Year: 1876

|


"I'll tell ye what I'll du. If yen give
me FIVE dollars, I'll swim over and go and
get ye a snack that will jest take the edge
off," Five dollars was nothing compared
to our empty economies, and with his
double errand we saw him depart. One
hour, two hours and more, we whiled
away in pistol-shooling, pitching quoits,
tossing jack stones, and hunting for the fa-
nous soap-stone of California rivers, and
playing we were not hungry; when
shout told us that dinner was at hand.


Was there ever such dinnerH Were
there ever such doughnuts nader We alb
hor doughnuts, never tasting them since
we went to boarding. school and used TO
buy them as "hll-ups;" but no cake
from Parker's ever had such delicate fla
vor as those we now devoured, and which
to-day we think must have been fried in
tsllow.


"Real, truly chicken" said one, as he
took up a "trotter;" but we much fear 1t
might have been


| "The old white hen with yellow legs,
who laid her master many eggs"


We did not question quality much, TO be
sure, and after copious draughts from a
spring hard by rose Refreshed and ready
for the next thing on the programme.
The oxen came at last but the sun who
had all day long given us the light of his
countenance, now withdrew 1t in amaze
ment at the rash attempt we were TO under
take. The horses and their riders were
soon ready, and the wagon-pole made fast
to the yoke of tho oxen by chain that
seemed less flexible than strong, but with
every assurance Of safety from our new
found leader, we assisted our little lady 10
sumo her seat, and telling her playfully
TO "hold on to the brake If she was afraid
the ark would tip over" we rode ahead
into the stream.


Each one found enough 10 do to keep
himself from going down with the fierce
cure mt, and each one blamed the fool
hardness that had risked woman TO cross
alone, or, in fact, 10 cross at ALL


Struggling up the steep bank, every eye
was turned TO the wagon. 1t was halfway
across; the teamster up to his neck in the
water, the oxen stopped, holding their no
ses high up, and snorting. What had hap
pened9 The chain had become unfastened
and the pole hung swaying loosely be-
tween the cattle, while every moment the
rushing rapids threatened TO overturn the
un nwieldy vehicle. We could see our plucky
little friend grasping the brake (dear soul,
she had taken our joking order in earnesD;
bat she did not speak. After minute that
seemed an hour, the man recovered the
pole, and again fastening it to the yoke,
started on.


Meanwhile the water grew deeper and
more boisterous, and came pouring into
the body with such force as would surely
have drowned our friend, when we saw
her get out on the front step, and then
climb quickly and quietly up on to the old
canvas top, and cling there like squirrel,
while the whole swayed and bent back
ward and forward, down and up, like
ship at sea. One or two more plunges, aud
the oxen regained their footing, and the
danger was over; but there was one unan-
imous shout as they crawled up the bank,
aud our brave lady said, 81 had TO let go of
the brake, but don't you see have come
out top of the heap?"


Taking us by the buttonbole, and draw
ing us aside, our Yankee ox-driver said,
81 never heard a yip from that gal the hull
way over and know my nigh OK was
ex pecting ont, for l seed him turn his
head round TO ketch the fust yell aud
that's what ontackled the pole. Whar du
she hail from, anyhow ?" and when we told
him from Down East, he fairly rOared, 81
swan tu man! might have knowed 1t.
II could find another as gritty, I'd marry
her to-morrer and she should be mistress
Of as pooty a rancho as grows in these here
diggins and what Is more, / know II is
underpiuned all over with gold-dust."


Night came on apace, and we still had
long pull up the mountain, over an in
eli ned plain road, and our John owned that
that he had never been over it at all. For
tu nately our team was uninjured, and we
were soon on our way. Darkness was rem
dered more dense by the pine forests on
either side, and only by sending one per-
son ahead TO feel out the sudden turns, and
to stand with his lighted cigar, could we
manage 10 crawl along.


Looking far ahead, we saw light that
look ed human TO our wearied eyes, and
dra wing closer, we hailed 1t accordingly.
OuL lTOu tne uOOr Chule u uOLou mcu anu
boys, astonished TO see visitors in such a
state of roads.


Our heroine had been perfectly silent for
the past hour, worn out with all the day
had brought about but at the first sight Of
shelter she cried out, "Can you keep us all
night? You must, any way; for 1 am half
drowned and wholly starved, and am not
going 10 travel in California apy more to-
night"


"Stay you shall" said our Mountain
Ho use host, ''though haven't spare bed
in the house; but I'll turn right out of
mine, and you'll sleep like top"


Supper was soon ready, and the stack of
fried eggs that came ON to the table disap-
peared as su ddenly as our plucky little
companion did from our midst when the
| feast was ended.-Golden Rule.


KInd ergartsns and Common Schools.
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