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over these hills. With each meal time comes longing appetite. Keen for its prey - with night "Nature’s sweet restorer balmy sleep.” Bought is a cut of Hard Bread at $50.00 on speculation. If an appetites hold us till late spring as they have done - our speculation mill end poorly.

Saturday, December 15th 1849.

The storm has left us with with an air colder than any heretofore. Scarcely any wind. Yesterday was equally with heavy showers. Such was the violence of the wind once during the afternoon - that our tent had well nigh succumbed to its force. The rain poured down in torrents. I thought of the poor sick Scotchman - and pitied him in his sort and cheerless tent. How the sick suffer in this comfortless country. No nurse smoothing their pillow. No wife prepared with tender care - delicious to tempt the fastidious appetite - no dry house nor attempered rooms - aid to recovery. The sick lie on their palettes - discouraged at every turn. How so many recover is to me a mystery.

Senor and myself went to our hole this morning - it was full of water we threw back storms pripuratly for washing. Our bucket was lost in the flood. Torrence found his - caught by his spade - and thus accidentally rescued. But few of the miners were at work. This afternoon we set our cradle and obtained $6.00.

One of our neighbors had quite a streak of luck. He was looking for the bed of his rocker - which was still under the high water - when he discovered some gold - which had been brought down and deposited - in a break of the current. He went to his tent - got his pan - and wading in scooped up with his hand all he could. My attention was called and taking it up with his hand - he showed me some of the largest pieces. One miner offered him immediately $50.00 for the pan of dirt. Such was unusual sight that I sat down by him while he washed it out. Verily the show was exciting - Before he had done washing I offered him $150.00 for the lot. I felt almost discouraged when he set down our rocker - and half chilled - work all the afternoon for the small pettance - we were likely to obtain. When in had came up from work the lucky minor came to our tent and I weighed his

-Austin Luther MSU