Mohave County miner., 1901-05-25
Recollections of a California Pioneer
Miner.

days OF ~ "uu 'ue early days of
mining, ali that WA necessary to &C.
cnmulate wealth was to 90 into the
mines and pick up the gold. la truth.
however, it was ouly the lucky ones
who found II in any greater abundance
than their daily necessities required:
while the business, manufacturers, pro.
fessions and salaries of later wears
give far better livings than the pion.
eers enjoyed, The following is a vivid
picture of early days in the mines. II
first appeared in the San Francisco
Picsyune, in 1852. 1t was written by a
pioneer physician who had poor sue
cess:
THE MINERS LAMENT.
Why will We dig?" Son of mani
for the light of whose presence nv
spirit yearneth and my bowels grum
bleth, dost thou ask me why? Is it not
written that fortune falls upon fools?
And for the sake of those smiles hath
not thy servant been making a fool.
yea, an ass of himself, in vain! For
three years and ten days he has so.
journed ia this place. He has dived
into the water; he has torn ancient
rocks from their resting places, and
removed them afar off; he has likewise
torn his breeches in parts not to be
spoken of; he has rooted into the mud
like unto a swine. His beard hath
grown long; the skin upon his hands
and face hath changed its color, until
be l. now likened unto a wild beast;
aud his garments are rent aud soiled.
80 that "sack-cloth and ashes" would
be fine linen and purple to him. He
would fam feed upon husk=, but there
are none. Yea, he who in times past
was wont to fare sumptunusly, aud TO
grumble over greater delicacies than
we're piled before Dives, now shifts
with gladness the fragrance OF pork
and beans, and gnashes his teeth i'm
patiently at frying slap, jack. He
bolteth raw onion with unspeakable
avidity. Potato skins fear his pres.
ence, beef vanishes from before him,
and dogs look In vain for the bones.
He signs for the flesh pots of Egypt,
and mourns over the baroness of the
land. In his sleep, nevertheless, the
good angel of the past deiens to visit
him, and delightful visions are opened
TO his recollection, for delicious "bill
of fare" floats before the mind OF the
dreamer, aud he orders oysters and
terrapin for six" only to awaken to
his internal slap jacks and molasses.
All this hath thy servant endured.
Is be not then a fool, an abomination
in the sight of wisdom? And is it not
to such, aud such only, that fortune
dispenseth her favors? Yet, she has
deserted me. | approach her and she
tieethl double on her trail" and
she turneth Rwayl / await her com.
ing, and she stands still | secrete my
self in her path aud seize her uuawares,
but she glideth off as though | had
caught hog by his creased tail!
"Sictransit," | exclaim, as with sick
heart revile poverty and curse for
tune.
Lol are not these evils, and where
fore should they be visited on thy
servant! Surely, be hath not sinned
as other men sinneth. He bath not
coveted his neighbours OK, nor his ass,
nor his man servant; nor his maid-ser-
want, for be it known unto thee that
there are no maid servants here. He
hath abided by the law and the proph-
cts, but the profits have not abided by
himl
Now, therefore, l denounce these
diggings; absquatuste the premises;
al vamose the ranch;" take off; put
ont; go; / slope, without script or
provender, taking no heed for the
Of me. Ere FIVE days shall have passed
the shirt-tail of thy servant will be
waving ia the breezes of Nevada. A
remnant of il will be nailed upon the
top Of the highest mountain that he
crosses, as an EN- blem of the extremity
to which man may be reduced in this
land of Ophir. But, think not, oh
Elisha, that / would rend my garment
for this alone. Verify, say unto thee,
an evil genius hath long pursued me.
She has followed so close upon my
footsteps that ever thread and fiber of
my shirt-tail are familiar to her eye
NJ :. q l. Il