The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-04-07
DIVORCED In A DESSERT.


IN 1S4S, 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 at the point on
the Humboldt, where the Lessen train
intersects the Carson track of travel,
he visited the tent of a family consist
ing of an elderly couple and one child,
a daughter of fourteen or fifteen. The
old lady was sitting on a pile of blank
cts under the canvass, encouraging the
most determined attack of the ''sulks,"
while the masculine head of affairs had
planted himselfupon the wagon tongue,
and was sucking his pipe as though he
expected to remain there forever.
A single glance developed the diff
Guilty i'm that little train of one wagon
and three persons, and that it has at
tanned a POINT of quiet desperation be-
yond 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
to enter California, there they remain
ed. The husband had expressed a pref
erence for the Carson road, and the
wife for the Lessen, and neither would
yield. The wife declared she would re-
main all winter; the husband said he
would he pleased to prolong the sojourn
through the summer following.
On the morning of the fourth day the
wife broke a sudden silence of thirty
six hours by proposing division of the
property, which consisted of two yoke
of oxen, one wagon, camp furniture, a
small quantity ofprovisions, and twelve
dollars in silver. Theproposal was ac-
cepted; and forthwith the "rlunder"
was divided, leaving the wagon to the
old man, and the daughter to the moth
er. The latter exchanged with neigh
boring train the cattle belonging to her
for a pony and a pack-saddle, and pill
ing her daughter and her portion of the
divided spoil upon the animal, she res
olutely ed across the desert by the
Lessen trail, while the old man silent
ly yoked his cattle and took the other
route.
of course both parties reached Cali
fornia in safety. We say "Of course" I"
for it is scarcely possible that any obsti-
Gle, death included, could have inter-
fered with stubb0rnness so sublime.
Arriving at Sacramento, with her
daughter, the old lady readily found
employment-.forw women We're less plen-
tiful than now-and consequently OPP
ened a boarding house and in few
years amassed handsome fortune.
Two years ago she went to San Fran
cisco, and the daughter, whose educa-
ton lad not been neglected was mar
ried to one on the most substantial cit
izens.
And what had become of the old
man? The wife had not seen or heard
of him since they parted on the Hum
boldt. They had lived happily togeth-
er for years and She sometimes re-
preached herself for the interruption ol
so long a pilgrimage made together.
But he was not dead. We cannot trace
his course in California, however. AL
that we know of him is, that fortune
had not smiled upon him, and that fol
wears he had toiled without hope. Fl.
nally, feeling unable longed to wield
the pick and shovel, he visited San
Francisco in hope of obtaining employ.
ment 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 passing the open door of a cottage
in the southern part of the city, he oo,
served a lady in the hall, and stopped
to offer his merchandise. As he step
ped upon the threshold the lady ap
| preached, and the old man raised hi
EYES and dropped his basket, and nc
wonder either, for She was his wife, hi
cold woman" She recognized him
and throwing up her arms i'm amaze
ment, exclaimed:
"Great God! John, is that you ~
"Al, that is left of me-" replied the
old man. With extended arms they
approached. Suddenly the old LADY,.
coiIntenaucei changed, she stepped
back. "John,n said she with looi
that might have been construed into
earpestness, show did you find the Car
son road ~ Miserable, Sukey, misera
ble,n replied the old man, "full of sant
and alkili.u ssThen ! was right, John?'
she continued inquiringly: "fou wer'
Sukey." THAT'S enough" said sh'
throwing his arms around the old man.
neck "that's enough john" and th'
old couple, strangely suLdered wer,
reunited.-Sprjtgfedaf Adss.1 Reputt'
can.