The copper era., 1901-05-16
Recollections of a California Pioneer
 Miner.

late wealth was 10 go into the mines
 and pick up the gold. In truth, how
 ever, it was only the lucky ones who
 found it in any greater abundance than
 their daily necessities required while
 the business, manufacturers, profes- sions and salaries of later years give far better livings than the pioneers en- jOyed. The following is a vivid pie [ ture of early days in the mines. It first appeared in the San Francisco Picayune, in 1852 It was written by pioneer physician who had poor suc- cess:
 THE MINERS LAMENT.
 "Why will ye dig?" Son of man! for the light of whose presence my 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 in this place. He has dived into the water; he has torn ancient rocks from their resting places, and re- moved them afar off; he has likewise torn his brooches in parts not to be spoken of; he has rooted into the mud like unto swine. His beard hath grown long; the skin upon his hands and face hath changed it's color, until he is now likened 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 grumble over greater delicacies than were piled before Dives, now sniffs with gladness the fragrance of pork and beans, and gnashes his teeth i'm patiently at a frying slap-jack. He avidity. Potato skins fear his pres ence, beef vanishes from before him, and dogs look in vain for the bones. He sghs for the flesh pots of Egypt,
 
 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 "bill of fare" floats before the mind of the dreamer, and he orders oysters and tarrapin for six," only to awaken to his internal slap-jacks and molasses.
 All this hath thy servant endured. Is he not then fool, an abomination in the sight of wisdom? And is 1t not to such, and such only, that fortune dispenseth her favors? Yet, she has deserted me. 1 approach her and she fleeth! 1 double on her trail" and she turneth away, 1 await her coming, and she stands still! I secret myself in her path and seize her unawares, but she glideth off as though I had caught hog by his greased tail! ''Sictransit," exclaim, as with a sick heart I revile poverty and curse for tune.
 Lo! are not these evils, and where fore should they be visited on thy ser want? Surely, he hath not sinned as other men sinneth. He hath not cov- eted his neighbor's 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 him.
 Now, therefore, 1 denounce these diggings; l absquatuate the premises ''I vamose the ranch;" take off; put l out; I go; slope, without scrip or pro- vender, taking no heed for the morrow for the morrow takes no care of me. l Ere five days shall have passed the | shirt-tail of thy servant will be waving | in the breezes of Nevada. A remnant | highest mountain that he crosses, as an emblem of the extremity to which | a 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 fol- l lowed so close upon my footsteps that | every thread and fiber of my shirt-tail | are familiar to her eye. And if, in | pursuit of me she should gaze upon this relic in the solitary fastness of the | mountain she would at once recognize 1 it, and believing me to have been torn | and destroyed by wild beasts, she will | retrace her steps, and thus I shall | escape her.
 l go hence, Elisha, unto the town of | Sonora, where it has been prophesied | that thy servant will heal the sick and | prosper with amazing prosperity. As | Moses reared the serpent in the wilder ness, for the children of Isreal to look | upon and be cured of their infirmi;ies, | so will I elevate my sign among the | Gentiles, that they may gaze upon it | and be made whole. Their offerings of | gold and silver will be acceptable unto me, and if they live not afterwards, | peradventure they may find treasure in heaven.-San Francisco Mining and | Review.