Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-06-18


ing about now?"
81 can hardly say. lad. but mostly of
| home.n
81 don't know how much OF home il
is now, bat had a wife and two children,
and mother. .in-law, which last was poi
son. and hope has bolted into another
sud better world. Yer see, iI's hard navi-
gstin' in shoal place, and mother-in-
law is the shoalest thing I've struck.
Have you been msrried ?"
"No."
Don't you ever marry any one but an
orphan, them
"Why Sc ?n
"I'll tell yer my experience. | came
from Rhode Island. and snciently was q
captain, and have sailed the purtiest ere
turs that ever skinned the water. got
on well till met little blue-eyed girl
from Maine. and thought she would 10
to cast anchor with, which did and We
was as happy IS two barnaoles Oh sunny
log, till her mother came to live with Us,
aua arter that the compass had cou.in-
nal variation. and things SO. 10 be no
better on shor. meter. That sr mother
In law, she tried 10 be steward, aud bo'seu.
snd frs. mate, aud had her eye on the
captains cabin, and wc was in q mutiny
all The time. told tho wife ! would
pension off the old hulk and drag her into
n safe harbor, ard then she and ne and
the babies, which there was two of EN-,
would 90 of soundings and try blue
water all alone. But tho wife wouldn't.
I'm told that wimmen think they can
allus &c, husbands, blt they never can
hsve but one mo,her-so hey sticks 10
her. Blessed If l see what they wants OF
sny mother alter they gifts man to ill
the brcsd-locker, and bpY EN- new STUN
sails. So bought a little house with my
sayin's, and put EN- all in, and when the
gold news came, como out here. | tell
yer, if there's q cranky molher-iu-law on
the quarterback the ship won't keep her
course. Every thing goes sou-sou by
north. as the devil steered the wind
mill. and the captain Is like lee monkey
on the pack stay. gave EN- everything
but my fiddle and dog and come out here.
P'raps when I've made my pile III 90
back again and veer round the folks
There's little Maggie, my purity little one.
she never turned agin her father, though
the others did. Aud if can only see
her, take her little hand and walk out
among the birds and flowers, and hear
her talk. | think ! can be happy again.
And II she will only call me Father once,
l want nothing more, And the old man
brushed away tear with his sleeve.
This was Five's story, sad enough to
him, and when the fellows were disposed
to ieer him for his oddities, and l told
them that his heart was almost broken by
troubles at homo, an unconscious sYmpa-
thy was felt for him forever after. The
mines did not tempt me to remain long
there. The road to fortune was rugged
and steep. and it was not long alter that
| bade adieu to California and retnrned
to civilization, to tell to wondering audi
tors the stories OF the distant land. Five
was the last TO say goodbye. and even
Bruce came and licked my hand.
Twenty years. lifetime to many. 3
weary waste to some. Where once a
few scattered houses stood find to-day
thriving city, wealthy people. For
ests OF shipping line the wharves. and
white sails futter over the bay where
once the occasional steamer plowed her
buslling way. The broad acres where
vqr,.eros once drove their herd, aud
called il waste Land, the hard-hsted sons
OF toll have dotted with thriving farms
and the railroad, JOIN their forces as q
leverage in aid OF progress. The Colonel
and | had been ranging up and down 'no
South joaquin valley, spying out the
land, and worn with struggling through
quicksands and sloughs, mad sought shell
ter gladly from the pelting rain that set
ii a, nightiall. A wonderful VaIley-ihi'
San Joaquin. Three hundred level miles
by seyenty-five. between Two mountain
ranges, and along the western side the
swirlinQ river winds. while down from
the bold Sierra come ice-cold streams to
ioin the tide. Myrisds OF browsing
sheep and cattle trim down the lu1uri'
ant grass, and miles and miles OF held'
are budding into promising harvest
time. The cabin stood near one OF the
foct of this natural eclipse, where four
shepherds dwelt, whose sheep and lamoS
were now eusconced wiihin tho CORA
which lily protected them from the colo
rain. Three Of the men were inside the
hut coaxing an obstinate fire into blaze
the fourth sat alone near the door, The
bright coal in his pipe shining like a fiery
eve. The Colonel was soon engaged IL
a series OF yarns. in which had no par
licular interest, and SO left them anC
stood in the doorway.
Looks as il it was going TO clear up
sir"
"Et you amt got no regard for truth
, that's so. Young feller, l kinder though