The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-12-04
An Obstinate Couples Qunrrel-A IVo-
mans Luck.


An Obstinate Couples Quarrel-A IVo-
mans Luck.
One of the pioneers in California emf
grafton, who went across the plains in
1849, tells this story, that began on the
journey and has just ended in San
Francisco. While the train of which
the narrator, now in Nevada, was a
member, was encamped ut a point on
the Humboldt, where the Lessen train
intersects the Carson track of travel, he
visited the tent of family consisting of
an elderly couple and one child, laugh-
ter of fourteen or fifteen. The old lady
was sitting on q pile of blankets under
the canvas, encouraging most deter
mined attack 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 developed the difficulty
IN that little train of one wagon and
three persons, and that it had attained O
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
q preference for the Carson road, and
the wife for the Lessen, 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 following.
On the morning of the fourth day, the
wife broke sudden 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 provisions, and $12
in silver. The proposal was accepted;
and forthwith tho "plunder" was divided,
leaving the wagon to the old man, and
the daughter to the mother. The latter
exchanged with a neighboring train the
cattle belonging to her for pony and o
pack-saddle, and piling her daughter
and her portion of the divided spoil
upon the animal, she resolutely started
across the desert. by the Lessen trail,
while the old man silently yoked his
cattle and took the other ronte.
OF course, both parties reached Cali
fornia in safety. We say "of COURSE"
for it is scarcely possible that any obsta-
Gle, death included, could have interfered
with stubbornness SO sublime. Arriving
in Sacramento, with her daughter, the
old lady readily found employment-fo
women were less plentiful than now
and subsequently opened boarding
house, and in few years, amassed a
handsome fortune. Two years ago, she
went to San Francisco, and the daugh-
ter, whose education had not been ne
elected, was:married to ono of the most
substantial citizens.
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 wilfulness that separated
them after 80 long pilgrimage 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. Finally,
feeling unable to WELD the pick and
shovel, he visited San francisco in hope
of obtaining employment better adapted
to his wasted strength.
For three months, he remained idle
after arriving there, and then for want
Of occupation, became the humble re-
taller of peanuts and oranges, with his
entire traffic upon his arm. This was six
months ago. A few weeks since, in PASS
ing the open door of cottage in tue
oouCuelH puTC Ol tue ClCy, ne observed q
lady in the hall. and stopped to offer his
merchandize. AS he stepped upon the
threshold, the lady approached, and the
old man raised his eyes and dropped his
basket; end no wonder, either, for she
was his wife, his ':old woman" She re-
cognized him, and, throwing up her arms
in amazement, exclaimed:
"Great God! John, is that you2"
"All that is left OF me-" replied the old
man. With extended arms they ap
preached. Suddenly the old lady s coun-
tenance changed, and she stepped back.
"John," said she, with look that might
have been construed into earnestness,
chow did you fin. the Carson rond %
''MiseraEle, Sukey, miserable" replied
the old man; ''full of sand and alkali
sThen 1 was right, John?" she contn-
ued, inquiringly. "You were, Sukey."
'That's enough" said she, throwing
her arms around the old mans neck !;
that's enough, john" and the old
couple, strangely sundcred, were re-
Seltzer Water on draft, at PoLnock's.