Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/269

 nything that

breaks the  weary  monotony  of  their  Uves. Not un- frequently they  gave  themselves  up  to  making  night hideous. Some crowed  Hke  a  cock,  sounding  cut  of the  bhick  darkness  the  yet  unstreaking  dawn  ;  others barked Hke  a  dog,  maligning  the  howlingcst  cur  that ever bayed  at  the  moon  by  their  disgraceful  imita- tion ; he  who  could  make  an  ass  of  himself  in  no other  way  brayed.

Physicked of  former  affections  and  conventionalisms, and all  having  come  f  3r  gold,  gold  of  course  was  the spirit of  their  contemplations. At night  they  dreamed of it,  though  in  the  morning  they  found  themselves possessed of  only  visionary  wealth. Beneath down- Avard -pointing fingers  glowed  the  word  effode,  dig! Far and  yet  farther  before  them  flit  the  realization of their  hopes  until  the  very  shadow  of  success  sinks below the  horizon. Their thoughts  were  gold,  golden their hopes,  fears,  loves,  hates. They saw  the  moun- tain sides streaked  with  veins  of  gold,  and  gold-dust sprinkled the  plain. The illuminated  heavens  were golden, likewise  the  flushing  earth.

Wealth was  sought  not  so  much  for  the  permanent power it  conferred,  which  is  its  chief  attraction  in staid  communities,  as  for  the  purchase  of  present  in- dulgences, which is  the  basest  use,  not  absolutely criminal, to  which  money  can  be  put. Money will not make  rich  the  prodigal. N or  is  commerce  bene- fited by having  more  than  it  needs. Two thousand centals of  wheat  will  feed  more  moutlis  than  one thousand centals ;  but  two  thousand  dollars  in  gold  or silver  depreciated  one  half  by  doubling  the  amount  in cumulation  will  carry  on  no  more  traffic  than  one thousand.

Extravagance seized  the  gold-hunter  even  before  he had  left  his  home. His resolutions  and  his  desires were extra vagent. A fortune  was  his  object;  heaps of gold  alone  would  satisfy  him. And great  riches, the reward  of  great  hardships,  once  his,  great  should be the  indulgence. Carrying with  him  suc