Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-30
In THE FOOTHILLS.
A MORNING WALK AMID NEW
SETTLEMENTS.
Home. with Bride Sc
lected For 1t.
[Rroonp.uxIoN correspondence.l

me in the morning from this window, L
said aloud as l retired the other night III
Redding, a prosperous town of northern
| California, after a ride full of cinders and
| interest from San Francisco. But when |
raised my curtain in the early dawn to
| feast my eyes upon the landscape which l
had anticipated, found, alas, only clus-
ter of dilapidated, shake-covered roofs,
rusty pipes from which the smoke Of
numerous breakfast fires was issuing form
less fences, half whitewashed, and few
scraggy trees struggling for life.
The ground, covered with empty bat
tered cans, afforded a meager hunting pre-
serve for dozen fowl, which, Judging from
| their plump appearance, had other fields at
their disposal. This was the immediate
| foreground of my picture, but beyond the
| housetops l could see the blue, deep blue
mountain ridges, and a gray, rainy sky; so
l hurried away from the just waking town,
the buildings of which, so prematurely old,
had wicked LOOK in their false fronts,
which would willingly forget.
Yet the world is full Of beautiful pictures,
and the power is given TO man to frame
such parts as he chooses. | am always
seeking for a central point about which to
throw my frame. This morning took the
bit of crimson ribbon which pretty girl,
who was drawing water from well at the
outskirts of the town, had tied at her
throat. About this bit of bright color and
the smiling face above it circled a picture
embracing miles of mountains, snow
streaked and rocky; from that bit OF rib
bon my eyes found passage even into the
gray realms of space, but the central figure
disappearing with her bucket within the
cottage, l was compelled to move my frame
away. A short walk brought me 10 the
banks of the river
THE UPPER SACRAMENTO,
| A stream here of wonderful clearneSS,
much to my surprise, for l had always
heard it spoken of as of the same impene-
trable hue as the Missouri. A primitive
| ferry. at nv call, was brought from the OPP
posite bank-just such ferry rs the old
painters of English landscape loved to in
| troduce into their pictures. Slowly we
drifted across the river, the scene constantly
changing like moving panorama; the
banks were bordered with bleached drift
| logs. which lay close under the cover of
the overhanging shrubs and yellow will
| lows. Every leaf and also the far-away
hills were reflected in the water, which,
though flowing rapidly, had scarcely rip
pie to disturb the reflection, giving the re-
production with double brightness, adding
the same effect obtained by the artist when
he varnishes his canvas. Wild geese in
several fiocks. with discordant crying, were
tracing out their ever-changing hieroglyph-
les upon the leaden sky, and from all SIDES
were heard quail calls. A kind OF mint in
full bloom upon the upland meadows took
in the distance purple color of indescrib-
| Il thrnnph urh
showed in lines while the crimson branches
of the manzanita, with their bright foliage
| the varied greens of the trees and shrubs,
| the black-trunked oaks and feathery Indian
pines. gave warmth of color to the land
scape unknown outside those regions.
After crossing the river the rain began to
| fall in large but sparsely-scattered drops
the sounds of the birds ceased at once, ex-
cept the woodpeckers continuous hammer
ing, for he delves away, rain or shine, like
a carpenter who works by the job. Having
reached the tavern, which stands close by
the roadway, | stepped in out of the rain,
needless of the huge dog lying at the door,
for public-house dogs are generally, find,
of the most good natured breed, look they
never so fierce. A row of yellowing locust
trees grew before the veranda, and their
| leaves fell at each gust of wind. The rough
bench along the wall had been nearly carved
away by lazy jaeknives. People driving to
town stopped to ask the news and converse
of cattle and crops with the old, pipe
smoking man who sat in the doorway. In
a short time learned the names and
good part of the histories of the people
who lived along the road and the topics of
| local interest which were just then the
stealing of red horse and the - candidates
| ball.
MARKS OF ADVANCING SETTLEMENT.
When the rain passed over l continued
my course, now along the road which had
been made perfect by the shower, or by
"short cuts among the bushes of mama
nita and chemisal Wreaths of pale, blue
smoke rose here and there from burning
stumps against a back ground of dark
forest, like the spirits of the departed trees
whose earthly bodies lay in cordwood by
| the roadside.
On nearly all the slopes were seen clear
| ings and picturesque, implanted houses,
which had somewhat of Swiss look,
with overhanging caves. knowing
that most of these places were owned
by new. comers l had the curiosity
to turn out of my course to see one of these
| farms in embryo. Following a natural
road which led along beside brush fence.
soon came to the bars which admitted to
the inclosure On one side, upon the east
ern slope of hill, guiltless of weeds, was
little vineyard containing about thousand
vines, few feet in hight and in fine condi-
| ton, the larger leaves just beginning to
| take the autumn tints.
On either side of the road had been
planted fig trees, which, small as they
were, had leaves enough to have clothed
even larger family than that little one
which some years ago lived in Eden, upon
| Il g Tn, oil
eighty acres of land had been put under
cultivation, some in grain and some in
| fruit trees. saw the proprietor busily at
work burning brush and thus extending
| his lordship over more territory. He was
| person full of energy; even the bristling,
sun-bleached moustache was suggestive of
nothing but perseverance. He nodded to
me as he continued his work, and pres
emily, after piling on the fire great guam
| tity of brush, he came to where | was
standing. In answer to several questions
asked him, he told me the little story of
his success, and he told it with commend
able pride.
SUCCESSFUL AND coETENTED.
Two years ago he came to this part of the
country with all his possessions in a wheel
| barrow. The land cost him nothing, hay
| ing gotten it from the railroad company,
WHICH OWLS illuCu SOOu, tllldUlS sui III lHkS
and the neighboring counties. He at once
begun work and cleared enough brush
away to plant a small vegetable garden
and then felled some pines, with which he
built the neat little cottage in which he
still lives. Grapeyines and frult-tree cut
tings were soon put out, and now the place
in the second year OF its growth presents
an appearance of thrift and promise won
derful TO see.
And added he, the best of my story
is yet to told. am going to keep two here
next year. for this month I'm going to
marry the prettlest girl in Redding."
" l congratulate you" 1 said. 9 But I'M
less she is the young lady who lives near
the ferry, think You must be mistaken
about the adjective you use"
well, well, and you know her 81 he re-
piled in surprise.
No, only saw her this morning as she
was drawing water, and she wore a red
ribbon at her throat, and l thought the
young fellow who could get her for a wife
would be lucky indeed. l am glad to see
you and to congratulate you. l should
think you would prefer to live in the town,
though, when you are married"
Oh, no l have had enough of the
town. had rather DE ont here among
these hills than be in town. and lay up
4