The Shasta courier., 1872-01-13

and watching for me on another New Years
Eve"
"Shall l show you anything more ?" asked
his companion.
| Anything you will )" said Jacob. "Whal
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 a
newly settled country. Lofty mountains
were divided by valleys, and be could see,
by looking closely down through the branches
OF magnificent forest trees which covered the
whole face of the land, that in all these val
leys where streams of water flowed, bands Of
men were at work. As he listened, he could
hear, in the Lam of busy industry, which
rose above the forests, the dull thud of the
pick, the sharper clang of the shovel, and the
rattle of the rocker He looked among the
workers and in one group recognized his own
form
THAT was a scene of fifteen years ago."
said his companion. "What q sturdy lot of
fellows they are. Yong men, too, nearly all.
There's hardly a gray-beard among them.
Look at them now."
The scene changed in a seconds space
1t was easy to look upon it now, for in many
places the forest trees had been swept away
until hardly good sized bush remained. =
Around and among these denuded spots there
were miners still at work. Many of them were
the same he had seen when he looked before,
but their features bore the marks of prema-
ture old age, and their faces were care-worn,
as if Hope had ceased to dwell in their bo-
SONS.
That is scene of to-day" said the Shov.
el, "Oh, Jacob Morton, what have you to
show for these lost fifteen years ?"
Nothing" replied Jacob.
10Th Il .
best years of the brief existence allotted to
man amid scenes like these. and received
nothing except what has fed and clothed
you? Do you call ruined constitution and
failing health nothing? You have sown
in the storm, that other might reap Id
the sunshine ; you, and those others whom
we see have, by their toll built up great
and wealthy State, and vet, are today, 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? ?"
Il cannot .ell," said Jacob.
II can, "said his companion. 'sLook once
more. at what the end will be fifteen wears
in the future"
Jacob looked, and saw before him large
building, which he knew at once was main.
tanned at public expense. Half a-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 establish.
ment. They were soon joined by third.
"Well, how's the Forty-niner now ?" was
asked. of the newcomer.
"Oh, he's gone at last, !" was the reply.
''The best thing that could have happened
him. He was Woodworking man until they
brought him here, and although he wasn't
a 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.
nine habits to the last, and never seemed to
realize how times had changed. Well, let's
| get rid of him at once.'
They entered the building, and in a terri
bly, brief space of time re-appeared, bearing
a rude. pine coffin. Jacob could look within
it, and see his own features His old com.
panions fell into the procession, and hobbling
to the burying-ground, stood by while the
coffin was being lowered into the grave.
Fill 1t up quick, boys. Chuck in that big
rock there. Anything to get him out of the
way"
The rock came down with deafenine
Grassland Jacob Morton awoke. Awoke, ID
| find the fire had burned down to few ashv
Goals, while sensation of coldness prevaded
his frame. Awoke with such..a strong con.
viction of the reality of what he had seen,
| that it was some minutes before he could
bring himselfto believe that it was an illu.
sion. Awoke, with that strange, instructive
consciousness of impending danger which
often comes upon us, even when we have not
the least idea from what quarter the danger
may come.
"Well, well, we'll; if this don't bang any
| thing in the line of dreaming that ever
experienced, may | be darned, "muttered
Jake, as he groped for match to re light
the candle. '.Old Shovel" he continued;
affectionately apostrophizing that instrument,
''if ever do get to a Christian land again;
| III take you along and keep you in glass
case. l will, darn me if don't"
He was so tender of the old, blackened
blade that he would not even rake the dying
embers of fire together with it. as had been
his wont; but poked them in heap with q
stick. Then be threw on little light wood
and settled down in the easy chair again.
He filled and lighted his pipe, and smoked
for some time in silence. Meanwhile, the
conviction approaching danger grew strong
er upon him and was not be shaken off:
"What in thunder ais me-" he muttered
again, has that confounded dream had such
|
that the Guch don't make any ore noise
it was roaring like cataract when went
to sleep. The storm has stopped, but the
streams hadn't ought to run down so quick
as this.
He hastily put on his slippers, (made of
pair of old boots which had been cut off at
the instep,) and throwing his coat over his
shoulders, took the candle, and stepped out
of doors. There a well beaten path 10
the Gulch over which he had carried the wa
ter for household use for years. A few steps
brought him to the gulch's bed, and he held
up his bands in wonder at the sight. Where
had been a foaming torrent few hours be-
fore, he could now cross, by stepping from
stone to stone. without wetting his slippered
feet. Jake coInprehended the situation at
once.
There's been slide up in the canyon"
he soljloquzed, ''and big one, too. or it
never would have shut the water off so dry.
must travel out Of this at once"
As he came upon the fat again, he cast an
involuntary glance up the canyon he had
spoken of. Instead of the gap which had
marked the spot before, it looked like a
mountain wall all the way across. 1t bad
been the roar Of this earth avalanche which
had reused him from his dreams.
continued on forth page.)