The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-17
A CALIFORNIA IDYL.

The declining sun was casting his ray
over "Poor Mans Gulch," situated a
the foot of the Sierra Nevada, nea
where the town of Mariposa now stands
at the close of one fine day (dry season
in the year of our Lord 1854.
As we said before, the sun was cast
ing his rays over the Gulch up the tow
ering heights of the hills, bringing ou
the rich green of the waving pines, anG
lighting up the faces of a group of mer
who stood watching an advancing figure
The aforesaid figure slowly plodded itl
way along, followed by very discour
aged looking mule, bearing upon it,
back the simple outfit of a prospecting
! miner.
There was lCok of discomfort upon
! the faces of the reception committee,
and they even eyed the stranger with
suspicion. The fact was, such a num-
| Der of strangers had come to their camp
| claiming hospitality, who had been
weighed in the balance and found want
| ing, that they were decidedly averse te
extending the right hand of fellowship
to a subject unless he proved to be of
the right stripe.
All doubts were speedily dispelled as
the strangers honest face came in view,
and when Sim Carlock, the spokesman
of the party, stepped forward and grasp
ed his hand, he received hearty well
come.
The new conner was not allowed to
say a word until he had partaken of a
hearty supper, his long-eared compan-
ion in the meantime being well taken
care of.
The sun, with the promptitude so pc
culiar to that part of the country, had
gone down with "plump," very much
resembling the extinguishment of a can
die by means of the application of a
finger and thumb After supper found
the stranger seated in the midst of
party who had assembled to make his
acquaintance, pipe in hand, and his face
wearing a calm, contented air which
seemed to say "Yere I am; yere am
amongst good friends, and yere I'm 60
in to stay"
An awkward silence succeeded the
ceremony of introduction, as, according
to the then prevailing etiquette, it was
due to the newcomer to have the first
say.
The silence was broken by laconic
remark from the stranger to the effect
that his name was Hiram Tucker. Thus
encouraged, the party soon got from
him his simple story, which amounted
to this:
He was a bachelor, and hailed from
an Eastern state. At the breaking out
of the gold fever he took it into his
head that to carry a cargo of Yankee
notions around the Horn would be a
good speculation. He arrived at San
Francisco in good order, sold his cargo,
and lost his crew, who deserted as soon
as the ship cast anchor. There he was
in strange land, with plenty of money
In his pocket and no means of returning
home. Accepting the situation in a
graceful way peculiar to himself, and
having no family ties, he decided to cast
his lot in the golden land, hoping some
day to become a useful citizen. What
with the high rates of living and the
gamiHg-t table Uncle Tucker-for so they
dubbed him-speGdily became a poor
man. Becoming conscious that he must
now work for a living, he scraped up
enough from his shattered fortunes to
provide himself with an outfit, and be-
gan grubbing in the earth and inspect
ing the rocks in search of that which
constituted the chief aim of man at
that particular time and place. His
statement included long list of disap-
lucky finds, and wander
ings, which would tire the readers
patience should we enumerate them in
detail. Suffice it to say that Uncle
Tucker met with the same good fortune
as nine-tenths of his compatriots. He
had more than once made up his |
mind few strike west, an go
tew Jaypan," as he had heard a man
could live for almost nothing there ; |
but here he was, high and dry, at Poor
Mans Gulch, and if the boys would |
lend hand he would set up a shanty |
and settle down.
The boys certainly would lend hand, |
and after cordially shaking hands they |
bade Uncle Tucker good night.
The next day the work of erecting |
the new habitation began in good earn
est, and by night neat, substantial log |
shanty stood ready for occupancy.
Gentlemen" said Uncle Tucker that
night, as the festivities came to a close,
80 l name this Hotel Independence.
The latch string is allus out, an eff the
loor is ever barred may an uthqueck
come an shake ev'ry peg out of the
'ints, and leave no timber on another.
EV rY DrOUnef is welcome ter come an
20 when he pleases, an the thanks of
Uncle Tucker tGw all. A stranger come
among We and We took i'm in. Ny
hanks agin, gentlemen, an good night.
ne added hastily, as he turned and
,losed the door.
The face of every man wore a pleased
expression. The satisfaction of doing
a good turn for the honest-hearted,
Kindly old man was ample compensa-
ton Tor lost time NOT counting in the
ook OF gratitude he gave them as he
retired from view. Uncle Tucker To-
,ated claim, had his declaration filed,
and mantully went to work. His first
assay was encouraging; being reported
rs equal TO ten dollars a ton. which
Uncle Tucker said was the best he had
lone in dogs age, and he could afford
% pat himself on the back for it.
1t was a right cheerful sight to see
he old man grubbing away in the warm
iunlight-his bald head glistening with
he highest polish, and the clods of
moist earth flying in showers behind
lim. He looked so happy that those
bout him would sometimes rest on
heir picks to gaze on him, and when
lie looked up they would fall to work
gain. The women and children loved