The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-03-08
Miscellaneous.
DAWN.


DAWN.
Governor Mason's letter to the War
Department, in the Spring of 1918, re
porting 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 aud wash
the gravel; and many frequently pick
gold out Of the cravices 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 the first to sue
cumb to the gold fever. Being the pos
SCISSOR of moderate, unencumbered
means, he made suitable provisions for
our support, and started, few weeks
after, to seek his fortune, bidding good
by with the positive and comforting as
surance that he would return in three
years-the limit for the return of near
ly all the pioneers to California.
Proceeding from San Francisco to the
MaripOsa mining region, instead Of
plugging at once into the bitches, he
recognized superior advantages in the
| investment OF his capital in a small
| mercantile business. He built COM
modious log house, put in stock, and
in few months came to be considered
| one of the solid men of the "city,"
This prosperity and the salubrity of the
| climate, induced him, in one year after
he left us, 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 momentous and un.
eventful trip thus far, we forgot our
uninteresting escort Crummels, and
were drawn naturally into intimate so
cial relations with large, pleasant
faced man, wearing gray flannel shirt
tucked into pair of overalls at the
waist, the overalls, in turn, tucked in
to an immense pair of coWhide boots
He said he had been "below," to pur
chase tools for himself and partners, and
represented himself as one of fathers
customers. His tall companion he call
ed "Keatuck," and "KentuCk" always
prefaced his remarks to my new found
friend, with, "say, Cap" He was very
patient, lis, ening to, and answering,
all our questions, with great kindness,
and Il certain lack Of dignity, very cap
tivating to Dawn and myself
Dawn was then only eight years old.
She had been adopted by the family,
under peculiar circumstances. Father
found her one morning, while we were
living in Washington, lying upon the
granite step at our front door, wrapped
only in an old plaid shawl He was
going to Baltimore, and, being up ear
lier than usual, found the little one,
| sleeping quietly, Just as the Eastern
heavens were beginning to redden wiCh
the approach of day, and mother named
her Dawn. She was always beautiful
in infancy and girlhood, and wonder
fully so in wOmanhood.
To Dawn and myself, the ride to Mar
iposa afforded little more than a 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 oppress-
ed by the semi -barrenness and muddy
streams glaring upon us through heat
and dust, Then we were more a part
of Natures self, living in it, swayed
more powerfully by itssilent intluence,
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 del,
icate consideration they displayed for
the feelings Of travellers! With what
patient assiduity would they seek to
make new conner believe-by intima
| tion, at least-that black was white
Not being able to supply luXuries in
other ways, they fed US by sound, ap-
plying the richest names to the com.
mOnest articles, pronounced with a
luscious roll that made our young
mouths water in anticipation. At every
place where we took meals-on the
Tuolumne at Hornitos-the same for,
mula was gone through with; the
waiter looking you straight in the eye,
would insinuate plate of miserable
corn bread toward you, suggesting, al
the same time, in sOltest tones that you
"help yourself to pound cake.n
Toward the evening of the second day
our mud wagon dashed at a gallopiug
pace, through the binding dust, to the
front of the "Grizzly," where we forgot
our disappointments, for the time, in
observing crowd collected to welcome
the weekly stage. Everybody seemed
to know Gaps; and alter seeing Dawn
safely upon her feet-an act which
seemed to excite the envy of the Who'll,
gathering, composed of rough heavily
bearded miners-he turned to receive
their greetings. lie called each by