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

know mother would whisper true.
Mine are the darlings! "-lneaning you.
WAS 1T A WRATH?
Welcome, most welcome to California,
my friend" said Charles Evans, as we
warmly shook hands ON the wharf.
had just arrived by the Pullman train
from Omaha, having left New York seven
days before, and the friend of my boyhood
had insisted in his letters, when he knew
OF my intended immigration, on my pass.
ing the tlrst few weeks of my soiourn with
him till should be made, as he expressed
it, "a Californian off,
The moon had risen in the clear. June
sky by the time we had dined at the Russ
House; and mounting to the ssat of light
buggy, we started for twenty mile drive to
my companions country seat.
My dear old boy!" he exclaimed, taking
Q good hold of the reins, and touching the
tine pair Of grays with the whip; 'syou can't
imagine how delighted am that you have
come OUTLET the land Of Egypt for that
OF Canaan, a land flowing with milk and
honey"
Il have no doubt" answered, that /
shal! be equally pleased, if one-tenth of
the descriptions and stories which I have
AedIu auu roael ABOUT IL IS Cru0."
"True!" said he, with an accent Of dis
dain. Why, tenth has not been told.
Il tell you what it is, Philip-now That the
railroad is completed, md communication
made so easy, and cheap, too, taking all
things into consideration-the whole east
Will come here en- nnasse, and the first who
come, by investing in real estate. may make
their fortunes by selling a portion of it to
the last" 53e'Se, u
"A golden prospect, indeed" said I.
laughing, for the first corners. But tell
mellow did you chance to come here so
early? Surely, if I reap golden harvest,
you should reap one of damon DIS. for Won
have been here since 80. Wise as I sup
pose the move was, I could never gness
what prompted you to make it."
We'll" said he, very gravely, you are
my nearest and dearest friend, and I will
reveal to you the mystery of my life; it al
ways awes me to think of it, and / have
never before spoken of it to any mortal"
~: You know, he continued, after pause,
that received a good education as a
physician; and when I was twenty three
years of age my father died, leaving ne
alone in the world, and with, perhaps, three
thousand dollars in money and real estate.
settled in little village in Connecticut.
and was doing well; and though sometimes
the life seemed rather dull, think was
pretty we'll content. This was in the latter
part OF lo49: In the beginning of 1850 1
began to feel vague discontent-wh I
can hardly tell. I was doing better than
usual, and had every reason to think nv
self favorite with the community among
which my lot was cast. But still the feel
ang grew in intensity, until it amounted to
constant restlessness and dissatisfaction.
well, one evening I felt particularly
weary and dispirted; and as I have nothing
TO 90, took up New York paper to pass
the time. The word California in mon
st1ous letters, attracted my attention, and
l.began to read the news. You remember
the time, and how the soDerest business
letters read like bulletins from FARMLAND.
But what struck me most, I remember, was
the price list at the foot of the column.
Flour fifty dollars per barrel: sugar, one
collar per pound-and all the rest Of it.
Somehow, as read. felt still more dis
satisfied with my present life; but the
thought Of goingt to California never entered
my mind; and if it had, would have seemed
alton.
1T was after midnight before I went to
bed, and tossed a long time in feverish
unrest until, after some hours, fell into
deep sleep, which lasted till late the next
morning. In the midst of that sleep,
continued my friend, his voice sinking to
low and tender whisper, Il saw the wall of
my chamber suddenly illuminated. show
ing above my writing table q portrait in
large, deep frame; the features the broad,
smooth forehead, the lustrous, brown eyes,
the perfect lips and nose the delicate ear,
the clustering, beautiful brown hair-all
are stamped upon my memory. Nothing
surprises in dreams, and my only emotion
was love-love that has never ceased to
this day, nor will cease till death. have
called the vision portrait, but its real APP
pearance was that Of living person, look
ing through the unglazed picture frame;
and felt no surprise when the dark eyes
shone. and the sweet lips parted in smile
upon me, and the right hand stretched
forth toward the writing table with gesture
did not comprehend. Then heavy sleep
closed like a great wave over me till I
woke in the broad daylight.
He paused, land gazed on him in perfect
establishment I thought he must have
taken leave of his senses, and was about to
speak, when he smiled, and motioned me
to wait.
II see" said he, you think this more
.n". oC.auSo-Loollsu, perhaps! NOW, lis.
ten to the rest of my story. When awoke
in the morning, the light was streaming in
at the easement, and the apartment was as
cheerful rs June day could make it; and
then, if ever, come perfect days, he added,
smiling. But the whole dream, or vision,
or whatever it was, came to my mind as
clearly and distinctly as though saw it
and so it has ever remained. Well, as 7
was thinking over it, I mechanically lifted
some OF the papers that were lying on the
table, and saw written, in fair, feminine
aand, the words, La Califormie.' Notice
it was not California, but Californiev'
Why" said I, there is nothing very
odd in that; it is but F.ench for Cell
fornia."
Yes, he rejoined; and that is the very
thing to which I wish to call your attention
knew little of the French language at that
time, but knew that these words were, as
you say, the French for the name of the
Golden State.
The words might have been carelessly
written by some one who had access to
your room" said I. "You surely do not
suppose
IT boo Vows, ,,,r1o,, ~. -,.,1:.a <u