Year: 1871

"What a dcsolated region this is" l
thought to myself as we wended our way
through small valley situated high up in
the Sierra Nevada mountains, | saw on
every side marks that showed unmistakably
that human hands had been at work, for the
very hills seemed, as it were, turned over,
and the bed of the small stream which flowed
through the valley represented such an ap-
pearance as to iniuse one with the idea that
it had been turned upside down,


| was humming the tune of "Jo Bowers .
as we passed along. At length, when |
came to the words cat last | made lucky
strike" the thought occurred to me that
possibly this is the very place 10 Bowers
made that "srike," and that it might have
been on the bank of that stream, in front of
a small cabin which must have stood there
then, that he gazed with such delight upon
the orange chunks of gold, in anticipation of
the time when he would pour them at Sally S
feet and claim her as his own. Thinking of
10 Bowers caused my mind to run back to
the past, when this vale was alive with
sturdy miners. fanced to myself the stir
and hustle that must have here existed, in
contrast to the now tranquil and reposed
state of nature. imagined that at some
time, certainly not far distant, the praise of
God had been echoed by human VOICES from
that lonesome retreat, where now there ap-
peared nothing left to speak His praise, save
the grandeur of the surrounding scenery
Thus was my mind engaged in contemplat-
ing the awful change that had so suddenly
been wrought upon this retired part of Gods
footstool, when to our surprise we came in
sight of cabin, which from its appearance
gave signs of life and domestic care. Cheer
ed by the thought of meeting other faces
than our own, we stopped, excusing our
selves by asking information respecting the
road We wished to travel.


We found the occupants consisted OF
three individuals, father, mother and son.
The two former were we'll advanced in years,
the latter was their only child, and their
main dependence. Their generous dispos-
tion, and kind appreciation of our company,
induced us to spend few days with them.
We found that their main subsistence was
derived from small herd of cattle which
they kept in the valley, and the products of
Joabs labor in the minesl lJoab was the sons
name), for still there was some gold left in
the bed of the river, though not enough to
attract fortune seekers. During our stay
the following heart-rending story was related
to us, which will give as nearly as can
remember.


eft was in the evening after hard day s
work in the mines, that with pick and shovel
on his shoulder, Joab was approaching near
l.. III
near enough to see the light shining from
the four paned window, and to realize from
the laeness of the hour that his supper
would be in waiting for him, when he sud
denly and unexpectedly met bis father face
to face.


"What brings you down here SO late,
father ?"


"What kept you so late, Joab, my son?'
said his father. +" came down to meet you
thinking your staying SO late was caused by
some unforeseen accident.


You are always imagining something is
going wrong with me, said Joab. Don't
be uneasy about me, father; | shall live
long time yet to assist and care for my father
and mother now they are growing old"
AS they walked homeward the father told
,Joab that the black cow with the crumpled
horn did not come home tonight with the
other cows, AS soon as Joab heard this,
| Notwithstanding he was very hungry and
| tired, he insisted that bis father should carry
the tools home and he would 60 and find her
before it got late. lie left bis father with
the assurance that he would not be long.
He knew, he said, where the old COW ranged,
| and could find her in a short time.


Joab was disappointed in finding the COW
where he had expected, and after wandering
in vain search for nearly two hours, ne turned
his steps homeward AS he travelled home,
he began to realize how much longer pc had