had at the end
at the end of the year. Others, apparently idle,
loaHng about, doing nothing, seemed to get pos
session OF what he was seeking after, while he was
working early and late, ragged and perhaps with
but Indifferent food. The consciousness OF having
tried to do right having patiently submitted to
the decree that man should earn his bread by
the sweat of his brow; having labored hopefully,
until every bone ached. and Mt last when winter
comes on, and the rain and sleet begins to dash
against the single pane of glass In his window.
and whisk of the claphoarhs from his cabin--no
money, no provision; dealers in miners stores
looking nskance at him when he enters to ask
credit OF II weeks provision -then the miners
life il different thing. How dsmally the wind
moans through the tops of the fir trees H.! and hoW
it goes bowling down the canon, in very mockery
of his poverty What wonder then that he
should grow desperate and fell half Inclined TO
shake hands with honesty, aud say so thy way
at II more convenient season | viii call Tor
thee Then is the time when principle Is sorely
tried when he has to struggle with the teachlngs
Of childhood and his inclination to be avenged OF
pcrvcrsc fortune and then he makes msstep
which leads to another, until he fluids himself
fugitive and vagabOnd Others there are, hope1
full perscyerlng, determined that. come what
will they viii hold fast their integrity. They
may sleep on Il bard bed, 1.-Two on meagrc fare aud
work the harder for i'll success. Bad luck will
weary of prosecuting one whom she cannot con-
quer and when he least expects II the tide turns,
and he begins 10 think that perhaps after all he
is one Of the lucky ones.-Sac Age.