Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/401

 RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD PIONEER. 391 suffer for water rather than go to the river for it before night. The pain of burned feet was greater to the poor dog than the pain of thirst. After our arrival the days were not so hot. This was a new and interesting position to me. After I had been there a few days I could tell, when the miners quit work in the evening, what success they had had dur- ing the day. When I met a miner with a silent tongue and downcast look, I knew that he had not made more than $8.00 or $10; when I met one with a contented but not excited look, I knew he had made from $10 to $20; but when I met one with a glowing countenance, and and quick, high, vigorous step, so that the rocks were not much if at all in his way, I knew he had made from $20 to $50. His tongue was so flexible and glib that he would not permit me to pass in silence, but must stop me and tell of his success. Ordinary hands were paid $12 a day, and boarded and lodged by the employer. I knew one young man who had been paid such wages for some time, but finally became disgusted and declared he would not work for such wages. It cost $1.00 each to have shirts washed, and other things in proportion. There was no starch in that camp, and shirts were not ironed. THE DONNER PARTY. During my stay in the mines I was several times at Nye's house, and on one. occasion I was there three days. I became well acquainted with William Foster and family. Foster, his wife, and Mrs. Nye were of the Donner party, who suffered so much in the winter of 184(>-'47. Mrs. Nye did not talk much, not being a talkative woman, and being younger than her sister Mrs. Foster. Mrs. Foster was then about twenty-three years old. She had a fine education, and possessed the finest narrative powers. I never met with any one, not even excepting Robert