Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-01
SPEEDING ON sNoW.sHoEs.
A Winter Trip from Mountain Saows t.

A Winter Trip from Mountain Saows to
Orange Groves and Sea Shore.
EDS. 'REcoRD- UNION With new pair
of snGy-shoes, twelve feet long, buckled to
my feet, l bade my friends in Granite
Basin, Plumas county. good-by. / was
soon ont of sight of them, as l sped over,
the sIn ooth and sparkling snow. The lew
clouds in the sky, that l expected would
scatter were soon thiekly overcast and
snow hakes were falling. The new fallen :
snow SPRINGS under my shoes like cotton.
pass by miners cabins here and there on
the 1nountain sides. | know bow lonely
it is I'd watch the falling snow from one Of
those Ettle log-cabin windows, for ] have
" been there" My feet get cold, and stop
and set a pine tree on fire. and am soon
warm nough TO travel on. About o'clock
in theifternoon the snow is mixed with
rain. alid | can see the ground here and
there.N My snow-shoes will soon be use
less. fah here comes the stage, and bid
farewell TO my snow-shoes. to snow storms,
to thet all fir trees and pines as they wave
to and ro in the winter winds and bow
beneaat the weight of snow.
Late the evening ! arrive at Oroville,
whereE oranges hang ripe on the trees.
What change of scene in forty miles. I
will MT try to tell of the many pretty
placesk passed through on my way to
Santa Cruz. At San Jose l took the mar
row gage route to the coast. The cars
wind their way in and out among pict-
uresqun hills and valleys; by the side of
clear Streams Of water and beneath the
shadows of towering trees. bnt / saw no
snowflak kes. Soon we were in the little
city of Santa Cruz. How many pretty sea-
side homes and nature has made hill for
each of them TO stand on, with room for q
pretty garden around each. After all my
disappointment, | am in loSe with the
city, the ocean and surrounding country.
After breakfast l walk down Pacific ave.
nue.. Oh, let me see. | knew him All,
yes it is J. A. Ches,nutwood, my old
teacher. | walk down the street with him
until we come to three-stery building; lie
leads the way, and we are soon in a large
and well-lighted room. 6iled with desks,
and each one looks like q desk in some
large business Office. 1t looks so natural,
almost wish could 60 over the work again
with J. A. Chestnutwood as teacher in the
Business College.
walk out on the street, down toward the
wharf. As look eastward | see rolling
hills. deep canyons and tall trees far back
on the higher mountains How grand
they look, standing ont so dis
tinct against the blue slsv. See
those little homes, here and there, 50 snug
and cosy-sweet little moantain homes
overlooking the sea. Ask what you will,
We have it here-a home in the valley. or
on the mountain side; home in the city,
or by the seaslore; or {. home or the deep
blue sea- Mountains, hills and valleys,
shady de5ls and sunny slopes You can
gather ferns by the mountain streams,
flowers in the tangled wildwood" or
shells along the seashore. Add 10 this the
calm and soothing atmosphere, laden with
the perfume of flowers, these delightful
January days, and what more can mortal
man wish Scr as place 20 live?
| oh, how can l return to my cabin in the
snow-c clad hills The snow lies thick ON
the old shake roof. icicles fringe the caves.
and flowers and autumn leaves are buried
beneath four feet of F" beautiful SNOW"
/ S. E.
| Santa Cruz, February %, 1886.