The record-union., 1891-06-11
BY A FoRTY-NINER.

Lines addressed to a surviving messmate
the placer mines.
I've been to California, Jim,
Where long ago went we,
l wagoned DER the plains, you know,
While you Went round by sea.
1t was way back in forty-nine-
We went in search of gold.
We were some younger then, dear Jim,
But now we've both grown Old
l sought for San Francisco first,
But when looked around
Soon saw the village that we knew
No longer could be found.
A city vast spreads DER the hills,
And where our tent did sand,
In Happy Valley, by the bay,
They've reared a palaces grand.
The plaza's there-but time has swept
All traces of what we knew
The old adobe Custom-houSe,
Alcalde Geary'sf, too.
And Leidsdorfs houset on Kearny street.,
The FL DoraGo3 too,
Where gold-dust bags on monte banks
Took magic wings and flew.
And Sacramento, too, is changed
From what it was before;
| Twas built, you know, with muslin walls,
A thousand tents or more.
Our first camp was beneath the oaks
Where now is Fifth and KT
With one small street the town began,
twas then as now called j.
The railroad depot marks the spot
Where our last camp was made,
When thoughts OF home all else beyond
Made golden visions fade.
One landmark of the past alone
Is left, and that's most gone;
'Tis sad to see in ruins now
What speaks of glory flown.
For here, where Captain Sutter lived,
The city of to-day
Allows the grand old fort he built
To fall into decay.
But there's another spot most dear.
With granite walls tits girt;
To 1t your mind through passing years.
Like mine, doth oft revert.
Yes, Jim, wandered 'mong the hills
Which in those gladstone days
Each peal OF laughter by the boys
In echoes loud did raise.
Where mid the rocks with pick and spade
Each day we delved of old
And where the swaying cradle stood
That caught the flakes of gold.
roamed where once the forest stood.
Where Barclays practiced aim
Ne'er failed TO keep US well supplied
With deer and other game.
All, yes, found our North Forlzg camp.
To memory ever dear.
And once again in thought enjoyed
The hearty, old-time cheer.
Around the blazing logs again
Ifncied / could see
The boys all seated as you know
Full well they used to be.
Again heard their merry songs.
Which, too, those echoes woke
And in my vision saw their pipes
And watched the curling smoke.
These sights IA. sounds come back to me
As they'll rot come again
Twas as dream, and evermore
I'll list and look in vain.
The river still in ceaseless haste,
With wild and angry rear,
Sings the same song while dashing on
As IN those days of yore.
The woodman's ax has swept away
The towering pines that ranged
Like sentinels about our camp
All else remains unchanged.
But, Jim, my heart with sadness filed,
And tears ran from my eve
| When l remembered of the BOYS
None's left but you and l.
One gently sleeps the sleep of death
Beneath the prairie's sod,
And one by San Francisco's bay
| Resigned his soul to God.
A third, whose noble life adorned
| The city of his birth,
In peaceful slumbers closed his eyes
And saw the last of earth.
Soon, soon our srau of life will be
| E'en as q tale that's told;
| God grant that with our messmates then
Wen walk the streets of gold.
Pittsburg, May 90, 1891. J.
*The Palace Hotel
fJohn w. Geary, afterward Governor
| Pennsylvania.
THE City Hotel.
"a famous gambling-house in 40.
| ftor streets running east and west the I,
| ters OF the alphabet are used; those crossil
| them are numbered.
| North Fork Of the American River.