The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-05-25
A Tale Of California.
DY wM. II. ALMOND.

There was man whose name l shall
give as Tim D., who made an honest living
by mining in the gold fields of California
One night, after coming from his work,
which was always literally rewarded with
plentiful! yield of gold, Tim sat himself
down on his low stool to rest while his
pork and beans were warming. lie COM
menced thinking Of his past life, and fell
into Il sort of revere.
We'll, WE'LL" says Tim, there l am,
digging and delving into the mud from
early dawn to almost dark, tor gold. My
claim pays we'll enough, and old folks say,
let well enough alone So far as that is
ncerned. | VII. But what is the use of
man working all his life here in the mud
by day and then come home at night and
cook his grub and eat it alone, with no
oEe to share his joys, none to pity his ills.
I'm tired of this single blcssedness. I'll
Get married, that will But who will
marry Il dirty miner? Let me see, there
is Lucy, Jane, Mary and Emma, and many
others that cannot enuncrate in Lalf an
hour But Vi they marry dirty miner:
Tncre is Ton, tie butcher, married the
widow and think he is no cleaner than
myself. Ill try. Come, Tim, old boy.
there's nothing like trying Take courage,
q faint heart never won a fair lady.
So saying. Tim ate his pork and beans
and tu,nbled into bed. 10 dream OF ;he pret-
ty girls lie intended to see the next Sun
day at church and conclude which he
would select for his companion for better
or for worse There he lay ;umbling and
rolling from side to side. all night trying
! in win 10 settle his mind and fix his heart
on some particular one. until the Growing
Of the cock reminded him it was time lie
was preparing fer his days work.
Tim all that day criticised the beauties
and qualities Of all that ca ne before his
imagination, and for several days, but to
40 effect Sunday came. and Tim put on
his Sunday rigg, and of 10 church he
goes. determined to select one that day
( lie was first in church in order that he
might sean each beauty as she made her
appearance. First came Lucy.
We'll" says Tim, ''shc is just the one. y
Then came Jaac. well, says he, up
on my soul she has attra :tions as well as
Lucy
Soon in trips Mary. and her fairy-likc
form trips by, and her hoops brushed him
az she took her seat i'll the next pew. There
Tim sat gazing at her and cxpatiatinS on
her beauty and graceful appearance, think
ing how happy he would be when he could
/, call her his ows. His eyes were riveted
upon her. and he felt rs if he wanted then
to kncel at her feet and pour forth the full
feelings Of his heart, when in come Emma.
His eyes caught sight of her dark flowing
curls falling SO gracefully over her shOul~
dcrs, her sharp black eyes, aud her be-
witching smiles caused him to doubt which
he would prefer. And then in come three
or four more together, equally fascinating
as Mary and Emma; and as Tins eyes
turned from one to the other he became
bcwildered and almost unconscious ol
what was going on around him. That
eight Tim sat by his fire smoking his pipe
and thinking Of the beauties, trying tc
make choice.
Poor Tim, the more he thought the
more confounded he was At length Il,
said aloud
''Oh, that it was an age of fairies, ant
one would come at my bidding and choos,
t or open my eyes that might choose fo
myself | am conioundcd, bcwildered t,
Sch an extent that am unable to fix III,
heart upon any particular one
: lie was interrupted in his soliloquy b,
raps at his DOR. lie arose and opened
the door. and his blood seemed to chill n
he looked upon the object before him. HI
rce,cd, and staggering, fell to the fioor, anC
! Was only called 20 himself by gcntl'
voice. the tones Of which were SO plaintiv'
and sweet that he first thought 1t must b'
an angel descended with some GOOD II
dings. He ventu.ed to speak. md Aas.cr
cd out
aCome in, sweet fairy, for l know thot
hast something good in store for me, elst
thou wouldst not be out this cold darl
night"
Il am not fairy said the voice, n
tho same time throwing herself into
rude chair, "but lost wanderer in thes,
hills, and would. sir, be very thankful i
you would be so kind as to tell me how
far it is, or show me to some place wher,
can stay till morning"
!. Excuse me-" said Tim. rising from
where he had fallen, and smiling, I'll wa
. in sound reverie when you came, anC
d perhaps ! may have been thinking aloud
n There is no house for miles either way
and people seldom pass this wav. IF va,