Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-08-20
Wr'tten for this paper.
The Flowers Of Grass Valley.

The Flowers Of Grass Valley.
By GEO. W. sLAYToN.
1t was four o'clock and the last bell
was ringing as the river boat Yo-
Semitic began to cast off her moorings
preparatory to her trip up the Sacra-
mento river, Already the gang plank
had been taken in, when q hack drove
furiously up to the wharf and two
young men sprang out. They were
fine looking, healthy, jovial fellows,
who showed plainly they were stran-
gers in the city, bearing the unmistak-
able signs of having crossed the con-
tinent. And so it was Charlie Farm
ham and George Withers had but the
day before arrived in the land of gold,
whittier they had come like so many
Others to seek their fortunes. They
were on their way to Grass Valley,
one Of the Oldest mining camps in the
State. Quickly paying the hackman,
and leaving with him the change,
they made powerful leap and landed
safely on board the boat which had
already begun to move from the
wharf
"Pretty well done, boys !" said a
by-stander. "'Pears like you have
been used to them leaps played in a
circus, haint ye?"
"No, sir; at least /, have not how
is it, Charlie ? Did you ever travel
W ith circus ?"
"No, but l don't believe Hanlon
himself could beat that leap"
"Wal, twas good leap, Lads
Guess you wanted to 60 up the river
pretty bad, didu't ye?"
eyes ; George and l came to the
conclusion that city life was too much
for us so we thought we'd try the
country. Are you much acquainted
with the mines up in Nevada County,
Grass Valley, and through that part
of the mountains ?"
81 should think I ought to be, for ]
lived up there since 80. You're goin
to the mines are ye ?"
eyes, sir. We thought perhaps
there might be room for two more
there"
II guess so. Coin to minin ?"
"That was our intention, sir.
suppose there is some ground not
turned over yet? ?"
"Ground enough, but you won't
find much gold in it. Yer ought tc
have come out when / did TO fine
gold. Lord! I've seen the time whel
you could pick it up most anywhere
But them days is passed, Mines have
changed since 1850"
81 suppose the best mining day.
have passed. But as long as we hav,
not seen California in her best days
we shall not expect as much as an ole
miner like you would
''P'raps not. l tell you what, boys
l kinder like yer grit, ye look as if yt
warn't afraid of work, and if yer hain
got no particular place to go to, JUS
60 home with me, p'raps can give
ye start. I've got good ranch W
in Grass Valley, and ifye don't mind
goin' with me, l can give ye plenty tc
eat and drink, and yer welcome tc
stay till something turns up. l had 8
couple of boys once-about yer age
they would be now, one went to sea
and the other went on-and l dom
know where he is now. Ye can take
their places till they come home-i
they ever do come-and Uncle Billy
Flanders will do all he can for ye."
"We both thank you very much fol
your kindness to us, entire strangers
and will show you that your conf
dence is not misplaced. AS for me
will bel very glad to go with you.-
What do you say, George ?"
"Me ? I shall be only too happy
to accept our kind friends invitation
l don't know how we can thank you
sir"
"No thanks to me, boys. l only
hope some one will do the same to my
poor boys if they are in strang'
~ IIn.a ,,,o o,o NJ Do, at;o vuh or.