Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-12
Murtester 4aiIg Spy.
Romance of an Old Couple.
From the San Francisco Mirror

fiOui the odn ETdnclsco mirror.
The following somewhat remarkable narra-
tive is related by western lady now OH visit
TO this city from Mariposa She Is herself a
character She has crossed the plains twice
first in lo49, during which her husband per-
lshed-and is the first American lady who re-
turned TO the east by the way of the Isthmus
OF banana. She is genuine heroae-a fine
specimen of stout hearted western woman
hoOd-and her adventures in the wilds OF the
unpeOpled west have been numerous and eX-
citing. 1t the good people OF MaripOsa have
missed lady from their neigh6orhood, they
are hereby appraised that she is comfortably 10.
Gated at the boarding house OF Mrs. Nesbt, on
the corner of Montgomery and Suffer streets,
ana will not return to the mountains until
Holmes, of the Gazette, ceases to harrow the
hearts OF MarlpoSa mothers by calling their
little babies "brats."
Well, while the train of which this lady was
a member was encamped at Il point on the
Humboldt where the Lessen trail intersects
the Carson track of travel, she visited the tent
OF family, consisting of an elderly couple
and one child-a daughter of fourteen or fit
teen years. The old lady was sitting on IL pile
OF blankets, under the canvas! encouraging
most determined attack OF ,ilu "suiAs' " mic
the masculine head OF affairs had planted him
self on his wooden tongue, and was sucking
his pipe as leisurely as though he expected to
remain there forever single glance de-
veloped the fact that there was Il difficulty in
that little train of one wagon and three per-
sons, and that it had attained point OF quiet
desperation beyond the reach of peaceful ad.
JuStment. Three days before they had pitch
ed their tent at the forks of the road, and as
they could not agree upon the route by which
to enter California, there they had remained.
The husband expressed preference for the
(fnrSnu rna1--tha xyifa fur tha
neither would yield. The wife declared she
would remain there all winter; the husband
said lie should be pleased to lengthen the SO.
Journ through the summer following.
On the morning of the fourth day the wife
broke sullen silence of thirty-sx hours by
proposing division Of the property, which
consisted of two yoke OF cattle, one wagon,
camp furniture, a small quantity OF provisions,
and Sl2 in silver. The proposal was accepted
aud forthwith the "plunder" was divided,
leaving the wagon to the old man, and the
daughter to the mother. The latter exchanged
with neighboring train the cattle belonging
to her, tor pony and pack saddle, and piling
the daughter and her portion of the divided
spoil upon the animal, she resoutely 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,
it is nevertheless true. 1t is among the many
occurrences of lie stranger than fiction. Of
course both parties reached California in
safety. We say "of course" for it is scarcely
possible that any obstacle, death included,
could have seriously iutertered with the
progress Of stubbornness SO sublime. Arriv.
ing at Sacramento with her daughter the old
lady readily found employment-for women
were less plenty than now-and subsequently
opened boarding. house, and in few years
amassed i handsome fortune. Two years ago
she went to San Francisco, and the dau Inter,
whose education had not been neglected, was
married to one of the most substantial citi-
Zens.
Aud what has become of the old man The
vile had not seen or heard of him since they
parted on the Humboldt. They had lived
happily together as man and wife for years,
and she sometimes reproached herself for the
wilfulness that separated them after so long
pilgrimage together through this rough lite
But he was not dead We cannot trace his
course his California, however. All we know
of him is, that fortune has not smiled upon
him, and that for years he had toied with.
out hope. Finally, feeling scarcely able to
longer Weld the pick and shovel, he visited
San Francisco in the hope Of obtaining en-
ployment better adapted to his wasted
strength. For three months he remained idle
after arriving here, and then, for want of &C.
nuts and oranges, with his entire stock of traf-
fc in basket upon his arm. This was about
six months ago. A few weeks since, in pass
ing the open door of a cottage in the southern
part OF the city, he observed lady in the
hail. and stopped to offer his merchandise. AS
he stepped upon the Threshold, the lady APP.
preached, and the old man raised his eyes and
dropped the basket. And no wonder either
for she was his wite-his cold woman" She
recognized him, and throwing up her arms in
amlzement, exclaimed Great God John, is
that you!" ''All that is left OF me-" replied
the old man. With extended arms they APP
preached. Suddenly the old lady's counte-
tenance changed, and she stepped back.
"John," said she, with a look which might
have been construed into earnestness, show
did you find the Carson road z" Miserable,
Suky-miserable, replied the old man, "full
OF sand and alkali" ''Then l was right,
Johu!" she continued, inquiringly "You
were, Suky," he replied. "rhat's enough!"
said she, throwing her arms around the old
mans neck; that's enough, john" and the
old couple, so strangely sundered, were again
united. Both are living with their daughter
on Second street.