The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-11-04
BREAD UPON THE WATERS.
AN INCIDENT OF CALIFORNIA LIFE.

In the summer OF IOoU, "HIIe oh "a
prospecting tour in the mining regions OF
California, / met with the following little
incident, which may be worth relating,
and which, at least has the merit of be-
ing true in every particular. The country
in those days were very thinly populated, ,
and the miners principally lived in tents,
lumber being exceedingly scarce and very
high in price. While | was passing a
lonely part of the country | saw tent in
the distance, and wishing 10 obtain some
information in regard 10 the diggings in
that locality, l approached it. The own
er was engaged IN sweeping out the inte-
rior with a rude broom, made of twlgs,
and did not notice me until | was within
few feet of him. Everything was
scrupulously clean, ard in marked con-
trast with the appearance os miners hab-
itations generally. | shall never forget
the pitiful appearance the man presented.
As near as could judge he was about six
feet four or five inches in height, but "A
perfect living skeleton. | remarked:
"My friend, you appear TO be very
sick too sick TO be engaged in such un
piled that he only had few days more TO
live, and that he liked TO see things look
neat during that time.
inquired his aiiment, and he told me
that he had the chronic diarrh9a, and as
yet had found nothing 10 afford him any
relief. | recommended a preparation that
/ had long known to be very efiicacious
in pf hut Inn
out of money, and said that he was too
weak to get The ingredients, even If he
had the means, as the nearest camp of
Importance was six miles distant. | told
him that he should not suffer as long az
ii was in my power 10 assist him that L
sill had about two ounces OF dust left,
and that | would place it at his service if
necessary. | easily procured all the in-
gradients but one, and that was the white
of eggs, which for long time | found im
possible to obtain. Finally L learned
that there was an old woman, a native of
California, who lived five miles away in
Il contrary direction from where obtain
ed the other articles, and that size had
but one hen. | called upon her, and hav-
ing some little knowledge of Spanish, |
prevailed upon her TO sell me two eggs,
which she did very reluctantly, charging
me five dollars for them. Ii must be re-
membered that in those days -four, sugar,
and many other articles, brought from
seventy-five cents TO one dollar per pound,
while eggs, an article of diet, were en-
tirely out of the question.
Upon my return, gave my patient his
medicine, and having chopped him con-
siderable supply of wood, and baked him
enough bread to last him couple of
/ found that his condition had begun to
improve, when left him, receiving many
warm expressions of gratitude on my de-
parture.
About eighteen months afterward, bav~
ing had bad luck in mining, | went 10
knights Ferry, and having had some lit>
tie experience In pounding iron, | opened
small blacksmith shop, and commenced
sharpening picks for a living One day
while at work at the anvil, a man of gi-
gantic stature passed The door, and as he
did SO our eyes met. He retraced his
steps and entered the shop, and inquired
if l would sharpen pick. | replied in
the affirmative, but noticed that it was in
very good order, and needed but very lit
tie improvement. After the job was
completed, he inquired my charge. l
told him seventy cents per point, or
dollar and fifty cents for the two. Draw
ing forth large buckskin purse, he hand
ed me number of coarse pieces of gold
thirty in all-ihe smallest OF which would
amount to many times the price of the
work. | asked him what lie meant. He
replied
Il want you TO put it in your pocket "
l was much surprised, and began to
think my customer was insane. / told
him [ was only entitled to one dollar and
half.
l was about to object again, when be
said
"Why, don't you remember me?"
L told him no +; that to my knowledge
never saw him before.
''Why," SAID he, don't you remem~
Der curing man Of the diarrbGa, near
Yorktown, about eighteen months ago ?"
l said ''that | could not say had cured
any one; but that had prescribed for a
man SO afflicted; but you are not the in
dividual 60
"Yes, am he replied, sand had it
not been for you, L would now be in my
grave"
l was unable to recognize my former
patient in the man before me-a perfect
Hercules as II seemed-and told him if
no hot 7 81, ,pl-
of accepting such liberal reward, AS may
entire outlay at the tI'le was only about
eighteen dollars, and that my time | could
not count for that / was abundantly
compensated in aiding bis recovery, and
THAI l would only accept an ounce in pay
meht for actual expenses incurred He
replied
''Look here, my friend, l don't want
10 be too severe with you, but if you don't
nocket that dust, you and me will have n