The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-02-20
THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER.
A California Story.


184S reporting the discovery of gold on the
American River, and in which he said, that
"no capital is required to obtain the gold,
as the laboring man wants nothing but his
pick and shovel, and tin pan, with which
to dig and wash the gravel; and many fire.
quently pick gold out of the crevices of
the rocks, with their butcher knives, in
pieces of from one to six ounces" created
the most intense excitement throughout
the States, and father was among the first
to succumb to the gold fever. Being the
possessor of moderate, unencumbered
means, he made suitable provisions for our
support, and started, a few weeks after, to
seek his fortune, bidding good-by with the
positive and comforting assurance that he
would return in three years-the limit for
the return of nearly all the pioneers to Cal
! ifornia.
| Proceeding from San Francisco to the
Mariposa mining region, instead of plung-
| ing at once into the bitches, lie recognized
superior advantages in the investment of
his capital in a small mercantile business.
He built commodious log house, put in
stock, and in few months came to be con-
sidered one of the solid men of the "city."
This prosperity and the salubrity of the
climate, induced him, in one year after he
left u.s. to send word that we were to join
him, as soon as his partner, Sam Crummels,
arrived, to act as escort.
Upon taking the stage at Stockton, after
somewhat monotonous and uneventful
trip thus far, we forgot our uninteresting
escort Crummels, and were drawn naturally
into intimate social relations with large,
pleasant faced man, wearing gray flannel
shirt tucked into pair of overalls at the
waist, the overalls, in turn, tucked into an
immense pair of cowhide boots. He said
he had been "below," to purchase tools
for himself and partners, and represented
himself as one of fathers customers. His
tall companion he called "Kentuck," and
"Kentucl" always prefaced his remarks to
my new found friend, with "Say, Cap"
He was very patient, listening to, and
answering, all our questions, with great
kindness, and certain lack of dignity,
very captivating to Dawn and myself.
Dawn was then only eight years old. She
had been adopted by the family, under pc
culiar circumstances. Father found her one
morning, while we were living in Washing
ton, lying upon the granite step at our front
door, wrapped only in an old plaid shawl.
He was going to Baltimore, and, being up
early than usual, found the little one, sleep
ing quietly just as the Eastern heavens were
beginning to redden with the approach of
day; and mother named her Dawn. She
was always beautiful in infancy and girl
hood, and wonderfully so in womanhood.
To Dawn and myself, the ride to Mari
posa afforded little more than series of
bitter disappointments. We had set our
hearts upon entering land cooled by deep
shades and plentiful streams, that the whole
surface and capacity of our joys seemed
shadowed and oppressed by the semi-bar-
renness and muddy streams glazing upon
us through heat and dust. Then we were
moro part Of Natures self, living in 1t,
S"aJcu hoiO Po"oiAui ny No oiOhb iiiu-
ences than by any other earthly agency;
and here was wanting all we had imagined
and craved for. How charitable the hotel
keepers of that time What delicate con-
sideration they displayed for the feelings Of
travellers With what patient assiduity
would they seek to make newcomer be-
lieve-by intimation, at least-that black
was white Not being able to supply lux
uries in other ways, they fed us by sound,
applying the richest names to the common
est articles, pronounced with lucious roll
that made our young mouths water in an
ticipation. At every place where we took
meals-on the Tuolumne, at Hornitos-the
same formula was gone through with; the
waiter looking you straight in the eye,
would insinuate plate of miserable corn
bread toward you, suggesting, at the same
time, in softest tones that you "help your
self to the pound cake"
Toward evening Of the second day, our
mud-wagon dashed, at galloping race,
through binding dust, to the front Of the
"Grizzly," where we forgot our disap-
pointments, for the time, in observing the
crowd collected TO welcome the weekly
stage. Everybody seemed to know Cap;"
and after setting Dawn safely upon her feet
An act which seemed 10 excite the envy
of the whole gathering, composed of rough,
heavily bearded miners-hc turned to re-