The union Democrat., 1870-07-02
NsrsAsp's

fern, pine and cedar, coo' water and more
shade at Sugar Pine IA mi les above Sonora.
There are in the forest gar glimpses of dis
tant landscapes on the lains. Sleek gray
squirrels scuttle busily long the fences or
chatter at you inqcisitiy ely from the pines.
The robin Tedbreast is here numerous and
sociable. His song 10 leard at morn and eve
and carries one back the Northern woods
of oak, beech, maplei3 md hickory. There are
also ants 10 crawl g ,ver and into everybody
who sits down on tb eground.
Northup's 10 now the principal csravansary
Of the Sonora and Mono road. There is q
perpetual drcppi ag along during the day Of
teams and horse men. Great bands of half
starved, lean, d .sperate, piteous looking cat
tie from the far off Southern Plains pass here
daily, seeking forage high mp in the noun
taiu> or beys nd in the Nevada ranges. The
road side be re and miles farther on is strip
ped Of ever blade of grass. At almost every
milo, caivs $ and cattle drop behind. some to
perish Use rably in the hot, dusty road
fbeS, so ne to browse along and recruiting
then ~ ren' ,th be gradually gathered up by a
fennr guar employed for the purpose. I'm
uense droves of sheep 60 bleating by. The
groves resound with baaiug and believing.
Tho dusty drivers on foot and horseback rush
in and refresh themselves at the Excelsior
Bar. One sees here the native California
herdsmen geared for action with jingling
spurs, bearskin pants, knife, pistol. RATA
and mustang. His hoop and hippa are
heard long after his departure. Sounds seem
caught up sharp and clear in the mountain
air. A falling tree seem to crash through
the whole forest.
BY night, teamsters, travellers and men
from "over the mountains" commence gath
ering in. They stragglo along far into the
night. They are always tired, hungry and
thirsty aud have that earnest, determined,
desperate look which fixes on a mans face
who has been thinking for the last three
hours about supper. Even now at night a
little fire in the bar-room stove is not un-
pleasant to set by. About it, gather these
wsy-farers of the mountains and their dis
wagon tongues, back-actions, lumber, quartz,
crops, and who and what was met on the
road.
The cool night air is favorable for sleeping;
the days fatigue have pre-disposcd to sleep.
by ten all are silent. Early breakfast at fve
and an early start. One after another team
and horseman, they get under weigh and
leave. The family from the Joaquin Plains,
bound upin the mountains, who pitched their
tent last night in the grove near by are also
seen bestirring themselves there are signs
Of breakfast and a distant tinklng of tin cups
and spoons on their rustic table there are
girls Of oil sizes and ages futte7ing in pink
calico. AT lest their tent disappears; the
household and household goods are swallowed
np in the covered wagon; it rolls of and soon
mingles with the pine trees, attended by the
''old man" his youngest son and one daugh
ter on horseback. The smoke from theil
deserted camp FIRE alone curls up in the
morning air. 1t is now but half past six
yet the gathering concentrated last evening
ut the Excelsior has dispersed and gone hith
er and thither about its business.
And these grand old pines which have
calmly looked down on all this little hustle
still stand, quiet, majestic, almost motionless,
and all pointing Heavenward. They seem
wraptin meditation of the centuries they have
seen come and 60, and only move to meet the
morning breeze fresh perhaps from the Point
Lobos breakers with stately and approving
nod. Northrp has spared them. He rejoic
&C daily in their majestic thankfulness.