Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-03-05
A MINERS SERMON.

We publish the following sermon by re-
quest Of several parties who heard it read by
j. l. Hall. two weeks ago, and desire it for
their scrap books
young physician, who, after having re-
ceived his diploma from one Of our Medical
Colleges finding that there was no chance Of
gaining a livelihood by the practice OF his
profession in the place Of his nativity, con
Guided To pack up his tools, and enigrate 10
the Land Of Gold on the Pacific. Here be
found no better encouragement in the prac-
tise OF medicine, for which he had been duly
prepared and licensed. As last resort, he
turned MINER, and exchanged the scalpel for
| pick axe. Ia recent letter 70 a friend Al
home, be embodies sort Of valedlctory ser
mon 10 his last pursuit, which Il well worth
! perusaI
:. Why t0iH W dig y - Sons Of man
for the Light Of whose presence my spirit
yesrneth and. my bowels grumbleth, dost
thou ask me Why Is il not written that for
tune smiles upon foolss And for the sake
Of these smiles, hath not thy servant been.
making fool, yea, an ass ofhimself in vainy
For 1--WE years and ten DAYS he has sojOurned'
III this pIace-he has dived into the wa
ter-he has torn ancient rocks from their
resting place. and removed them afar OH-he
has likewise torn his brooches in parts not to
be spoken Of The has rooted into the mud
like unto a swine. His beard hath grown
long-the skin upon his hands and face hath
changed its color until he is now .ikened unto
a wild beast and his garments are rent and
soiled, so that sackCloth and ashes would
be as fine linen and purple 10 him. He
would fain feed on husks but there are none.
Yea, he who in times past was wont TO
fare sumptnously, and 10 grumble over great
er delieacies than were piled upon the table
Of Dives, now snuffs with gladness. the fra
GRANGE OF pork and beans, and crashes his
teeth impaIientY over a frying fiapjack. He
bolteth raw onion with unspeakable avidity-
Potato skins fear his presence, beef vanishes
from before HIM, and dogs lO0k in vain tor
the bones. He signs for the flesh pots Of
Egypt, and mourns over the baroness OF the
land. In his sleep, nevertheless, the good
angel Of the past deigns to visit him, and
delightful visions are opened to his recollec-
ton for a delicious :. bin OF fare floats be
fore the mind Of the dreamer. and he orders
oysters and terrspins for six, only TO
awaken to his Internal slapjacks and mo
lasses
All this hath thy servant endured Is he
not then a fool an abomination in the sight
of wisdom And is ii not unto such, and such
only, that fortune dispenses her favors Yet
she hath deserted me. ! approach her and
she feeth | . double on her trail, and sic
turneth away, | await her coming and she
stands still I secrete myself in her path,
ana seize her unawares But she glideth of
as though had caught hog by the creased
tail SIC transit, ! exc aim, as with sick
heart reviie poverty and curse fortune.
Lol are not these evils And wherefore
should they be visited upon thy servant
Surely he hath not sinned AZ other men sim
meth. He bath not coveted his neighbours
OK, nor his ass, nor his man servant, nor his
maid -servant-for be it known unto thee,
that there are no maid servants here. He
abided BY the Law and the Prophets, "
but the pr0fts have not abided by him
Now, therefore, renounee these diggings
absquetulate the premises-'l vamOse the
ranch II take OIL put ont COL slope,
depart without scrip or provender, taking
no heed for the morrow. for the morrow
takes no care Of me Ere five days shall
have passed, the shirt tail Of thy servant will
he waving ia the breeZes OF. the Nevada
remnant Of II will he nailed upon the highest
mountain that he crosses, an emblem OF the
extremity to which man may be reduced in
the land of Ophir Yet think not, oh
Elisha, that ! would rend my garment for
this alone. Verify, ! say unto thee. an evil
lowed so close upon my footsteps that every
thread and fiber Of my shirt-tail are familiar
TO her eye Andff in hsr pursuit ofme, she
should gaze upon this relic in the solitary
Businesses of the mountain, she will at once
recognize it, and believe me 70 have been
torn and destroyed by wild beasts, she will
retrace her steps, and thus | will escape
her.
Igo hence, Elisha, unto the town of Sonora,
where it has been pr0phesied that thy ssr-
want viii heal the sick, and prosper with
amazing prosperity, As Moses reared the
serpent in the Wilderness for the children
Of Israel TO look upon and be cured OF their
infirmities, 50 will elevate my tin among
the Gcntiles. that they may gaze upon II and
he made whole Their offerings Of gold and
silver will he acceptable to me, and If they
live not afterwards, peratlyenture they may
find treasure in Heaven