Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-04-08
DtyORCEB IN DESSERT,

One of the pioneers In the California
emigration who went across the plains
IN iSaS, tells this story, that began on
the tourney aud has Just ended Ia San
francisco While the train ofWhlch
the narrator, now In Nevada was .
member, was encamped at the point on
the Humboldt where the Lessen train
i~uterseots the Carson track Of travel
he visited the tent ola family consist
ing of an elderly couple and one child,
a daughter Of fourteen or fifteen. Inc
old lady was sitting on q pile OF blank
cts under the canvass, encouraging the
most determined attack Of the "sulks,.
while the masculine head OF affairs hao
planted himselfu upon the wagon tongue,
and was sucking his pipe IS though he
expected 10 remain there forever.
A single glance developed the diff
Guilty IN that little train Of one wagon
and three persons, and that 1t las at
tanned q roint Of quiet desperation be-
You'd the reach Of peaceful adjustment
Three days before they had pitched
their tent at the forks Of the road, ana
as they could not agree upon the route
TO enter California, there they remain.
ed, The husband had expressed apref-
erence for the Carson road, and the
wife for the Lessen, and neither would
Weld, The wife declared she would re-
main ali winter; the husband said he
would be pleased to prolong the sQiourn
through the summer following.
On the morning Of the fourth day the
| wife broke q sudden silence Of thirty
six hours by proposing division ofthe
property, which consisted Of two yoke
Of oxen, one wagon, camp furniture, q
small quantity of provisions, and twelve
dollars in silver. The proposal was ac-
cepted; and forthwith the "Plunder'
was divided, leaving the wagon to the
old man, and the daughter to the moth
er. The latter exchanged with a 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 started across the desert by the
Lessen trail, while the old man SILENT
~ yoked his cattle and took the other
route.
or course both parties reached Cali
fornia in safety. We say "Of course"
for it is scarcely possible that any obstl-
Gle, death included, could have inter-
fered with stubbornness so sublime.
Arriving at Sacramento, with her
daughter, the old lady readily found
empl0yment-.fo for women were less plen-
tifil than now-and consequently OPP
ened a boarding house and in a few
wears amassed q 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
liens.
And what had become Of the old
man? The wife had not c g 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 o.
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
years he had toiled without hope. Fl
nally, feeling unable longed to wielt
! the pick and shovel, he visited SAL
Francisco in hope of obtaining employ
ment better adapted to his wasteC
, strength.
For three months he remained idlt
after arriving there, and then, for wan
of occupation, became the humble re
r taller OF peanuts and oranges, with hi
! entire traffic upon his ARM. This wa
. six months ago. A few weeks since
/. in passing the open door of a cottag,
! in the southern part of the city, he OBJ
+ served O lady in the hall, and stoppet
to offer his merchandise. AS he step
, ped upon the threshold the lady ap
/ preached, and the old man raised hi
r eyes and dropped his basket, and IL,
I wonder either, for shc was his wife, hi
3 told womann She recognized him
and throwing up her arms in amaze
ment, exclaimed:
"Great God! John, is that you 2"
: GAN that is left of me,'' replied til
. old man. With extended arms the.
approached. Suddenly the old lady
" countenance changed, she steppe
back. "John," said she with a loo
= that might have been construed int
{ earnestness, chow did you find the Ca
| son foad" Miserable, Sukey, misers
bic %replied the old man, ''full of san
!, and alkili.n "Then | was right, John?
! she continued inquiringly. "You WEI
@Sukey.n ETllat's enough !" said sh
y throwingh his arms around the old man.
? neck chats enough John" and th
old couple, strangely suLdered wer
reunited Springfield Mass. Rcpu6l