Year: 1874

UNCLE FUCKERS NEfFY.


The declining sun was casting his rays
over 'sPoor Mans Gulch," situated at the
foot of the Sierra Nevadas, near where
the town of Mariposa now stands, at the
close of one fine day (dry season. in the
wear of cur Lord 1854.


AS we said before, the sun was casting
his Irays over the Gulch up the towering
heights of the hills, bringing out the rich
green of the waving pines, and lighting
up the faces of a group of men who stood
watching an advancing figure. The afore-
said figure slowly plodded its way along,
followed by discouraged looking mule,
bearing upon its back the simple outfit of
prospecting miner.


There was look of discomfort upon the
faces of the Reception Committee and
they even eyed the stranger with stlspic-
ion. The fact was, such number OF
strangers had come to their camp Claim
ing hospitality, who had been weighed IN
the balance and found wanting, that they
were decidedly averse to extending the
right hand of fellowship to subject unless
hs proved to be of the right stripe. All
doubts were speedily dispelled as the
strangers honest face came in view, and
when Sim Carloek, the spokesman OF the
party, stepped forward and grasped his
hand, he received hearty welcome.


The newcomer was not allowed to say
a word until he had partaken of a hearty
supper, his long-eared companion In the
meantime being well taken care of.


The sun, with the promptitude so pc
ctlliar to that part of the country, had
gbne down with a s'plunlp, very much
resembling the eXtinguishment of a can
die by means of the application of a finger
and thumb. After-supper found the
stranger seated in the midst of party
who had assembled to make his acduaint-
ance, pipe in hand, and his face wearing a
calm, contented air which seemed to say :
sfYere I am; yere | am amongst good
friends, and yere I'm gOin' to stay


An awkward silence succeeded the cere-
Inony of introduction, as, according to the
then prevailing etiquette, it was due to
the newcomer to have the first say.


The silence was broken by a laconic re.
mark from the stranger to the effect thai
his name was Hiram Tucker. Thus en-
Gouraged, the party soon got from him
his simple story, which amounted TO this


He was bachelor, and hailed from an
Eastern State. At the breaking out OF the
gold fever he took it into his head that te
Garry cargo of Yankee notions arouno
the Horn would be good speculation
He arrived at San Francisco in good order
sold his cargo, and lost his crew, who de
serted as soon as the ship cast anchor
There he was in strange land, with plen
ty of money in his pocket and no means
returning home. Accepting the situation
in a graceful way peculiar to himself, ant
having no family Jies, he decided to casthl
lot in the golden land, hoping some day tt
become useful citizen.


What with the high rates of living ane
the gaming table, Uncle Tucker-for 81
they dubbed him-speedily became poo
man. Becoming conscious that he mus
now work for a living, he scfaped VI
enough from his shattered fortunes to pro
vide himself with an outfit, and began
orubbing in the earth and inspecting tn
rocks in search of that which constitutes
the chief aim of man at that particula
time and place. His statement included
long list of disappointment lucky finds
and wanderings, which would tire tn
readers patience should we enumerat
them in detail. Suffice it to say that Un
Gle Tucker met with the same good fortun
as nine-tenths of his compatriots. He ha
more than once made up his mind "te'
strike West, an go tew Jaypan, as he ha
heard that a man could live for almos
nothing there; but here he was, high an
dry, at Poor Mans Gillch, and if the boy
would lend hand he would set up a shar
ty and settle down.


The boys certainly would lend hant
and after cordially shaking hands the
bade Uncle Tucker good night.


The next day the work OF erecting tn
new habitation began in good earnest, an
by night a neat, substantial log shant
stood ready for occupancy.


"Gentlemen," said Uncle Tucker tn:
night, as the festivities came to close, =
name this Hotel independence IL
latch-string is allus out, an eft the door
ever barred may an uthqueck come al
shake ev'ry peg out of the j'ints. and leaN
no timber on another. Ev'ry brother
welcome ter come an go when he please
am the thanks of Uncle Tucker tew al
A stranger come among ye and ye toe
i'm in. My thanks agin, gentlemen, Al
good night he added hastily. as he turne
and closed the door.


The face of every man wore please
expression. The satisfaction Of doing.
good turn for the honest-hearted, kind
old man was ample compensation for 10
time-not counting in the look of gratitut
he gave them as he retired from viey
Uncle Tucker located claim, had his de
laration filed, and manfully went to wor
His first assay was encouraging being I
ported as equal to ten dollars q ton, whit
Uncle Tucker said was the best he had do
in a dogs age, and he could afford to p
himself on the back for it.