Daily national Democrat., 1860-12-16
1ailp gational 1rmutrat
For the National Democrat.
Pioneer "reminiscences.
BY Old BLOCK.
NUMBER 4.

Ot tne putiulngs, however, looked as if theV
were In storm, for they was laying too un-
der bare poles l need hardly say that it
was chiefly city of cloth. Marys-viHains
ought to feel grateful to Lowell Mills, for the
means of building it upon SO solid founda-
tion as cotton shesting and drills have prov
ed to be. 1t was altogether cheaper than
lumber at seven hundred dollars per thous-
and, and the result has proved it to be q SOL
id and lasting town.
l drove to the plaza. and checking at
sign, "For Sale"-my companion and took
our seats, like patience on monument"
and though we didn't "smile at grief" we
did more sensible thing for directly get
ting hungry, we kindled fire and cooked
our dinners.
We very soon had customers To their
enquiries, could safely reply that my cattle
were first rate, had no bad tricks, and were
oil right. This was literal truth l had
but three, and they were good ones, but as
old twist-tail Dun was not mine, did not
feel bound to recommend his qualities, and l
didn't. l left that for his owner, but as he
said nothing, l did not feel it incumbent on
me to detail old Duns squatting proclyites.
We made a SALE my share of which was $500,
recolect going to Sacramento and buying
a draft on New York, for which l paid nine
per cent premium. Times have changed some
what. l would now sell one for less than
half the money. During the winter, after l
had recovered my health, went with par
ty about ten miles above Bidwells bar, and
took up some mining claims.
On my return from Marysville two of our
mining party, Mcneil and myself, went up
and commenced work. That portion of my
California life is not pleasant to look back
upon, even at this day, Our company had
built cabin in the rain. Mac aud l worked
like Trojans, backing our provisions up as we
needed them, and living lik-well like mi
ners in 1850, till the high waters of the
spring floods drove US from our claim, which
we had been opening. We had not taken
out dime. The following year party of
Chinamen went on to cur abandoned claim
and made great deal of money. This claim
is about five miles above Stringtown, in
deep canon, where we could see the sun
about four or five hours each day The
spring foods came on, which precluded fur
ther operations till mid summer, and we had
to look about for something to do to get our
bread, for neither of us had scarcely any
money. Now it was that our wits were
tried. Mac could turn his hand to any kind
of labor, was a good mechanic, and good
honest, trustworthy man. He soon found
employment, subsequently, struck a good
claim, made something over 81 900, and went
to his farm, and comfortable home in Illinois
We separated with reluctance. for we had
crossed the plains together, had worked to-
gether, and in all our intercourse nothing
transpired to interrupt our good feeling AS
for me, not having had experience in manuel
labor before coming to California, found
myself physically disqualified for hard lift
ing, and digging, and was forced to con-
trive to live by my wits.
'1'rn going to Marysville to try my luck, so
good by Mae-I'll meet you at Stringtown
when the water gets down. Till then we
must live somehow"
The usual mode of travelling to Marysville,
for single gentlemen, was on foot, and as the
only houses along the road were those of the
Old Californians, many miles apart, it was
necessary for the traveller to carry his blank
ct, his provisions, and his tin cup which he
used to boil his coffee in, or for drinking, as
occasion served. When night came, his first
care was to find brook, spring, or water
slough,-then to gather wood, and light his
fire. His bacon was roasted by being stuck
on to stick sharpened at one end and held
to the fire, or else, supported on little crotch
sticks,-his coffee was boiled in his tin cup,
usually holding about quart, and this, with
hard-bread, constituting his travelling larder.
Then, after satisfying his vigorous appetite,
he took out his pipe and enjoyed his cut plug
with zest which the luxury of palace can
not give. Spreading his blanket upon the
ground, deep, quiet refreshing sleep recuper-
ated his weary limbs, and morning found him
strong for the labor of another day. Think
of this, ye luxurious Marysvilans who live
In splendor like that of the st. Nicholas =
who shiyer if breath of heavens air come
upon your shoulders. who make an outcry if
the steak is over, or under done-if the coffee
is too strong, or the beds too hard. No
Pioneer regards these things as the sine qua
non of human happiness, and never makes q
fuss if the over worked waiter is little
tardy, or mistakes your orders. There are
always fastidious people in the world-there
always will be. l recollect when the great
duties of Landlord Of the Universal World
Hotel devolved upon my shoulders, q mining
exquisite would now and then come along,or it
might be, one who was not in good health,
who did not like my extensive bed rooms, out
doors. Well let them sleep in my wagon,
on the hard boards. | had no pride, only to
accommodate my customers, and so | seldom
find fault A short time ago, | slept two
nights at the ST. Nicholas. The first night,
by some mistake, they put me into a room so
splendidy furnished that l pulled offmy shoes
and walked tip-toe for fear of soiling the
carpet, and the bed was so soft and full of
springs that dreamed l was in heaven. and
angels were rocking me, Next night they
put me in 54-snug bed room, and mosquito
net all right. but on blowing out the light
and getting into bed, found the bed not only
hard as pulu mattrass but something like a