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96 I was in very like predicament - with my knife - with the old gentleman who lost his spectacles and at last found them on his nose - I lost my knife - my new my only knife. I was inconsolable. It was gone some two or three days. To day behold the missing knife was found in my vest pocket. I had searched my pockets throughly - with a will to find. I found the article accidently - without any determination on my part. What does this argue? One of those dilemmas which habit forces us into. My vest pockett was not the usual place for my knife. In there it was lost to me to all intents and purposes. I had a paper kept in this my journal book. I wanted it - ' twas gone - it was a great annoyance. I thought of all the places where it might possibly be - could not find it - twas strangest of the strange. I could not have strayed far - yet why could I not find it. Two or three days after the loss - having occasion to use the account book - lo! the paper was in it. Then I recollected - how it might have got there. 'Twas curious - in all my recollections of the evening of the misplacement - the account book had entirely gone from my mind. Without attention the memory or mind is like a miner - reflects present objects - which are gone forever as soon as removed. My knife and paper reminds me of the three rules necessary to make a good servant - laid down by Mrs # Hamilton in her Cottagers of Glenburnie ' "Have a place for everything - keep everything in its proper place and to its proper use - and do everything in its proper time."
Saturday Jan 26th 1850
Not being able to labor I spent the day in visiting. Stoped at the log house and called in friend iddy. Found him seated near the huge fire place - and not well. Gave him medical advice - and passed along. The Scurvy is one of the scourges of the mines. The question whether marine scurvy can occur upon land - is settled by California. Many cases of the kind occur among us. It is induced by the salt and dry provision. The staple articles of food are - Salt Beef and Pork - Hard Bread Beans - Stock Fish - Rice - Flour. This is regular Sea Fare. Irish Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes and Onions - can now be procurred. Then latter are retailed as $1.50 pr lb. I have commenced using them - and find much benefit therefrom. A raw onion at meals