Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/395

 es  of

their nature. Sometimes it  became  necessary  for every member  of  the  community  to  watch  every  other member, lest  by  some  evil  act  the  gods  would  be  of- fended and send  down  vengeance  on  all.

Nevertheless, out  about  this  wilderness,  among comrades, partners  as  they  frequently  called  each other, in  times  of  sickness  and  death  there  were  deeds performed such  as  hew  mountains  into  statues  in  honor of the  doers,  while  sea  and  solemn  pines  unite  to  sing their praises. And grotesque  as  might  be  the  miner's burial  as  all  knelt  round  the  grave,  old-time  habit  and the liberal  potations  drank  in  honor  of  the  departed, aiding their  genuflexions,  there  was  as  much  heart  as in  brass  bands  or  priestly  palaverings.

Thousands there  were  who  came  and  saw,  but  did not conquer. Coming for  wool  they  went  home  shorn. Let the  clouds  write  in  dismal  shadows  on  the  red earth now  abandoned  of  this  swarthy  society — fuimus, we have  been ! Complaint was  of  no  avail ;  roast beef, plum  pudding,  and  champagne  were  not  with them in  season. Verily, it  seemed  if  ever  in  this bustling, breathing  world  times  were  out  of  j<iint,  it was  these  Californian  times  of  1849. Wickedness prospered; virtue  and  merit  appeared  to  be  the  ene- mies rather than  the  friends  of  fortune.

Many a  sparkling  mountain  stream  has  proved  to many  a  lusty  digger  an  Acheron,  a  river  of  sorrow. His destiny  had  seemed  to  him  as  surely  predeter- mined as was  that  of  Achilles,  foretold  by  his  goddess mother. Stay at  home  and  a  long  life  of  inglorious ease crowned  by  wealth  and  progeny  awaited  him  ;  go, and a  glorious  death  should  swiftly  follow  a  career  of victory.

And now,  round  his  bronzed  visage,  coarsely  streaked with corroding  care,  hung  grizzled  locks  wildly  matted as by  the  heavy  pressure  of  inexorable  environment upon the  brain. Under the  Sierra's  feet  is  gold enough for  others  but  none  forme. Bushelsof it  from all parts  pile  themselves   up  at  the   metropo