Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-13
Illueas


son walk in, Sir But what do you
ask me how do fory Don't you know
how dog Did you ever know me to do
but the one wayY - go down hill like
hand slide on the ice, and no use digging
the heels in either, all the friction Of hand
work and economy we can put on here
| is lust that much more out of our daily
strength and comfort and that's all. |
did use to think We should sometime get
to the foot of the hill, turn sledge about,
and work our way up again, but there is
no up to it; nothing but down - down
down. Only this morning the old red
COW pOked her horns through the fence,
and managed to break her neck so there
is no milk for the house this winter and
there is the calf to knock in the head or
starve to death. Joe Brooks hogs broke
into the garden and ate up all the cab
bages yesterday, and one of the oxen is
sick, so can't use him. The taxes are
to be paid, and nothing to make the mon
cy out Of. And this morning not less
than dozen domestic petitions were
pr, scented to my responsible self, for
coats, shoes, hats and sundry other arti-
cles for winter comfort The old woman
patches and works, and works and patch
es; if | had different sort Of q wife
there is q knowing what could have be-
come of US; But patching won't do always;
it takes something to make patches out
Of And to tell you the truth, Wilson,
have had the blue devils and back ago
mics, till, if could make hundred dol
lars 10y hanging myself, would try how
| IL Wh.VN md nd In
dozen others started here in this neigh
bOrhood, 1ny chances looked as fair as the
best; and yours were first rate too; but
look where We are now. Large families
on our hands to support, and just when
they are beginning to want things more
than ever, and we are neither Of us worth
so much, as the day our fathers portion
ed us; while there are Jim, Thomas and
Peter Various, and half q dozen others,
right here in the same town with the
same business and they have not worked
SO hard as either Of us, just CrOrsus rich.
used to think man made his own fortune
in this world ,Sthat that was something
Providence didn't much meddle with, but
| have changed my mind. believe
ones lot in life is all cut and dried, and
all you have to do is just to wait and take
it; it is no earthly use struggling any,
how the more one struggles the deeper
he gets in the miro.
Well, Barbour am sorry to see you so
out of heart this M rning, AMI more eSpcci-
allv out OF peace, for have tried every way
that ] can to raise tax money, and no go,
and concluded to step over and borrow it,.
Borrow it!-borrOw it:-cchOcd Mr.. Bar
bour; you couldn't borrow the interest
on it, | havn't seen so much in month,
and am afraid shan't in another month.
What is to be done, Wilson! That
the question. Why we must do the best
We get it, For my part, Wilson, have
made up my mind; there is no USE trying
to help anything, aud all have to say is,
! think fortunes favOrS are very partially
distributed. Why, there is Sam Moore I;
he has never lost al animal since he start
cd for himself, and never a year passes
over my head that | don't lose from one
to dozen. Only last fall the best yoke
oil oxen, and nil the horse l had 80 that !
could not follow the thief, were stolen.
DO you think that rascaliy thief would
have taken anything from Sam Moore
Not he II never time! But he must
pitch on poor sinner like me and take
away the last thing had to plough the
garden with, and | haven't got tnc ox.n
paid for yet, that was compelled to buy
on account of it; and that cattle drovcr
that bought that young COW of the 9th
or day said how he raised the animal
himself, and she was Of excellent stock
reckon she is, for after he was gone
found the brand put un myself, year
ago last summer before turned her with
the other cattle out in the woods for u few
weeks, ] have seen nothing Of her since
till now. tell you what it is, Wilson
believe it all works wrong for me, and
il is no use trying. Well, MIR. barbour
it is fact you and l have both had IL
deal Of hard luck, a great many draw
backs and vcXatiOns, bat l believe We
have both with our families had plenty OF
something to eat and have seldom heard
either your wife or mine scold that is
one consolation to start on aud for my
part, don't think that Providence dis
penScs His favOrS so very ungencrOusly
You know the must b., some trouble III
this world, or we should not know the
difference when we get to heaven. For
instance, there is Sam. Moore, that you
think is such fortunate man. Ould
you take all the money anu that poor un-
fortunate son Of his, and give one fyOur
boys for them! There is Peter Various
with his scoding wife, that has never
given him moments peace since the
first week after marriage, and his only
child Ellen, and she an invalid with u
hunchback - spine complaint believe
they call il. Our children are always
well-whatever we have to pay it is sci
dom doctors bill. And Jim Thomas,
with all Of his property, is the most mis-
cradle nan | know in the town. lie
wants oil that lies next to him-is forever
in debt, all the time worrying the sleep
and the life out of himself and his family
too about interest money. l actually do
not believe they have the Mecessaries OF
life, and Ill bet you a bushel of fieestone
peaches he is worse plagued to day about
his tax money than either you or l. II
you just look the whole town through l
don't believe you will find any man you
would exactly be willing to change pla-
ces or share troubles with. Well. Will
son, give it up; I'll never say blues
again If can help it: if feel inclined
to, Ill come over and crack nuts with
you an hour and give you leave to lee
turc me. FLORA.
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