The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-08-18

as physician on board the ship. The vow
age was the usual long, stormy and weari-
some one of those days, and it is unneces-
sarv to dwell upon it.
When we arrived in San Francisco. I
sold my goods at q very large profit, and
then, catching the universal fever, I lent
all my money out at what would now seem
q very high rate Of interest, SO as to be free
to 60 to the mines, and started off.
i was not long in the gold fields till I
saw that many man worked hard and
made money, and then lost it all in sink
ing shafts or other expensive mining oper-
atoms, and determined to risk nothing
that way-to work only at the placer dig
gings, and to stop when I had accumulated
fifty thousand dollars. Within two years,
what with my original capital, interest on
loans, and mining, the goal was reached
and paused. Yes; but the object to which
all my efforts were all in reality directed
that perfect face, for which my heart yearn-
ed night and day-was still uufound; and
with 1T my happiness must ever remain. I
had an assurance, amounting to infatuation,
that fate, or Providence which is the
Christian name Of fate-had called me to
California, and would not disappoint nv
trust
II had bought land-we are entering on
it now" said he, as the horses, with q
brisker trot, turned down lane, between
waving fields of grain, off the main road.
Il had bought land in considerable GUAM
titles, while I was at the mines; as I fore.
saw that the owners of land would be the
future nillionaires of the state; and I was
thinking Of devoting my time to it's i'm
proyement, but decided to work one
month longer, Just for luck and give the
proceeds to che poorest man in camp.
Il had not far to goto find that unfor-
tunate individual; he was a Frenchman-
unlucky in everything; unlucky in leaving
France, where he hadsold out ct sacri-
fee; unlueky in coming to America, for he
had been wrecked on the voyage; and un-
lucky in California, for he could barely
make expenses at the mines. AS you may
suppose, the bag of gold dust which I gave
him was no unacceptable present. He felt
no scruple in taking it, as bad made out
well at the mines, and we all helped each
other. While was talking with him he
addressed one of his little daughters by
the name California I started with a
sudden emotion, and glanced at the child
"a pretty little commonplace brunette,
about three years old. Icould not help
smiling. emo; that is not my fate /
thuoght. Lenoir, her father, smiled too.
I see,' he said, you are amused at the
droll name of ma petite file. Eth bSem,
monsieur, cestmaa Marie She did fall in
love wis la California, and she would have
lG petite so named
Further conversation revealed the fact
that Mari q, his eldest daughter, was living
as governess with a rich family of conpat-
riots In San Francisco. She was he told
me, we'll educated; and could live much
more comfortably with those, who were
more friends than employers, in the young
city, than she could with the family at the
camp; and he much preferred it for her,
though the separation was hard to bear.
But must abridge my story, as home
is almost in sight. Within three months I
had wooed and won Marie. All, my friend!
you smile; but had loved her for three
years-ever since I had seen her exact
likeness on my chamber WALL in that little
Connecticut village. Yes, my friend; and
the writing on that sheet of paper, La
California; I have it yet, word for word,
and letter for letter-it corresponds with
her hand.
"But, see!' he cried, there is my castle!
and here comes two of it's garrison as two
rosy faced girls came TO meet us, and
soon YOU shall see it's lady. But tell me
my frlend-you always had reputation for
being clever at solving difficult problems
what was that vision? Was it a wrath?
Or was it truly, in the light of after events,
mere illusion Of a weary brain?"
And beg leave to PROFOUND the same
questions, which I could not answer, to
you, my reader.