San Andreas independent., 1857-05-09
lamentations of a Gold digger.


The following amusing letter, setting
forth the sorrows and privations of gold
digger, was written by disciple Of rs
culapius to DR.. Elisha E., in reply to
letter from the latter asking his friend why
ne persisted in digging, and urging him
to leave the mines.
DOUGLASS FLAT, Oct. 18th, 81.
W HY WILL YE DIG ?"-Son of man
tor the light of whose countenance, and
Tor the JOY of whose presence my spirit
yearneth and my bowels grumbleth. dost
thou ask me achyS Is it not written that
fortune smiles upon fools? And for the
sake OF these smiles hath not thy servant
been making fool--yea, an ass-of him.
self. in vain?
For five score and ten days he has So
journed in this place-he has dug the
earth--he has dived into the water--he
has torn ancient rocks from their resting
places, and removed them afar oh-he has
likewise torn his breeches in parts not to
be spoken he has rooted into mud
like unto swine His beard hath grown
long-the skin upon his hands and face
hath changed its color until he is now
likened unto wild beast, and his gar
ments are rent and soiled, SO that "sack-
cloth and ashes" would be as fine linen
and purple unto him. He would fain
feed on husks. but there are none Yos,
he who in times past was wont to fare
sumptuously, aud to grumble over greater
delicacies than were piled upon the table
of Dies, now snuffs with gladness the
fragrance of pork and beans, and gnashes
his teeth impatiently over frying slap
jack. He bolteth raw onion with uD-
spcakable avidity. Potato skins fear his
presence-beef vanishes from before him,
and the dogs look in vain for the bones
He sighs for the flesh pots of Egypt, and
mourns over the barrenness of the landi
In his sleep, nevertheless, the good angel
of the past deigns to visit him, and de-
lightful visions are opened to his recollec-
ton. for delicious "bill of fare" floats
before the mind of the dreamer, aud he
orders " Oysters and terapins for sir,"
only to awaken to his Internal slap-jacks
and molasses
he not then fool, an abomination In the
sight of wisdom? And is it not unto such,
and such only, that fortune dispenses her
favors? Yes she hath deserted me- I
approach her, and she heeth / g double
on her trail,' and she turneth away /
await her coming, and she stands still -
| secrete myself in her path, and seize her
unawarcs But she glideth off, as though
| had caught hog by his creased tail !
SIC transcit," l exclaim, as with a sick
heart. revile poverty, and curse fortune
Lo! are these evils? And wherefore
should they be visited upon thy servant?
Surely hc hath not sinned as other men
sinneth. He hath not coveted his neigh
bor's OK, nor his ass nor his man servant,
nor his maid scrvant-for be it known
unto thee that there are no maid servants
here. He hath abided by g the law and
the prophets,' but the profits have not
abided by him
Now, therefore, | denounce these dig
gings-I absquatulate the premises-I
" caneose the ranch"-I take Oft put
out go-I slope!-I depart without
morrow, for the morrow takes no care nor
heed Of me- Ere five days shall have
passed, the shirt-tail of thy servant will be
waving in the breezes of the Nevada A
remnant of it will be nailed upon the highest
mountain that he crosses, as an emblem of
the extremity to which man may be re-
duced in the land of Ophif! Yet, think
not, oh . Elisha, that I would rend my
garment for this alone Verify say unto
thee, an evil genius hath long pursued me.
She hath followed so close upon my foot
steps, that every thread and fibre of my
shirt tail is familiar to her eye. And if
in her pursuit of me, she should gaze upon
this relic in the solitary Businesses of the
mountain, she will at once recognize it, and
believing me to be torn and destroyed by
wild beasts, she will retrace her steps, and
thus will escape her.
| go hence, Elisha. unto the town of
Sonora, where it has been prophesied that
thy servant will heal the sick, and prosper
with undn,aSang prosperity. As Moses
reared the serpent in the wilderness for
the children of Israel to look upon and be
cured of their infrmities, SO will I elevate
my tin among the Gentiles, that they may
gaze upon it and be made whole. Their
Offering of gold and silver will be accepta-
bic unto me, and if they live not after
wards, per adventure they may find trea-
sure in Heaven
Warriors and statesmen have their need