The Placer herald., 1870-12-10
Divorced in the Desert.

One of the pioneers in California emigration
who went across the plains in 1S49, tells this
story, that began on the stage and has just
ended in San Francisco. While the train of
which the relator, now in Nevada, was mem
Der, was encamped at point on the Hum
boldt where the Lassen trail intersects the Car
son track of travel, he visited the tent of
family, consisting of an elderly couple and one
child, a daughter of IA or 15, The old lady
was sitting on pile of blankets under the
canvass, encouraging most determined at
tack of the "sulks," while the masculine
head of affairs had planted himself on the
wooden tongue, and was sucking his pipe as
though he expected to remain there forever
A single glance betrayed 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 ad
justment. Three days before they had
pitched their tents at the forks of the road,
and as they could not agree upon the route
by which to enter California, they had re-
NAMED. The husband had expressed pref
erence for the Carson route, and the wife for
the Lassen, and neither would yield. The
wife declared she would remain all Winter;
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 sudden silence of SO hours by pro-
posing division of the property, which con-
sisted of two yoke of oxen, one wagon, camp
furniture, a small quantity ofprovisions and
$12 in silver. The proposal was accepted;
and forthwith the plunder was divided, leav-
ing the wagon to the old man and the daugh-
ter to the mother The latter exchanged, with
a neighboring train, the cattle belonging to
her for pony and pack saddle, and piling
her daughter and her portion of the divided
spoils upon the anirlal, she resolutely started
across the desert by the Lassen trail, while
the old man silently 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
included, could have interfered with stub
bornness SO sublime. Arriving at Sacra-
lnento with her daughter, the old lady read
lily found employment-for women were less
plentiful now-and subsequently opened a
boarding house, and in few years amassed
IA handsome fortune. Two years ago she
went to San Francisco, and the daughter,
whose education had not been neglected, was
married to one of the most substantial citi-
zens.
And what had become of the old man
The wife 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 wilful-
ness that separated them after so long a 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 toied without hope. Final
ly, feeling unable TO WELD the pick and
shovel, he visited San Francisco in the hope
of obtaining employment better adapted 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 on his
arm. This was six months ago. A few
weeks since, in passing the open door of
cottage in the southern part of the city, he
observed 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 bas-
ket; and no wonder either, for she was hi.
wife, his cold womanr' She recognized
him, and throwing up her arms in amaze
ment, exclaimed: --.-
"Great God! John, is that you?' "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 a look that might be construed into
chow did you find the Carson
road?" Miserable, Sukey, miserable, "
replied the old man; "full of sand and al
kali" "Then was right, John ?" "You
were, Sukey. That's enough; that's
enough, John, said she, throwing her arms
around the old mans neck; and the old |
couple, so strangely sundered, were reunited.
Mass Republican.