ke in the
States.

Good by, my dear M., and remember that the _same_ sky, though not quite
so beautiful a portion of it, which smiles upon _me_ in sunny
California bends lovingly over _you_ in cold, dreary, but, in spite of
its harsh airs, beloved New England.

LETTER _the_ FOURTEENTH

[_The_ PIONEER, _April_, 1855]

SPRINGTIDE--LINGUISTICS--STORMS--ACCIDENTS

SYNOPSIS

The splendor of a March morning in the mountains of California. First
bird of the season. Blue and red shirted miners a feature of the
landscape. "Wanderers from the whole broad earth". The languages of
many nations heard. How the Americans attempt to converse with the
Spanish-speaking population. "Sabe," "vamos," "poco tiempo," "si," and
"bueno," a complete lexicon of la lengua castellana, in mind of
Americans. An "ugly disposition" manifested when the speaker is not
understood. Spaniards "ain't kinder like our folks," nor "folksy".
Mistakes not all on one side. Spanish proverb regarding certain
languages. Not complimentary to English. Stormy weather. Storm king a
perfect Proteus. River on a rampage. Sawmill carried away. Pastimes of
the miners during the storm. MS. account of storm sent in keg via river
to Marysville newspaper. Silversmith makes gold rings during storm.
Raffling and reraffling of same as pastime. Some natural gold rings.
Nugget in shape of eagle's head presented to author. Miners buried up
to neck in cave-in. Escape with but slight injury. Miner stabbed
without provocation in drunken frolic. Life despaired of at first. No
notice taken of affair.

Letter _the_ Fourteenth

SPRINGTIDE--LINGUISTICS--STORMS--ACCIDENTS

_From our Log Cabin_, INDIAN BAR,

_March_ 15, 1852.

This fifteenth day of March has risen upon us with all the primeval
splendor of the birth-morn of creation. The lovely river, having
resumed its crimson border (the so long idle miners being again busily
at work), glides by, laughing gayly, leaping and clapping its glad
waves joyfully in the golden sunlight. The feathery fringe of the
fir-trees glitters like emerald in the luster-bathing air. A hundred
tiny rivulets flash down from the brow of the mountains, as if some
mighty Titan, standing on the other side, had flung athwart their
greenness a chaplet of radiant pearls. Of the large quantities of snow
which have fallen within the past fortnight, a few patches of shining
whiteness, high up among the hills, alone remain, while, to finish the