Smyrna times., 1862-01-16
EIISCELLAN EOUS.
Romance of an Old Couple.

The following somewhat remarkable nara.
tive is related by Western lsay, now on a
visit 10 this CITY from EIaIposa. Shs is her
self charactef She has crossed the plains
twice-firsl in lS49, during which her husband
perished-and is the first Americas lady who
returned to the East BY way of tue Islh:u1s of
Panama. She is genuine heroine, fine
specimen Of stout-hearted Western ~oma nho6d, |
and her adventures in the Wiids of The Enpeo-
pied West have been numerous and exciting.
II the good ioIks Of Marlposa have missed a
lady from their rc!ghborhood. they are hereby
apprised that she is comfortably located at III,
boarding house Mrs. Nesbit, on the curnei
of Montgomery aud Suttcr streets, and will
not return to the mountain until Holmes, OF
the Gazette, ceases to harrow the hearts 81,
Mariposa mothers by calling their little babes
"brats."
Well, willis the train, of which this lady
ives member, vas eRcO mped a point or the
Humbolt, where the Lesson Trail intersects the
Carson track of travel, Bhe visited me tent OF
an elderly couple and one child-The old iady
was sitting on pile OF blankets under :he can
vas, encouraging a most deterplned attack oi
the " sulks," while the masculine head OF 2 fairs
had planted himself on his wooden tongue, ard
was sucking his pipe as leisurely as though he
expected TO remain there forever. single
glance developed the fact that there was a
difficulty in that little train of one wagon and
three persons, and that it had attained point
ofquiet desperation beyond the reach of peace
ful adjustment. Three days before, thny had
pitched their tent at the forks OF the road, nd
IS they could not agree upon the route by
which to enter California there they had re-
mGned. The husband expressed preference
tor the Carson road, the wife for the Lessen,
and neither would yield. The wife declared
she would remain there all winter the husband
said he should be pleased TO lengthen the So
journ through the summer following.
On the morning of the fourth day, the wife
brske sullen silence Of 80 hours by proposing
a division Of the property, which consisted OF
TWO woke of cattle, one wagon, camp furniture,
a small quantity Of provisions, and $12 in sill
yer. The proposal was accepted, and forthwith
the plupder," was divided, leaving the wagon
10 the old man, and the daughter TO the mother.
The latter exchanged with a neighboring train
the cattle belonging ie her, for a pony and
pack saddle, and piling the daughter and her
portion of the divided spoil upon the animal
she resOlutely started across the desert by the
| Lessen trail, while the old man silently yoked
the cattle and took the other route. Singular
as this may seem, 1t is nevertheless true. Il is
among the occurrences Of stranger than fiction.
safety. We cay. " OF COURSE" for it is scarcely
possible that aRy obstacle, death included
could have seriously interfered with the pro
! gress Of stubborness sublime. Arriving al
Sacramento with her daughter, the old lady
readily found employment-for women were
i less plenty than now-and subsequently, opened
q boa riding house, and in a few years Hmassed Il
handsome fortune. Two years ago she went
TO San Francisco, and the daughter, whose ed
ucaIisn had not been neglected, was married
10 one Of the most subslsn ntial citizens.
And what became of the old man! The wife
had not seen or heard of him since they parted
on the Humboldt. They had lived happily to-
gether as man and wife for years, and she
sometimes reprsached herselffor the wlllfulnees
which separated them after so long pilgrim
age together through this rough lite. But he
was not dead. We cannot trace his course in
California, however. All that we know of him
is, that fortune had not smiled upon him, a nd
that for years he toiled without kOpe. Finally
feeling scarcely able to longer wisid the pick
and shovel, he visIted San Francisco, in the
hope OF obtaining employment better adapted
to his wasted strength.
For three months he remained idle after ar
r,ving here, and then for want of occupation
became the humble retailer Of peanuts and
oranges, with his entire stock of traffic in
basket upon his arm. This was about si1
moaths ago A few weeks since, in passing
the open door oil a cottage in the southern par
OF the city, he observed q lady in the hall, nnc
and stopped to offer his merchandise. AS ht
stepped upon ihe threshold, the lady approach
ed, and the old man raised his eyes and dropped
the basket. And no wonder, either, for 5h,
was his wife,-his " old woman ~
She recognized him, and throwing UP he
arms in amazement, exclaimed: "Great God
John, is that you?"
"all that is left of me-" replied the olc
0 man.
With extended arms they approached. Sud
denly the old lady ceuntenance changed, ant
she stepped back.
e "John," said she, with look which nigh
8 have been construed into earnestness, "hov
o did you fad the Carson road -
+" Miseiable, Suksy, miserable" replied III,
: cid man, full of sand and alkali.
Then I was right, John !" she continued in
: quiringly.
# "YOu were, Suky," he replied.
That's enough y said she, throwing he
: arms around the cid man g neck; that's enough
john" and the old couple, 80 strangely sun
d dered, were again united. Both are living
! with their daughter on Second street.-SGi
' Francisco Mirror.