Mountain Democrat., 1857-10-03
"OUR COUNTRY but o Wrong Our Country"
PLAoERVnLE CO., CALIFORNIA SATURDAY OCTOBER

since we dug ner grave BY the lake sidC
with our own hands; and with many I
tear and sob, turned ourselves away from
the cabin where we'd been raised-thC
Indians had killed our father long before,
and we'd nothing to keep us-and so we
went to seek our fortunes. My brother,
he took down to St louis, and got mar.
ried down there som'ers; and lust went
where the wind blOwed, and when I'd
scraped money enough together, I cum
back and bought q few acres of land
around my mothers old cabin, for the
place where I'd lain her bones were sacred
like. We'll, in the course of time it turned
up right in the middle of Chicager.
could mt stand that, Iloved my old mother
too well to let 0mnibusses rattle over her
grave, so cum back about fifteen years
ago, and quietly moved her away to the
bury'n ground; and then Iwont to Texas,
and wrote to an agent arterward to sell
my land. What cost few hundred to
begin on, I sold for over forty thousand
if I'd q kept it till now, 'twould have been
worth ten times that; that's so, but got
enough for it. soon turned that forty
thousand into eighty thousand, and that
into twice as much, and 80 on, till don't
know nor don't care what I'm worth |;
thUt's 90. work hard, am the same
rough customer, remember every day in
my life what my mother taught me; never
drink, nor fight; wish didn't swear and
chew; but them's got to be kind second
natur'like, and the only thing that troubles
me is my money-haven't got no vito nor
children, and I'm going now to hunt up
my brother and his folks. IF his boys is
clever and industrious, amt ashamed Of
my big boots and old-fashioned ways, and
his gals young women and not ladies-if
they help their mother and don't put on
more'n two ffocks day, I'll make 'cm
rich, every one Of 'em.
"Now, gentlemen, faint often I'm Led
to tell on myself after this fashion. But
these old places where / trapped when ]
was q boy, made me feel like child again,
and | had just felt like telling these
youngsters here about the changes and
chances feller may meet with in life, If
he only tries to make the most of himself"
But, boys" said he, turning to a par
ty Of young mon, "there's something bet
ter than money. Get education. Why,
boys, if had as much lnrnin' as money,
Icould be Presidentin 1857, justas easy.
Why, could buy up half the North, and
not miss it out Of my pile. But get larnin' {;
don't chew tobacco, don't take to liquor,
don't swear; and mind your mothers,
that's the advice Of o real live Sucker
and If yon mind what / say you may be
men, (and it amt every feller that wears
gOGtee and breeches that's man, by q
long wayR) FOller out her counsels !;
never do thing that will make you
ashamed to meet her in Heaven. Why,
boys, I never done bad thing but heard
my mothers voice reprovin' me; and |
never done . good thing and made . good
move, but I seemed to hear her say,
"That's right Jack" and that has been
tho best Of all. Nothin' like mother
boys; nothin' like mother-thGt's co."
All this had passed while waiting to
wood, just out Of Chicago. The great
man was swelling with emotions called up
from the dark shadows Of the past His
big rough 6rame heaved like q great billow
upon the ocean. Tears sprang into his
deep-set and earnest eyes--thcy welled
up to the brim, and swan round asking
to be let fall IS tributes to his mothers
memory-tributes to the love Of the past.
But he choked them down, and humming
q snatch Of an old ballad, he thrust his
hands down into his pockets, walked back
to the end Of the car, pulled the gigantic
collar of his shaggy coat up around his
ears, buttOned it close, and leaned back
against the window in silence.
The cars ratified on. What q mind was
there; what giant intellect, sleeping,
buried away from light and usefulness
by q rubbish Of prejudice, habit and GUS
tom, doing but half work, for want of
culture.
"A mute, ingloriOus Milton, i" or rather
Webster, going about the world, strug-
Cling with his own soul, yet bound BY
chains Of ignorance, which precluded his
doing but moiety Of the good it lay in
his power to do.
All the way through our long, tedious
journey, be had ever been on the watch
to do good. He gave up his seat by the
fire to an Irish woman and her child, and
took one further back soon young girl
seated herself by his side; as the night
hours wore on, and she nodded wearily,
he rose, spread his beautiful leopard skin,
with its soft, rich lining, on the seat, made
pillow Of his carpet-bag, and insisted
that she should lie down and sleep.
"What will you do ?" said she naively.
"Nevcr mind mel can stand up and
sleep Ikea Buffalo; I'm used to it-thacs
%
A little boy, pulled up from q sound
nap to give place to incomers, was pacified
and made happy by . handful Of chest
nuts and glowing bit Of candy ont Of
the big mans pocket When he left the
cars for refreshments, he brought back
his hands full Of pies, and distributed
them among awcary group, q mother and
seven little children, the eldest not twelve
years old, whose husband and father left
the cars ct every stopping g-place, and re.
turned more stupid and beastly each time,
scolding the little. tired, restless ones,
with thick tongue, and glaring his fGri-
GUS red cyes upon the poor, grieved vic
tim Of . wife, like tiger on its prey, "be.
cause che did not keep her young ones
still :" "they would disturb everybody"
No bite Of refFcshment, no rest from that
fat, cross baby, came to her al the long
night save when the big Inaa stretched
out his great hands and took her baby
boy for an hour, and lot him play with his
splendid watch to keep him quiet.
III give you . thousand dollars for
him." sad he, e. he handed him back to
her arms.
WYou NAV haYu the Hhola lot for that y