The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-08-19
Seltrtea storu.
a From the South Carolinian.
II Ell e B r. OT III RS!
by J. wlTuERSrCcS ERWIN.


San Francisco. The night was COLI anil
drizzy, and those who were assembled
there, seemed rather disposed to remain
and enjoy comfortable fire, than to ven
ture out into the streets, III lighted as
they were, aud covered with adhesive
mud.
/ had landed only few hours before
from the Golden Gate and everything
around had for me the charm of novelty
was The only passenger vino had put up
M liauptman' Hotel, and in looking
around, found not single face that
had seen before.
The group around me WAS such as one
could expect to encounter no where else
but in that wonderful city, whore the
Sacra ann fumes had gathered together
representatives from every class and na
ton. Mammon has more worshppers
than Jehovah, I'll Daralo more pilgrims
than Mecca. Housed unier the same
roof with myself, WAS bourbon prince,
Italian beggars, llungnrian refugees, Aus
uian and Swedish miners, oblique eyes
and ionglueued subjects Of the Celestial
Empire, and citizens from every state Of
Chrlatcndom. But the greater portion
were my own countrymen, who had been
ln'ed thlther 10y the thirst for gold. AS
tor mlsclF, viii confess, that having Jus,
received nay diploma at a medical colirge,
MAS only desirous OF entering upon my
profession, ani discharsing my duties to
Hoe'cty, with AN iudilicrencc as 10 its pro.
hts. wh"h many would have deemed eg.
ieglous folly.
To myself all around me seemed seized
with strange m0nOmauin, ani 10 think
and tax, and drcarn OF nothing but the
g!ttcring dust. ! had never uetorc seen
80 many monomania- together. There
were but two OF the group who did not
seed infected 10y ilIe disease but they.
too, had their munomauin. one WAS II
German butaDi.i, who sat apart arranging
the specimens which he hal gathered in
recen: exploration, aud tic other was
Nermontcr, all Of whose family, but
daughter, had pcrr>lIrd II few months pre-.
Nl"''>iy, 10y "a Steamboat explosion on the
North Nv .r. have met but few men of
as atiectionnie disposition, and rs strong
~ hS alta :hmrGtS rs he seemed 10 be-
Ailcr the loss Of his family, his chief de
sire seemed 10 be, TO r'join an only hro,h.
er IN the land OF gold, whom he had not
seen for score Of Yeas. soon uscer-
tanned that lac, like myself. was q s.ran
ger in San Francisco, aud lhat lhe discus
sons OF the gold seekers fell as idly upon
his ear As upon my owr. lie sat apart
from the noisy group. and my attention
WAS attracted to him by his quiet and re
served demeanor, aud the inQuiring and
wakGlul, or-as Others might have
tliought-fnrtivc glanccs, which lie cast
around from face to face. lis face was
covered ly a thick, course beard, slightly
spr:nkIeI with grey, and from his appear
ance. judged him 10 be somewhat less
than hiy years ot-Sge. Glad to fnG
some one whose thorsh:s were not entire
ly absorbed in dreams Of gold, | leaned
my chin agains, the wall by his side, and
entered into conversation with him.
lie was one OF the very few men with
whom have met, ia whom age has not
duIled or destroyed the affection Of child
hood. He had an only brother, some
ten years his junior, who had wandered
away from his mountain home in his eigh
ieenth year, from whom he had not di-
rectly heard until within the last few
months. To meet this brother once more,
to renew with him the aliectionate inter.
course Of childhood and TO spend the
evening of life near 10y his side, had be.
come with him a passion as strong as the
thirst for gold in those who were around
us. / ventured 10 hint in hiu--iB a del
icate manner Of course-the possibility Of
finding brothers feelings strangely
changed, by lapse of twenty years, aud
long residence in land where avarice
seemed TO swallow up all other feelings
My companion smiled and shook his
head incredulously.
i fear you have never been blessed
with a brother replied he, or you would
know that there is one affection which
never grows old. In fact, II is one that
strengthens with our years, ard becomes
the more endearing as we gain bitter
experience Of the utter seIiishncss and
hearllessuess Of mankind. have trav
eled thousands Of miles 20 find the iuxu-
~ Of hearing brothers voice, and
promise myself that our meeting to NOR.
row will repay me a thousand fold for the
faligues and priva,ions OF my journey,
and the pain it cost me to tear myself
away from the home Of my childhood. -
But see,' continued he, pulling out his
watch, 1t is nine o'clock aud | must re-
tire-i wish you = goodnight
As my companion withdrew, could
net avoid contrasting him, in my own
mind. with others around me, in whom
the greed OF gold had swallowed up all
other thoughts and aspirations, and the
cid saw, that All is not gold that gilt
ters, was uppermost 10 my mind.
Another robbery at the Globe Hotel +
cried a new conner, entering and takiag
his stand before the blazing fire, with tile
air Of a man born TO The manner
Andy Tilton's room was entered to day,