Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/287



telling liim  of  her  deep  abiding  love,  of  lier  patient waitings and  watchings,  of  her  deeds  by  day  and  her dreams by  night,  of  the  hopes  and  plans  that  await his dear  return ;  telling  of  his  children  one  by  one, how they  have  grown  in  goodness  and  loveliness,  how the little  one,  whom  he  has  never  seen,  has  learned  to lisp  its  father's  name  in  its  evening  prayer — as  he reads  the  letter  which  thus  so  vividly  recalls  the  swert and hallowed  past,  you  may  mark  the  twitching  of the  muscles  in  liis  face,  the  tears  trickling  down  his cheeks, and  the  bosom  swelling-  with  emotion. Goingf to his  room  he  reads  and  reads  again  the  letter,  vows reformation ; but  over  this  oasis  of  his  desert  life  the sands quickly  blow,  and  he  soon  goes  on  the  old  licen- tious way again.

Steamer-days, the  day  before  the  sailing  of  the steamer for  the  east,  were  the  great  tickings  in  social and commercial  time. Bills were  made  to  fall  due  on those  days,  letters  must  be  written  on  that  day,  and collections and  remittances  made. Passeno-ers must get ready,  and  if  not  done  before,  they  must  secure their tickets. They were  feverish,  fidgety  clays. From morning  till  night  collection  clerks  with  a  pack- age of bills  in  one  hand,  and  the  mouth  of  a  canvas coin-bao; sluno;  over  the  shoulder  in  the  other,  were rushing^ about  the  streets,  and  seldom  was  the  office lamp extinguished  before  twelve  or  two  o'clock.

On the  mornino;  of  the  sailincy  of  the  steamer,  all work having  been  finished  the  day  or  evening  previous, passengers go  on  board,  attended  by  their  friends  to see  them  oflf. The idle  and  the  curious  of  every  caste and calibre  likewise  crowd  the  wharf  and  decks  for  an hour  or  two  before  the  departure. Trunks are  taken on board;  the  passengers,  laden  with  packages  of fruit,  books,  bottles,  and  boxes,  find  their  respective places. In the  cabin,  the  black  bottle  is  frequently passed around,  and  champagne  made  to  flow  freely. The forward  part  of  the  ship  is  filled  with  miners,  go- ing home with  all  the  prestige  of  travel  and  adventure