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80 Monday December. 31st 1849.

Clear sky - wind light and variable - temperature warm. I have observed the old of the moon - bringd sunshine and fair weather. I suppose we must have another long rain season in January - and then may hope the worst of the rainy season past. Worked on our hole. Threw away the top dirt and scraped the granite - no great propect of good success. O adominable hole! mean hole! niggard hole! how are we victimized by thee. My heart is sick - when I hear as I do every few days - of some successful miner. This man has found a hole down the river a piece - where he makes $500. Each week: he means to work out his mine and set out from home. That man tells us to day - on looking for his cattle down south about five miles - he discovered where gold was imbedded in slate rock. With his knife he took out at once $400 - he went again with his companions and they got some $3000 - before the mine failed. So falls the luck - here - there - anywhere but in our bowl. Great discouragement is seizing the minds of the miners generally during this winters campaign. Their hearts are failing from oft repeated disappointments - resolution begins to waver - and home allurements brighten in the horizon. Scarcely a man is family I meet - but say - "I shall return again as soon as I can get the means." Nearly all are ready to subscribe on California's scroll of gold-humbug. We Natomians seem placed worst of all - as it were on the outskirt of the gold plantation - how shall we grow richer then during this season. Oh hope! "Tis thou that lurest me on - and points to possibility - as a rock where my anchor should hold. I may be lucky too - why then give up! This is a country which tries men's characters - mostly their steadiness of purpose - and patience of application. A man who tells you to day - he is doing well - and thinks no speculation so good as California - to morrow you are surprised to hear has left and dumning all behind him. Change is a rife as sunshine - or leaves on our oaks - we know not our neighbors - nor what an hour shall produce. Attended a funeral at the log house to day. Senor performed the office of chaplain. There was quite an attendance of both men and women. It seems