Year: 1862

y lew weakS since, IN coming down The
North River, was seated in the cabin OF the
magnificent steamer Isaac Newton, in conyer-
sation with some friends. 1t was becoming
late in the evening, and one after another
seeking repose from the cares and tolls of the
day, made preparations TO retire TO their berths
Some, pulling of their coats and boots, laid
themselves down 10 rest others in the attempt
to make it seem as much like home as possible,
threw of more Of their clothing-each one as
their comfort or apprehension of danger dicta-
ted


had noticed on deck fine looking boy,
about six years Of age, following around man,
evidently his father, whose appearance indca-
ted him to be foreigner, probably German
"a man of medium hight and respectable
dress. The child was unusually fair and fine
looking, handsomely featured with an affec-
tionate expression of countenance, and from
under bis German cap fell chestnut hair in
thick clustering curs.


After walking about the cabin some time,
the father and son stepped within a few feet
from where we were, and began preparations
for going to bed, l watched them. The
father adjusted and arranged the bed the child
was to occupy, which was the upper berth,
while the little fellow was undressing himself.
Having finished this, his father tied hand
kerchief around bis head, to protect his curls,
which looked as if the sunlight from his happy
heart always rested there. This done, looked
for him to seek his resting place; but instead
of this, he quietly kneeled down on the floor,
put his little hands together so beautifully
childlike, and simple resting his arms on the
lower BERTH against which he knelt to begin
his prayer.


The father sat down by his side, and waited
the conclusion. 1t was, for child long
prayer, but well understood l could hear the
murmurings of his sweet voice, but could not
distinguish the words be spoke. There were
men around it-Christian men retiring to rest
without prayer at all, a kind of mental desire
for protection without sufficient courage or
piety to knee in a steamboat cabin, and before
strangers acknowledge the goodness of God or
ask his protecting love.


This was the training of some mother
Where was she now? How many times had
her kind hand been laid on those sunny locks
as she taught him to lisp his prayer?


| A beautiful sight it was that child at pray
er, in the midst of the thoughtless, busy throng


THE MOUNTAIN ExPEssMAS.-Did you ever
reflect, mountain reader, as you sit in your
store or shop, or parlor, or cabin, comfortably
cleaning from the last Union or Alta the news,
or eagerly devouriDg the contents of some letter
from loved ones beyond the sea and mountains,
by what process these welcome messengers of
intelligence and affection reached you, in mid
winter, over mountains, and across dangerous
and flooded streams? If you have not, you
have yet duty to discharge, debt of obliga-
ton and gratitude to pay, silent, earnest
thankful prayer yet to offer for the Mountain
Expressman, who daily braves deep SHOWS
maddened, flooded rivers, and all the mortal
dangers attendant upon mountain travel during
California Winter, TO please and crafty you
with the latest news from home and abroad


The California Expressman is an institution
in himself and belongs to class wholly origi-
nal, which the necessities of our golden
State originally brought into existence. A
bright mind with a smattering Of Lundley
Murray and Noah Webster, may succeed as
lawyer ; the man who guesses' and calcu
lates' with modcum of common sense and
caution may accumulate fortune trading or
selling goods man with large egotism and a
thimble full of brains may foist himself upon
the gullible public as great man, and make
distinguished politician y expert, with some
cunning and venturesome nerve will make q
tair gambler and even an editor may obtain
respectable reputation by the ingenious use of
scissors, and few exclamation and interroga-
ton points. But it requires the unity of all
the above qualities to constitute a reliable
California Expressman. He must be intelligent,
possess horse sense" be self-reliant, have un-
daunted courage, have unhinching nerve, his
character for honesty be above reproach, and
venture all perils from robbers, SHOWS and
floods. He must have successfully encountered
all the trials and risks of his profession before
his reputation is made. Hundreds, nay thou
sands, ambitious ones have endeavored to attain
a reputation as expressman in California, but
not more than one out of every hundred sue
ceeded and few indeed have all the requisites
to win notoriety as such Trinity Journal.
A FINANCIER remains " respectable with
fortune that don't belong to him, while a
beprar becomes a criminal for purIoining a