Year: 1877

l did not-and would not consider N.Y.
self responsible for whatever disappoint-
mebt might occur. They were welcome
to sit in my garden as long as they
wished, but had not invited them, and
should not exert myself to afford them



All Kin made his appearance at ten
o'clock, accompanied by another China
man bearing basket containing appar-
emily nothing but fresh, new earth.
They were both dressed in clean but
coarse cotton clothes. and All Kin-who
looked more emaciated than l had ever
ssen him since he had newly arisen from
his sick bed-carried over his arm a
large mantle of faded yellow silk.


He selected a spot of green sward up
on which he directed the basket carrier
to empty the earth, after which he dis
missed him, and throwing himself upon
his knees, proceeded to press and pat
the soil in,o a smoothly rounded little
mound. about the size of an inverted
washbowl.


He then to0k from somewhere in the
folds of the six mantle little round
purple seed or bean, which he held up
for us all to examine, between his FORE
finger and thumb. This he deposited in
a small hole in the center of the heap.
Covering 1t up. he made number of Ca
balistic signs over the surface of the
mound, while he muttered to himself in
low. sing-song, unintelligible tones. at
the same time waving his hand slowly
and mechanically over his head.


He then produced little vial, con-
tanning a sparkling purplish liquid,
which he proceeded to sprinkle over the
spot at which the bean had been plant
ed, accompanying the motion with sort
of spasmodic depression Of the tone in
which he had been chanting.


He then hastily covered the entire
mound with the mantle, and turning to
the spectators who had observed him
with varying emotions, though, for my
part. l had made no effort to conceal my
contempt for the whole affair, as so much
hocus-pocus, beneath the notice of an
ordinary intelligence-and opened upon
them with long winded harangue, sc
rapidly spoken that few of US could
gather its meaning, if. indeed, it had
any, which very much doubt.


But while he was speaking my wife
called our attention to the silken cloth
under the center of which something was
evidently forming into conical shape
that tented the texture into regular folds
on every side.


now made no effort to conceal my
interest, and every one looked on with
breathless suspense and curiosity.


Suddenly All Kin seized hold of tht
mantle, whisked 1t off, and there in the
center of the mound, was as perfect fl
tree in miniature as the mind could con
celve of.


Its tiny branches were thickly hun,
with little nuggets of virgin gold, which
sparkled in the sunshine, and a littl,
envelope was sticking from the uppe
branches. like billet doux from fair,
land.


An exclamation of delighted surpris
ran through the assembly.


All Kin gravely seized the tree by it
slender trunk-it was not much NOR
than twelve inches high, and exquisitel
proportioned-raised it gently from th
ground, and thus exposed the genuin
roots, and then placed it in small flow
er pot that chanced to be lying near
presented it to my wife with the injunc
tion that she should take exceeding goo,
care of 1t, and picking up the silk man
tie, took his departure without a word.


Wonderful !" exclaimed Mr.. Gamer
on. "The nuggets are genuine, toe
There's two hundred dollars worth q
gold on il"


"It beats our Christmas tree all hol
low," said one of the Cameron ofspringt
whose mother thereupon sent her hom
by peculiarly spiteful shove.


When they had plenty of time to ad
mire it. we took the wonder tree into th
cottage and inspected it at our leisure
and in the privacy of our family.


Of course the children were wild wit
delight as | shook the solid nuggets froI
the magic branches, and collected theI
in glittering heap upon the table.


"Read this missive," said my wife
snatching off the small envelope. at
directed to you in All Kin's best pigeo
English"


have not the contents of that mt
mentous missive before me just now, an
shall not undertake to give its phraseo
ogy from memory. Suffice it to say th;
it gave me such minute directions
take out claim in the mountains NJ
more than twenty miles from Red Gulcl
which had never been prospected ovt
before, specifying the place in the moi
careful manner, that / lost no time j
instituting the claim in close accordanc
| with the directions received. and tb