e valleys.

My poor husband suffered even more than I did, for though he had a
nominal share in my luxurious bed with its accompanying
pocket-handkerchief, yet, as Mrs. ---- took it into her head to pay me
a visit, he was obliged to resign it to her and betake himself to the
barroom, and as every bunk and all the blankets were engaged, he was
compelled to lie on the bar-floor (thank Heaven, there was a civilized
floor there, of real boards), with his boots for a pillow.

But I am sure you must be tired of this long letter, for I am, and I
reserve the rest of my adventures in the American Valley until another
time.

LETTER _the_ TWENTY-SECOND

[_The_ PIONEER, _November_, 1855]

_The_ OVERLAND TIDE _of_ IMMIGRATION

SYNOPSIS

Exoneration of landlords for conditions at Greenwood's Rancho. The
American Valley. Prospective summer resort. Prodigious vegetables. New
England scenery compared with that of California. Greenwood's Rancho.
Place of origin of quartz hoax. Beautiful stones. Recruiting-place of
overland immigrants. Haggard immigrant women. Death and speedy burial
on the plains. Handsome young widow immigrant. Aspirants to matrimony
candidates for her hand. Interesting stories of adventures on the
plains. Four women, sisters or sisters-in-law, and their thirty-six
children. Accomplished men. Infant prodigies. A widow with eight sons
and one daughter. Primitive laundering, but generous patrons. The
bloomer costume appropriate for overland journey. Dances in barroom.
Unwilling female partners. Some illiterate immigrants. Many intelligent
and well-bred women. The journey back to Indian Bar. The tame frog in
the rancho barroom. The dining-table a bed at night. Elation of the
author on arriving at her own log cabin.

Letter _the_ Twenty-second

_The_ OVERLAND TIDE _of_ IMMIGRATION

_From our Log Cabin_, INDIAN BAR,

_October_ 27, 1852.

In my last epistle, my dear M., I left myself safely ensconced at
Greenwood's Rancho, in about as uncomfortable a position as a person
could well be, where board was fourteen dollars a week. Now, you must
not think that the proprietors were at all to blame for our miserable
condition. They were, I assure you, very gentlemanly and intelligent
men, and I owe them a thousand thanks for the many acts of kindness and
the friendly efforts which they made to amuse and interest me while I
was in their house. They said from the first that they were utterly
unprepared