.MTIwNg.OTMxMzQ
68 exertion to mental activity and intellectual and religions enjoyments. How about the change! There is a very halo mind the Sabbath - which lightens its ushering night. Rest and Devotion - are pleasant prospect to the laboring Christian. How often I thin on Burn's Cotter's Saturday night. When the week in closing. The forsaken implements of toil - the cheerful fireside. The patriarch of the family. Closing the Bible - "an' saying let us pray in solemn [?] - and even innocent Jenny blushing because of her lovers presence. So all have pleasant associations connected with this night - now does California deprive us of this. 'Tis the same cheerful night that has visited me so often at home - telling of relaxation - freedom and change of thought - spicing the routine of life.
Teusday December 4th 1849
The weather still continues fair. Clouds have threatned - but have passed along without distilling their contents. Wind has prevailed from the west. Air cool morning and evenings. A man just arrived from the States - fell into our way while we were at work. 7 months out from Boston - and one month coming up the Sacramento River. He was here - just to see how mining was carried on. Senor explained to him the mysteries of gold deposit and rocking. These new comers are nuts - to the old miners. The manifestation of their feelings - at seeing gold process in so novel way is amusing. I have watched the eagerness of the new ones - and laughed - as they turned up their hoppers - and heard them exclaim - Why there is gold there indeed. I declare isn't that nice - and then with eyes as big as saucers - drowning the sight of every particle. Poor enthusiasts! they learn full soon - to dispise the [?] show - and feel pleased only - when that show promises a good requital for a day labour. I remember my own enthusiasm - and gratulations - when I first found that by simple rocking. I could find the bona fie gold in my machine - it seemed as thought - wealth was nothing. I had only to rock and lo! riches lay at my feet. But a few weeks experience - soon damps a mens feelings - and he learns to dispise the day of small things.