The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-12-03

and old, turned away from employment,
simply because slaves could be had for
the same wages. But enough of this, for
while | reflect upon the institution of my
native state, my face burns with shame.
Would to God had the power to build
up for her free Institutions
Well, as l was going to say, after ]
had perused al article in relation to the
affairs of Kansas, | Immediately reSolv-
ed to go to that country, when my hands
voluntarily dropped to my knees, and /
was rapidly enumcrating in my minds
eve the inducements that were held out
TO young men in Kansas, when suddenly
"a sense of my pecuniary circumstances
flashed into my memory; it flashed as a
galyanic shock. | cast my eyes around
me, and i'll one corner of my cosSu | be-
held small table, upon which were three
tin plates, two tin cups, butter plate, and
bread pan, all of which were, as yet, un-
washed In another corner of the room
stood cooking stove, around which hung
some of my wet clothing, that | had
washed at noon; while resting ill another
extremity of the casa could be seen two
flour sacks, and one of potatoes; while
suspended to the ceiling was sca-grsss
sack, in which were kept our bacon, etc.
After reviewing every thing around me,
| suddenly conceived that |, while living
thus, was violating both the laws of God
aud Of nature, and that, as | could see no
remedy at that time, it would be better if
were dead. THUS ! was rapidly reyol-
wing in my mind the consequences of
such termination, and the effect it would
have upon my friends, when the visage
Of my mother, as has been often the case,
banished all such evil thoughts from my
mind ., how often has her yisage de-
livcred me FROM evil actions. One does
not leave mothers influence at home;
nay, it is a companion from childhood to
the grave.
On being delivered Of train Of evil
thoughts, | retired TO rest, and early on
the following morning | arose, and took
up my pick, pan, and shovel, and started
off prospecting. | had not proceeded far,
until | observed some favorable looking
quartz rock, and after pounding some of
it well, | washed out of one pound of the
rock ten dollars | was in ecstatic JOY.
rushed 20 the Justice of the Peace to
have claim recorded; and it was soon
known that | had struck it; and in a
short time the mountain was literally
covered with prospectors and spectators; /;
but as l had the only good claim on the
hill, | succeeded in selling it for FIVE
thousand dollars before night
[ took the first stage for Stockton,
thence to San Francisco, and lost no time
in getting on beard of a steamer bound
for New York. In due time | was once
mere climbing the stiles in front of the
old homestead Once more | beheld my
parents and brothers and sisters. They
were entirely unchanged. After embra-
cling them all, would take them by the
: hand, one after another, and examine them
closely, as though | feared that was not
in reality at home. To clear away my
doubts, my sisters told me that Oh that
evening they were to have social party,
and that some of my old friends would be
there So, at the appointed hour our
friends arrived The music began, and |
joined in the dance; but ere long | be-
came fatigued, and retired to rest in my
old brown hedstead and feather bed, for
the first time in four years and half,
l soon fell asleep, and it was not until
the sun shed its golden rays upon my
head board that | WAS aroused from my
slumbers. Feeling so light-hear;cd, re-
solved Immediately to arise, [ threw
aside my covering, and turned my eyes to
the window to sec if my old favorite gun
still hung there But O, misery! what
did l see wood-saw, gold-pan, and
crevicing-speon. had awakened to the
reality of bitter disappointment-I hat
been dreaming. ] slowly sank back OIL
my pillow of pine leaves, and again CLOSED
my eyes and tried to fall again into tha
sweet dream, but in vain. Collecting N,
. energies as hest | could, arose and pre-
pared my breakfast, and proceeded ts
i. work, one thousand Gee: from daylight