Year: 1874

the loot O1 the Sierra NeYaQdS, near
where the town of MaripOsa now stands,
at the close of one fine day (dry season.
in the year of our Lord 1854.


As we said before, the sun was casting
his rays 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 Il group of men who
stood watching an advancing figure.
The aforesaid figure slowly plOdded its
way along, followed by very discour-
aged 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
suspicion. The fact was, such a num-
ber of strangers had come to their camp
claiming hospitality, who had been
weighed in the balance and found want
ing, that they were decidedly averse to
extending the right hand of fellowship
to a subject unless lie proved to be of
the right stripe.


All doubts were speedily dispelled as
the strangers honest face came in view,
and when Sim Carlock, the spokesman
of the party, stepped forward and
grasped his hand, he received a hearty
welcome.


The new cOmG was not allowed to say
a word until he had partaken of hearty
supper, his long companion i'll the
meantime being well taken care of.


The sun, with the promptitude so pc
culiar to that part of the country, had
gone down with plump" 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 a
party who had assembled to make his
acquaintance. pipe in hand, and his face
wearing a calm, contented air which
seems to say: "Yere | am: yere am
amongst good friends, and yere I'm goin'
to stay"


An awkward silence succeeded the
ceremony of introduction, a., according
to the then prevailing etiquette, it was
due to the newcomer to have the first
say.


The silence was broken by laconic
remark from the stranger to the effect
that his name was Hiram Tucker. Thus
encouraged, 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 to carry a cargo of Yankee notions
around the Horn would be a good spec
ulation. He arrived in good order, sold
his cargo, and lost his crew, who desert
ed as soon as the ship cast anchor.
There he was in a strange land, with
plenty of money in his pocket and no
means of returning home. Accepting
the situation in graceful way peculiar
to himself, and having no family ties, he
decided to cast his lot in the golden land,
hoping some day to become a useful cit
izen. What with the high rates of living
and the gaming table, Uncle Tucker
for so they dubbed hiIn-speedily be-
came poor man. Becoming conscious
that he must now work for living he
scraped up enough from his shattered
fortunes to provide himself with an out
tit, and began grubbing in the earth and
inspecting the rocks i'll search of that
which constituted the chief aim of man
at that particular time and place. His
statement included Il long list of disap-
pointments, lucky finds and wanderings,
which would tire the readers patience
should we enumerate them in detail
Suffice it to say that Uncle Tucker met
with the same good fortune as nine
tenths of his compatriOts. He had more
than once made up his mind ''tew strike
West, an go to Jaypan,' as he had
heard a man could live for almost moth
ing there, but there he was, high and
dry, at Poor Mans Gulch, and if the
boys would lend hand he would set up
a shanty and settle down.


The boys certainly would lend hand,
and after cordially shaking hands they
bade Uncle Tucker good night.


The next day the work of erecting the
new habitatiOn began in good earnest,
and by night a neat, substantial log
shanty stood ready for occupancy.


Gentleman, said Uncle Tucker that
night, as the festivities came to a close.
Il name this Hotel Independence. >
The latch-string is allus out, an ef the
door is ever barred may an uthqueck
come an shake eV'ry peg out of the
;'ints, and leave no timber on another
Ev'ry brother is welcome ter come an
go when he pleases, an the thanks of
Uncle Tucker tew all. A stranger come





again, gentlemen, an good night" he
added hastily, as he TUNED and closed
the door.


The face of every man wore pleased
expression. The satisfaction of doing a
good turn for the honest-hearted, kindly
old man was ample compensation for
the lost time-not counting in the look
of gratitude he gave them as he retired
from view. Uncle Tucker located his
claim, had his declaration filed, and
manfully went to work Ills first assay
was encouraging, being reported as equal
to ten dollars ton, which Uncle Tucker
said was the best he had done in a dogs
age, and he could afford TO pat himself
on the back for it.


1t was a right cheerful sight to see the
old man grubbing away in the warm
sunlight-his bald head glistening with
the highest polish, and the clods of moist
earth flying in showers behind him. He
looked so happy and contented that
those about him would sometimes rest
on their picks TO gaze on him, and when
he looked up they would fall TO work
again. The women and children loved
Uncle Tucker. and Sunday afternoons
the old man would take a party of little
ones and they would go away upon the
hills and gather huge punches of deli
cious grapes, which had been planted by
the Franciscan monks a century ago.
Uncle Tucker had been nearly a year