Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-26
Nellie's Journal.

again, as my neck had been stretched to see
if the sun was up beyond the mountains
Mrs. G. gave me some lactcal fluid for our de-
cOction of Java, which was not bad to take,
at all, at all Done up our tent work. sham
pOoncd Mrs. L. s head; aud then she made an
attack ON mine, but of the loss Of life will say
nothing. Young Hurry CdHc gave us n call,
to the utter demolition of our tent, notwith-
standing the hcrculean efforts made by Mrs.
G. and myself to hold it up: also our wagon
became tOp-heavy and unsteady, and finally
went Over-case why y2-onc wheel was soak
ing in the river. A few rain.drops fell, and
the wind blew Mrs G. and myself over to Mrs.
G.'s tent, but they talked so much that had
to leave, ahcm being no talkcr myself ahcm
dhcm!! Supper is about to Ue announced
and after observing the occupations aud en-
ploymcnts of the company through the day, ]
deem it my duty to read them this command
lnent, written 10y somebody some time since,
to-wit: "Thou shalt not remember what thy
friends do at home on the Sabbath day, lest
the remembrance may not compare favOrably
with what thou dOcst. Six days thou maySt
ride or walk, or take care Of thy horses, or
pick all thy body can stand under; but the
other day is Sunday, when thou shalt wash all
thy dirty shirts, darn all thy stockings, tap all
wood, make up and bake thy bread. and boil
thy pork and beans, that thou mayst not be
weary when thou Startcst on thy long Journey.
I For in six days labor thou canSt not work
enough TO wear out thy body in two years,
but if thou workcst hard on Sunday Also thou
canst do it in six months; and thou, and thy
son and thy daughter thy male friend and thy
female friend, thy morals and thy conScicnccs
| be none the better for it, but rcproach thee
shOuldSt thou ever return with thy wOrn.Out
! boiy to thy kindrcdcs trrsdc, and thou strive
to justify tlIvScf, because the trader and the
blaCk$rnith, the carpenter and the merchant,
the tailOrs, Jews, and buccaneers defy God and
civilization, by keeping not the Sabbath day,
and wish not for a day of rest, such as memo.
Iy, youth and home made hallowcd."
After tea We rode OH horseback to witness
the setting Of the san from the mountains
We followed the roal for some distance, then
struck off across the valley, and assembled the
bluffs. We went up until we reached the
highest point, where we had q magnificent
view of mountain, stream and valley. The
Wind Rivtr mountainS-thc highest peak hav-
ing been climbed by Fremont, and where he
placed iiag,-lay far oil in the distance, with
hills and valleys intervening, while perpetual
SHOWS, like "a mantle enwrapt them, were now
gildcd by the suns setting rays. The Sweet
Water flows through the flat below MS in ma
ny graceful curve. looking like a huge SER
pentine silver thread in the rich emerald green.
Before us, behind us all around us, are noun
tains pied on mountains; some rocky and
rugged, some smooth as newly Shavcn lawn,
some covered with sand and Sage.brlIsh, 9TH
erS grassy and pebly, with piles Of stones
heapcd together, as though the Red man had
/ hul hi
soon we reached peak that brings us in view
Of the campiES-grount!, far, far below us, with
its bright fires q, aiming in the gathering twi.
light and towards which we directed our
horses. Returned to camp feeling in better
spirits, for during the day felt somewhat sad,
although Strovc to throw off all melancholy
feelings, and give no entertainment to the little
imrs of azure hue. Feeling grateful for my
Iidc, for the opportunity of seeing so much of
this wide world, for all the good things of this
earth that | cnjoy-for friends, kinds friends,
| II prepared tO retire to rest. am going to
n iar-oK land among strangers Of different hab-
its from my own friends, yet trust the old
friendships " i'll ever remain fresh to gladden.
my weary hours. A sudden blaze Of kindness
may, by single blast of coldncsS be cxtin-
guiShed, but that fondncss which length of
time has connected with many circumstances
and occasions, though it may be for while
suppressed by disgust or resentment, with or
without cause, is hourly revived by acciden-
tai recollcctions. To those who have lived
long together, every thing heard, and every
thing seen recalls some pleasure communicated,
or some benefit conferred, some petty quarrel
or some Sight cndcarment Esteem Of great
powers, or amiable qualities newly discovered,
may cmbroidcr day or week, but friend.
ship Of years is interviewer with the texture
Of life. What is this life but sorry, tresome
round, circle of repeated vanities. All is
empty appearance, or vain labor, or painful
veXaton. The ways Of man are at his own
disposal, but all his goingS are ordered by
God; all; events are in Ills hands, and He
only canSt succeed or disappoint his hopcs.-
If lie blow on his designs, they arc forever
blasted; if lie b!c>Srs them, nothing can lin.
der their success; therefore apply myself to
Him, Tor not all created power can assist me
without Him.
Monday, goth. PASSED. over Rocky Ridge,
nine miles in length. Saw three lakes very
near each other, but alkaline; so man nor
beast could not refresh themselves thercfrOm.
In the margin of the water were three bcauti-
ful watcr-GnwlS, with lang bills, oransc-co!orcl
heads, white bodies, black and white striped
wings, and wehbed feet. Campcd on Straw
berry Creek. Snow on a mountain near the
tcnt-had painful.
Tuesday, 2lst. We feel very cold, and are
bundled up in our winter wraps nearly all Of
the time, although it is the latter part Of June.
Passed through stream that was running
under snow bank. Had the ague again.
Wednesday, 22l. Lunched at the Pacific
Springs. The blacksmith shop was not "mit
M," but out Of doors, where the Smithy was
very busy setting tire at 81 90, and shoring
oxen. 1t was very wet around the springs and
in thc fiat, where the horses and cattle were
mircd, and had to be helped out, so We moved
on two miles further, and pitched the tents.
This morning we went through the South
Pass and over the summit of the Rocky Noun
tains-now we arc in Utah Territory. Had a
fright smart" shower, 81 reckon" Two
miles from us is the place of the Mountain
Meadow Massacre.
Thursday, 23l. Roads quito level. Crossed
Little Sandy river. Cut me out pair of
gauntlets from an antilope's hide purchased at
trading post. Camprd on Big Sandy. Fine
Scene-rivcr winding between steep rocky
banks, where we gathered wild roses and 9TH
er beautiful flowers. Grass will be scarce for
hundred miles. Dislikcd to mako beds in
the deep sand, for fear some, Of the ants and
unelCs might crawl into 0uP ears, and mouths
also, if we should chance to sleep with them
open.
Friday, 24th Went down the river some
distance, lunchcd, gave the horses chance to
feed: and then prpparetl TO ford the river nj