Holbrook argus., 1901-06-08
RecOiIec ions OF a California Pioneer
Miner.

"gl3iicus days of 20 and the
ea.ly days of niri g, all that
was nteess. ~ 20 &C mulate
wealth was to go into the mines
and Tick up tie gold. In truth,
however, It w. S only the lucky
ones WHO f IL d it in any greater
abundan tn Il their daily neces-
81 r>qur d; w lie the bust
ness, II an act RS, professions,
and s; laries f LATER years give
far better Ii ings Il an the phone
e. S enj yed. Tie following is a
vi d picture of early days in the
mines. 1t first appeared in the
San Francisco P;cayune, in 1852.
1t was written by pioneer ply
sic;an who had poor success:
THE MINERS LAMENT.
"Why will We dig?" Son of
man! for the light of whose pres
ence my spirit yearneth and my
bowels grumbleth, dost thou
ask me why? Is it not written
that fortune smiles upon fools?
And for the sake of those smiles
hath not thy servant been max
ing fool, yea, an ass of himself,
in vain? For three years and
ten days he has sCjourned in this
place, He has dived into the
water; he has torn ancient rocks
fIom their resting places, and re-
moved them afar off; he has like
wise 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 he
Is now ikened unto a wild beast;
and his garments are rent and
soiled, so that "sack-cloth and
ashes" would be as fine linen and
purple TO him. He would fain
feed upon husks, but there are
none. Yea, he who in times past
was wont to fare sumptuously,
and to grumbie over greater de-
icacies than were piled before
Dives, now sriffs with gladness
the fragrance of pork aud beans,
and CRASHES his t ethimpatiently
at frying s'apjack. He bolteth
a raw onicn with urspeakable
avidity. Potato skins fear his
presence, beef vanishes from be-
fore Linn, ard dogs lock in vain
= for the bones. He signs for the
flesh pots cf Egypt, and mourns
oyer the barrenness Of the land.
In his sleep, nevertheless, the
good angel OF the past deigns to
visit him, and delightful visions
are opened to his recollection,
for a delicious chill Of fare"
floats tefore the mind Of the
dreamer, and lie orders "oysters
and terrapin for Six" only to
awaken to his Internal slap,jacks
and molasses.
All this hath thy servant en-
dured. Is he not then a fool, an
abominatiOn in the sight of wis
dom? And is it not to such, and
such only, that fortune dis
penseth her favors? Yet, she has
deserted me. Iapproach her and
she feeth! l double on her
trail" and she turneth away!
await her coming, and she stands
still! l secrete myself in her path
and seize her unawares, but she
glideth off as though 1 hac
caught a hog by the creased tail
"Sictransit," l exclaim, as with
a sick heart l revile poverty anc
curse fortune.
Lo! are not these evils, anc
wherefore should they be visited
on thy servant? Surely, he haiti
not sinned as other men sinneth
He hath not coveteth his neigh
boris OK, nor his ass, nor his mar
servant; nor his maid-servant
for be it known unto thee tina
there are no maid servants here
He hath abided by the law ant
the prophets, but the profit
have not aHided by hirnl
Now, therefore, l denounc
these diggings; 1 absquatulat
L