Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-24
CHAPTER XIV.
ZANE MAKEs A RECORD.


are not overburdened by folly. have often
reason to wish that they had been born
dumb 1t is otherwise with me- | am by
habit slow with my tongue, having learnt
to choose my words by having but rare
opportunity to use them. That has been
my fate, and do not care to grumble at
it but having a sense, it is necessary to
exercise it if you wish to retain it. Who
keeps his eyes closed for year will be
blind when he opens them. One day 1
may have need to use my tongue to some
purpose. This white paper is companion,
this pen my tongue can hear the words
trace.
{" 1t is good had some sort of educa-
ton. had time for it, and 1 acquired it
in singular way. No one to interrupt or
vex me. l had one grand master, Nature,
whose book is never shut to those who
would read its wonders. My other mas
ters were my own wits.
While live no eye but mine shall see
what l write. When l am dead, it is
Evangelines, with all that possess. 1t
is not that believe 1 shall die tonight or
tomorrow, but it is as well to think of
things. 1t is right that Evangeline should
know something of my inner life, so that
she may give men the lie who speak i'll of
me. There are plenty of them let them
have their way, but do not let them step
into mine. A spirit within me might cry
Strike and they would not live to rue.
mo, shall not die tonight, but will
be prepared. Only up to certain point
are we, our own masters though stead
fastness and determination will achieve
most human desires, we are at the mercy
OF outward circumstances, which at any
unexpected moment may snap the mortal
thread This morning 1 slipped upon a
stone and fell to depth of thousand
feet before 1 recovered myself by catching
at branch of a tree which grew out of
the rocks for my preservation. AS l slid
down ever the sharp stones which cut my
hands when l endeavored to clutch them,
| was certain that Death was not waiting
for me in the depths below. Scores Of
years ago a seed was blown into a crevice,
and tree grew and forced the rocks
asunder that 1 might be saved for my
life's purpose. Those who pretend to
study the science of Divine things, and
who really understand them as well as
beetle, would raise their hands at this, if
it paid them to do so. One mans belief is
enough for man, and l have mine. If
in the worlds scheme there is any sort of
design, all things possible must be adj
mitted Even the unseen agencies by
which we are surrounded, and whose
mysterious power we can as easily control
as circumvent, play their direct part in
our lives. Sometimes they drive men mad.
Human Judgment has passed such ver-
dict upon me that is no concern of mine ;
have long learnt to accept with scorn the
Judgment of mankind.
81 am quite calm, though 1 am screly
wounded Bodily pain does not distress
me; can. trife with it, argue with it,
laugh at it, defy it, and conquer it. l
have in my time suffered torments, but it
has been the anguish of the soul that has
conquered me and made me groan. l am
bruised and cut, and shall not be able to
descend the mountain for two or three
days at least.
81 saw flower that shone like gold,
with dusky mellow lustre such as l see in
some of the autumn sunsets as | stand
upon the highest peak of this mountain of
snow. Its popularity was that its inner
cup reflected light of FURNISHED silver.
1t was not within easy reach, and could
only hope to obtain it by stepping on a
large stone which projected from the outer
surface of the precipice. established a
foothold, with a firm grasp of the earth
behind me, leant forward to detach the
flower by its root, when the stone slipped
from beneath me- l slipped with it, and
was saved by the tree. Wounded as l
was, could not possibly have reached the
mountains top by climbing the surface of
the rock, but to my surprise found in the
rear of this tree an easier path to safety.
1t could not have been made by human
hands
81 am arrested in the current of my
thoughts by notch. Why could this
hidden path not have been made by human
handsl There can be no doubt that the
islanders speak the truth when they say
that no man but myself has ventured into
these strange regions for generations. But
two hundred years ago there lived upon
the mount man, self banished, whose life
was cursed by love and jealousy. He
grew old here, and passed his days in lone
illness, without human or other visible
companionship. The mountain was hii
then, as it is mine now. He essayed {
wonderful task, and may have cut this patti
to assist in its accomplishment. 1t is mo-
an unreasonable idea. When am able t.
move about 1 will convince myself whethei
the narrow way has been made by Natur'
or man.
"What kind of life did he live upon thi
mountg He was utterly alone; not liv
ing being, not even an animal, to hold con
verse with Removed from the world b.
an impossible gulf, dreading the future
seeking to propitiate it by tears and sup
plication, and establishment. Both foo
and coward
"a handsome man, they say, hero il
form and purpose, wise and strong, an
capable. That is how men judge of other
by outward signs so do they judge
me. But l have taught them somethin
already, and may teach them more.
- 1..4. g., 49,, IN NAV Rant