The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-04-16
An Old Pioneer.
From the Eureka seafi.e,

From the Eureka seaiiEel1
He was just getting ready for another
frlp. aud was a. enthusiastic in regard
TO the new FL Dorado a. When. twenty
eight years ago. rowing disposition
and love of adventure broke an the
routine and started him in search Of the
golden fleece from the quiet If N-w
England life. that, looking back on to-
day. Is sapetifed III hi. memory. He
was Iii the first flush Of mantoo.i then.
aud the little world that bounded the
Old homestead was circumscribed in
deed. but II was all be knew although
faint rutnors OF fertile lands and bound
less prsirics III the unknown " est had
already unsettled his mind, and filled
him with vague longing. for better
field for the nntirirg industry that, up
to that time had been spent ia a vain
struggle with the granite soil and fiery
elements OF his native section. When
the whisper Of the far off land came
laden with strange stories of wealth in
the streams. and richness 10 be had for
the trouble of gathering. he broke the
ties that held him 10 The farm and bid
adieu to the old folks with many a
promise Of speedy return when he had
accumulated a modest fortune, which.
in the castles be had built. WAS II be
devoted TO the comfort Of their dcclin.
ing years. The voyage was long and
weary one. but the lapse of few
months found him among the earliest
Of the argonauts. His castles were
substantial structures, for his industry
aud frugal habits soon served him To
gather the amount that wa. the goal of
his am bitlon. In the lonely life that
followed during his stay the little farm
among the hills bad kept its influence
over him, and he longed 10 see il once
more SO, selling his claim after few
years stay, lie was soon on his way
back. Who can tell Of the pleasure he
experienced after his arrival He had
only been one Of the ordinary lnhab-
itants prior to his departure; but
now everything WAS posed
and be woke to find hlm.efl
famous. Old men treated him with
To deference; young men pointed him out
each either as the hero who bad been u
tar otf lands, aud then whispered among
themselves as to the amount of gold he
had brought back; some had actually
seen a portion If IL. while those not 80
fortunate only needed to look at the
huge specimen pin in his shirt front. OF
the onnce ring that he spoftcd on his
finger 20 realize the tangible wealth
that those evidences indicated And
Ia. .,ft H. ri : l. Il.
him out and bestowed OH him their "a
vors; their par,iality was qn,e a CON
trast to the time when he grubbed on
the farm or hired out to neighbor for
eight dollars month aud board All
this was very pleasant. and le la, ked
IN the social sunshine and eDioyed it,
but II became very tame after while
He had intended to have settled down
and enjoy the good things that had
seemed. when dreaming in his lag ca bin,
TO compass all that was necessary to
render the future endurablr Now, at
ter the frs; flush of qualification was
satisfied, he began to yearn again for
the old. free life. The habits acquired
during his .ojoutn in The golden laid
were too broad Ia endure the rar,inony
that Characterized his native village.
and The social restraint chatrd him He
had thonght Of investing in village
store and settling down 10 cniov the
dignity that the propri,torship of tba,
institution conferred on one. but even
that attainment had lost the charm that
bis fancy had conferred on it: besides,
Winters chill blast penetrated him IA
il never had before. and be sighed for
the halmy air and glorious Sunshine of
his adopted land So paying Oft the
mortgage on the old farm, making the
hearts Of his old father and mother hap
py. and bidding an stfec,ionate good
hyc To the village belle, whose heart h.
had captured. aud to whom he made
solemn promises Of a speedy return
coupled with VOWS Of irequen, CORES
pondence. he once more turned his fac.
westward
Travelling facilities had improved
since his first journey, and month
found him back to his old lace where
fortune bad treated him So kindly.
How his breast expanded as be drew ia
the hatsamic odors that pervade'i the
air. The pines swayed in the breeze a,
ot yorc; the hsckeye shed It's white
blossoms; the gaudy flowers pcepcd up
and nodded their little heads in wei
come. and the old loc cabin. cbincked
with mud, with It's quaint stone CHM
uey surmounted with square of split
sticks rlasieied with adobe, its dirt
floor, even the frying pan and bake
kettle. serned more comfortable ant
homelike than the luxurirs be had left
behind lie WAS soon settled down.
prepared 10 commence the old life again,
aud with pick. Ian and >ho' Il was pros
pect,ng for one ot the old time CLAIMS
as before. IL wa> shallow digglpgs ia
that part ot the country. ard had been
pretty we'll exhausted by this tine To
i've sure there WAS pteuiy ot claims that
yielded big money. but what ws> that
~ enc who had abaa1orei ouuCe dlg-
sings for better claims He VS. DIS
gu>,eSi with hiS lucA. especially wheu
he though, ot that pretty face waiting
tot han back home, aad wlio>e ,i,@E lat
tie letters made the ARRIVAL & the
steamer the biighfcss dsv If the .uottih
Finally, sume ct the isoyS commenced
taking aIroat tafniug the uyer, ani he
lolnesi ,hc company The >sS mill fur
niSl,td the lumbeF un ;iH,c. srd TIE
storekvepcr was accommodating -
" hen the water weut 3o~a. stout hand.