The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-11-08
miscellaneous.
A MUTUAL SEPARATION.

The following somewhat remarkable
narrative (Which we find in late num-
Der of the San Francisco Mirror is re-
lated by a western lady. now on visit
to that city from Mariposa. She is her
self character. She has crossed the
rlains twcc-first in 1910, during which
her husband pcrishcd-and is the frs
American lady who re urncd to the cast
by the lsthmus of Panama. She is a
genuine hcroinc--a fine specimen of stout
hearted western womanhood- her
adventures in the wilds of tie unoccu-
pied west have been exciting and numcr-
Gus.
Well, while .he train of which this
lady was a member was cncampcd at 4
point on the Humboldt, where the Les
sen trail in'crSccts the Carson track of
travel, she visi ed the tent of family,
consisting of an eldcrl y couple and one
child-a daughter of fourteen OF fifteen.
The old lady was sitting on pile of
blankets, under the canvas, encouraging
4 most determined attack of the "sulks,"
while the masculine head Of affairs had
planted himself on his wooden tongue,
and was sucking his pipe as leisurcly as
though he expected to remain there for
ever. A single glance developed the
difficulty in that little train of one wagon
and three persons, and that it had attain.
cd point Of quiet desperation beyond
the reach of peaceful adjustment. Three
days before they had pi ched 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 a
preference for the Carson road-the wife
for the Lesseu-and neither would yield.
The wife declared she would remain all
winter the husband said he should be
pleased to leng,hen the sojourn through
the summer following.
On the morning of the fourth day the
wife broke sullcn silence of thirty-six
hours, by proposing a division of the
property, which consis ed of two yoke Of
oxen, one wagon, camp furniture, small
quantity of provisions, and twelve dol
lars in silver. The proposal was accept
ed, and forthwith the "plunder " was
divided, 4caving the wagon to the old
man, and the daughter to the mother
The latter exchanged with a ncighborlna
train the cattle belonging to her, for {
pony and packsaddle, and, piling thu
daug hter and her portion of the divided
spo!s upon the animal, she rcsolutely
arted across the desert by the Lesser
trail, while the old man silently yoket
his cattle and took the other route
Singular as this may seem, it is, never.
theless, true. 1t is among the many
occurrences of life stranger than fiction
Of course both parties reached Califor
MIA in safety. We say I" of COURSE" fo
it is scarcely possible that any obs acle
death included, could have intcrfere'
with stubbornness so sublime. Arriyin!
at Sacramento with her daughter, TIT
old lady readily found employment-fo
women were less plenty there than nov
and subsequently opened boarding
house, aud in few years amassed
handsome fortune. Two years ago sh
went to San Francisco, and the daughter
whose education had not been neglected
was married to one of the most substan
tial citizens.
And what has become of the old man
The wife had not seen or heard of hin
since they parted on the Humboldt
They had lived happily together as maj
and wife for years, and she sometime
reproached herself for the wilfulucss tina
separated them after so long a pilgrim
age together through this rough life
But he was not dead. We cannot trac
his course III California, however. Al
that we know Of him is, that fortun4
had not smiled upon him, and that 70
years he had toiled without hope
Finally, feeling scarce able to louge
WELD the pick and shovel, he visited
San Francisco in the hope of obtaining
employment better adapted to his waste'
strength.
For three months he remained idl
after arriving here, and then, for want Q
occupation, became the humble retaile
of peanuts and oranges, with his entir
stock of traffic in basket upon bis arm
This was about six months ago. A. fe,
weeks since, in passing the open door G
a cottage in the southern part OF tn
city, be observed lady in the hall, an
stopped to offer his merchandise. As h