Year: 1874

Brete Harte, in his character poems, has
drawn many vivid pictures of early times in
California. Those who were here in flush times
| will remember that in the several mining camps
very crude code of procedure adopted in all
matters of criminal nature. Among the min
ers strict honesty proverbal, and any one
caught in or even suspected of theft, was dealt
with IN summary manner, and generally expi-
ated the offense on the nearest tree. 1t was
not unfrequently the case that an innocent per-
son became the victim of this code of morals l
| have called to mind one of these incidents that
occurred in my boyhood days at camp called
''Sulky Flat" only about twenty three miles
from Sacramento, which came under my own
observation


man, suspected of stealing purse of gold
dust, had been tried, convicted and was about
being executed in the usual way, when q young
man, with his blankets upon his back, happened
along and who bore evidence of being recent
arrival-in the then California parlance a
'greenhorn interrupted the proceedings by
inquiring what the trouble was about, and final
ly succeeded in establishing the ihnocence of
the condemned.


What am about to relate in my homely way
is the speech of the threatened victim to his de-
liverer, which was as follows:
Stranger, you re true blue, and like your style
Upon man like you It's safe To stalks my pile
1t does one good to see man stand up and fight
To befriend cause he thinks is right.
Twas getting mighty hot for me AMONG that


savage crew,


And might have been in hotter place but for
you.


Many thanks, my friend for help in that trying


hour,


When all aid seemed beyond any mortal power
You must be stranger in these parts, by your
looks,


And not so given to pick and shovel as to books
You're young-and just from the States, you
say?-


'Tis lucky thing for me you came this way
Those fierce and desperate men took me for n


thief


Deemed the proofs sufficient to warrant their


belief,


And had determined upon their awful decree
That should "stretch hemp" from yonder tree
All hope had fled, and all entreaty had failed
So words can't etpfess the JOY with which your


coming was hailed


First, when you spoke and asked what this was


about,


They told YOU twas mono OF your business;


you'd better get out.
But when that hand and firm voice was raised;
When the hidden fire in those dark eyes blazed;
When the casual question to the firm demand


gave place
Twas then they saw deep meaning in your de-


termined face.


They stopped and listened to your brief speech,
And your eloquent words their hardened souls


did reach.


Those rude men, who knew not fear, to you


gave way Sam ....'' .t
Whom score Of armed men could not have


held at bay
They nodded and glanced one to the other,
And they weakened when you spoke the word


'moher."
The proofs, they said, against me were quite


strong,


Yet, for al that they still might be wrong
The gold dust was missing and could not be


found,


And l was The last person seen on the ground.
Tom left his purse at the cabin under his bunk
Twas that which for his wife ut home he had


sunk.


All hands agreed that whoever took that de-


served to swing, ,
And claimed that none in their camp would do


such a thing.


You admitted that against me the facts looked
bad,


But urged that dnigent search should be had.
Here is the cabin-here the bunk-here the


purse was laid
And in that place for many weeks it staid.
Long the doubtful search continued when, JOY


untold.


Beneath that old bunk you found the gold.
So my friend, it is certain l never can repay
The debt | owe you from this day
But should you ever stand in need of a friend,
There is one upon whom you can always de-


pend


We note the arrival, this week, of several
noted quartz sharps, from Grass Valley-Messrs
Go, and