The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-12-01
DIVORCED IN THE DESERT.
IRON the Springfield Mass Republican.


One of the pioneers in California emigra-
ton, who Went across the plains in '49, tells
this story that began on the journey and has
Just ended i'll San Francisco While the
train on which the narrator, now in Nevada,
was member, was encamped at a point
on the humboldt where the Lessen trail in
tersects the Carson track of travel, he visited
the tent of a family consisting of an elderly
couple and one child, a daughter of IA or Is.
The old lady was sitting on q pile of blank
cts under the canvas, encouraging most de
termined attack of the ''sulks," while the
masculine head of affairs had planted him
self on the wooden tongue, and was sucking
his pipe as though he expected to remain
there forever.
A single glance developed the 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
adjustment. Three days before they had
pitched 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 had expressed
preference for the Carson road, and the wife
tor the Lessen, and neither would yield.
The wife declared she would remain all win
ter; the husband said he would be pleased to
prolong the sojourn through the summer fol-
lowing.
On the morning of the fourth day the wife
broke a sulen silence of thirty-six hours by
proposing division of the property, which
consisted of two yoke of oxen, one wagon,
camp furniture, small quantity of provi-
sions, and Sl2 in silver. The proposal was
accepted, and 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 cat
tie belonging to her Tor q pony and pack
saddle, and piling her daughter and her
portion of the dividend spoils upon the ami
NAL, she resoutely started across the desert
by the Lessen trail, while the old man 81
lently yoked his cattle and took the other
route.
OF course both parties reached California
in safety. We say ''of course for it is
scarcely possible that any obstacle, death in
cluded could have interfered with stubborn
ness to sublime. Arriving in Sacramento
with her daughter, the old lady readily found
employment--for women were less plentiful
than now-and subsequently opened a board
ing house, and in a few years amassed
handsome fortune. Two years ago she went
to San Francisco, and the daughter, whose
education had not been neglected, was mar
ried to one of the most substantial citizens.
And what has become of the old man
lhe vile had not seen or heard OF HIM since
they parted on the Humboldt. They had
lived happily together for years. and she
sometimes reproached herself for the wiltul-
ness that separated them after so long pill
grimage together. 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, and that
for years he had toiled without hope Final
ly feeling unable longer to WELD the pick
and shovel, he visited San Francisco. in the
hope of obtaining employment better adapt
ed to his wasted strength.
For three months he remained idle after
arriving there, and then, for want of occupa-
ton, became the humble retailer OF peanuts
and oranges, with his entire traffic upon his
arm. This was six months ago. A few
weeks since, in passing the open the door of
a cottage in the southern part of the city, he
observed a lady in the hall, and stopped to
offer his merchandise. As he stepped upon
the threshold the lady approached, and the
old man raised his eyes and dropped his
basket; and no wonder, either. for she was
his wife, his "old womanp" She recognized
him, and, throwing up her arms in amaze
ment exclaimed:
"Great God! John, is that you9" "All
that is left of me-" replied the old man.
With extended arms they approached. Sud
denly the old lady's countenance changed,
and she stepped back. "John." said She.
with look which might have been construed
into earnesthess. chow did you find the Car
son road9" Miserable, Sukey, miserable"
replied the old man; full of sand and aka