The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1879-12-26
SAND.
CHAPTER ].
MOUNTAIN Brow, CAL.
.gagftn 2 1S7

.
Mr. DEAR Old FRIEND ~ can not,
st this moment, recall the date of my latest
letter, yet distinctly remember that di |
write to you at some period OF time not
strictly prehistoric ; but whether it was
that I penfled my epistle in answer to
something, or desiring that something
should be answered. know not and,
indeed, do not care; because, as l look
upon It, the antiquity and proximity of
our friendship is equal to waiver OF GER
emonv. If lang syne, among the powders
and payg1t of SquaIly Flat, | had not
learned by heart that you were one OF
Gods own IN every depth Of good friend
ship. save the expressing Of it, should
think you were turned ca Yalier, and prone
to ride BY your old friend on your success
fuI money getting hobby but my head.
which Is rapidly taking on the gray thatciI
of declining life, tells me that yours is
nature no mere to be spoiled by wealth
than da,,ntad by poverty. When l think
of yeal can not fail to recall poor old
Rockyweiler tyou do not forget him p, or
rather his per speech when he WAS spree
4 ItBE OA 5Qus1lys Ou GSttbtAbo AAt1fC IOt SOt~
ten how he used to come to his cabin door
on tie hillside, in the early morning, and
address the general camp in these words,
shouted at the top of his voice s. Whoop
Ia! God hates q coward, sir, and you
can't hurt a Christian. Never try to
crawl when you're broke, nor to fly when
you're flush, sir, and Ven may be happy
Moilammetlanizetl Christian salutation to
the morn. he softly closed his cabin door
| behind him, aud carefully walked down
the trail to the saloon for his earliest
| libation. You always seem to me to be an
embodiment Of Rockyweller's creed. Aud
| now they tell rne You are the master of
millions of dollars. How strangely roman
| tic is real life To-day we weep upon
orr mothers breast and take her parting
| kiss, close behind us the humble gate of
home. aud, gazing through unusual tears,
bid old familiar scenes farewell; tomorrow
and tomorrow stretch before ms on tile
roall, till we travel into manhood and its
trials then the early grave for one,
wrecked life for another, quiet success for
third, and SO on, up and down, the line
of registry runs. till at length one OF a
thousand astoni<hes himself and everybody
else by becoming renowned for wealth or
| wisdom. Strange-s strange Indeed. and
the more l dwell upon it. tie more strange
it seems to me | never expected that
you. among all the boys who crossed the
plains in 1850 in our train. would be tam
ous for anything but at the same time.
also, people were net looking to Sanga-
| mon County, Illinois, for President Of
the United States. The wisdom which
| seeks to forecast the career of a baby is less
reliable :lIan the baby is. Prophecy, 10
use neat vulgarisrn. is played out.
| Nothing ia more novel than reality. Sue
cess is always surprising. Having said
| this much about you, and it Is, / assure
you bnt slight installment OF what
have been frequently thinking. will pro-
cee.l with your leave, TO talk OF myself,
and my belongings.
am not at all glorious. or IN any way
distinguished but may fairly say, that,
| take any circumstances altogether. am
happy. We-tliat is, tile other goodly
half aud tnyseIf-we jog along and to me
| likewise, as 1 fully believe. also to her
eacll new day that we are permitted, by
the great goodness Of Divinity. to continue
together is an additional coinage from the
mint of solid satisfaction. have not, as
you know, much wealtll-never was meant
to be that way-but my children, though
rather numerous, are greatly satisfying to
me. think, moreover, aud really hope,
that am not declining in the esteem OF
my ncighbors. You, with the other
:. boys in our claim on Squaily Flat. used
| to think 1 was brilliant fellow. That
was a mistake. Brilliant people rarely
wear well, while, on the contrary. 1 seem
to find that ripen slowly, but surely into
public favor-in my small way. So far as
! can observe, none of my children are de-
fective III any way--tlley are al shapely,
1.-THE. supple. quick of foot and of appre-
heIsion. Their mother guides them with
out goad or rein. and l curb them With a
look or shake of the head, aud nothing
pleases them better than to hear me des
cant upon.
= The days of old--the days of gold
IN tne Gays OF IOrfS-Iltne,ss
in which stor les you. yourself, mine ancien
pard, sometimes figure as the hero.
Ny eldest boy, who is now man
seems to take deep and particular interes
in the old times. Qaerg.-Can it be that
parent may beget his impressions? Isif,
reality that the sour fruit in the moutl
Of the parent sets the teeth Of the unborl
upon edge, and rice regsa as 20 sweet fruit
Well. well / Howeves. this query usay b
answered, tllero is aiiother anery which
must soon essay to answer. NJ boy want
to plunge into the tide of life and strik
ont for Ilmselt; and. but for the shadoS
on bis mothers brow and the quiVer o
her lip, when the matter IS spoken of.
J, could be well satisiletl 10 launch him, an
let him 80. cannot guide him fOreYel
you know anu feel sure tilat he wi
pursue quite as virtnons course while y
earsl, IS Fflflel my fact Is he M 18th f5l