Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-12-30
WEAVERVILLE CALIFORNIA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 1871


that girl"
Emily did just right" responded his wife
" She waited four years and that's long cnougl
for girl to wait for anybody. She had to look
out for home for herself after her father died
and there could be no home like her own Sup
pose she had waited until now, as we have done?'
"Well, I'm not bamin the girl, wife was
only supposin' a case, as they say, Well, God
bless him, wherever he is"
AS the mother uttered a fcrvcnt "Amen, "
Jacob turned lis head away to wipo the tears
which had gathered in his own eyes. When he
looked again, he saw nothing but the walls OF
his cabin.
"lll be with them,' muttercd Jake, clearing
his voice, they won't be waiting and watch
ing for me on another New Years Eve"
Shall show you anything more p asked
his companion
"Anything you will, said Jacob "What
you show me can be only for my good"
The sides of the cabin vanished again, and
he saw that he was gazing down upon newly
settled country. Lofty mountains were divided
by valleys, ana he could see by looking closely
down through the branches of magnificent for
est trees which covered the whole face of the
land, that in all these valleys where streams of
water owed, bands of men were Mt work. As
he listcned he could hear, in the hum of busy
industry, which rose above the forests, the duh
thud of the pick, the sharper clang of the shovel
and the rattle of the rocker. lie looked among
the workers and in one group recognized his
own form.
"Fhat was sceno of fifteen years ago" said
his companions "What a sturdy lot of fellows
they are. Young mon too, nearly all. There's
hardly gray beard among them Look at them
now.n
The scene changed in second space 1t was
easy to look upon it now, for in many places
the forest trees had been swept away until hard
ly Il good sized bush remained Around and
among these dcnuded spots there were miners
still at work. Many of them were the same he
had seen when he looked before, but their foa-
lures bore the marks of premature old age, and
their faces were care-won, as if Hope had ceased
to dwell in their bosoms
g" That is a scene of to-day" said the Shovel
" Oh, jacob Morton, what have you to show for
these lost fifteen years ?"
Nothing" replied Jacob.
Nothing Have you spent fifteen Of the best
years Of the brief existence allotted to man amid
scenes like these, and received nothing except
what has fed and clothed your DO you call
ruined constitution and failing health nothing2
a In tbn Of "a "a,
reap in the sunshine you, and those others
whom we sec have, by their toll built up a great
and wealthy State, and yet, are to-day among
the poorest of her people The wealth you have
dug from the ground has gone to enrich others,
and now that old age is creeping on you all
what is to be the end 2'
81 cannot tell, said Jacob
81 cam" said his companion. q Look once
more, at what the end will be fifteen years in
the future"
Jacob looked, and saw before him large
building, which he knew at once was maintain
ed at public expense. Iafa-dozen, or more
whose features were familiar to him as men who
had been his mining comrades in former years,
were seated before its doors. Apart from these,
were two others, who seemed to be connected
with the establishment. They were soon joined
by third.
" Well, how's the Forty-niner now2' was
asked of the newcomer.
con, he's gone at last" was the reply,
g. The best thing that could have happened
him. He was a hard-working man until they
brought him here, and although be wasn't
lucky miner, if he had only taken care of what
he did make, would have never been brought
here at all. But he had his Forty-nino habits
to the last, and never seemed to realize how
times had changed Well, let's get rid oc him
at once"
They entered the building, and in n terribly
brief space of time re-appeored, bearing rude,
pine coffin. Jacob could look within it, and see
his own features His old companions fell into
the procession, and hobbling to the burying-
ground, stood by while the coffin was being low
cred into the grave.
"Fill it up quick, boys Chuck in that big
rock there Anything to get him out Of the
way"
The rock came down with a deaienng crash
and Jacob Morton awoke. Awoke, to find the
fire had burned down to few ashy GOALS while
a sensation OF coldness peryaded his frame
Awoke with such strong conviction Of the re-
aity of what he had seen, that it was some min
utes before he could bring himself to believe
that it was an illusion. Awoke, with that
strange, instructive consciousness Of impending
danger which often comes upon rs, even when
we have not the least idea from what quarter the
danger may come
Well, well, well if this don't bang any
thing in the line Of dreaming that ever expert
enced, may be darned," muttered jake as he
proped for match to re-light the candle " Ola
Shovel" he continued, al'ectiouately apostro
phzng that instrument, " if ever do get to a
Christian land again, I'll take you along and