as george said, the great rain storm seemed to have come expressly to wash all interest out of their journey, for from that day until their arrival within sight of carson river, within the territory of nevada, where a part of the company were to part from the main body, they saw but little to interest them. true they had passed over a wonderful country, but the alkali plains seemed small in comparison to the desert, over which they had passed some weeks before, and all the grandeur of the sierra nevada mountains could not awaken in them one iota of the enthusiasm with which they had greeted the first glimpse of the snow-capped summits of the rocky mountains. in fact they were too weary of their long journey to look around them for enjoyment, but rather looked forward to it, when all deserts of alkali, of sand and sage-brush being past, they might by the rivers and in the peaceful vales of california find rest and plenty.
as i have said before, all in the company but guy and his mother had something to look forward to. many of the young men were going to the placer diggings or the deep mines, and spoke exultantly of the rich harvest they would surely glean. mr. graham had a quartz mill in a very fine situation, and he was going to take charge of it, and his sisters were to keep house for him, while mr. frazer and mr. harwood had decided to purchase farms and settle upon them.
the last night that all in the train were to encamp together, a large fire was built and all gathered around it to talk over their plans. guy sat by aggie's side and tried to talk to her, but he could not help listening to what was said, and that, with the knowledge that they were so near california—their journey's end,—made him feel so miserable that he walked away from the fire, and hid himself in a dark place, and cried as if his heart would break.
what was he to do when compelled to leave these friends? almost penniless where was he in that new, unsettled country to find a home for his mother. for himself he could provide, but what should he do for his mother? he had heard that work, hard work, was plenty; but his mother could not do hard work; it had nearly killed her before, and doubtless there were few children to be taught. what could he do with her? where should he leave her, while he went to try his fortune?
it never entered his head to ask any one to give her a home. he felt under unpayable obligations already to mr. harwood for bringing them so far upon their way, and treating them so kindly, therefore to ask him to do more, he thought would be the greatest presumption, so instead of asking help of any man, he asked it of god.
he was still sitting with his head bowed on his knees, and the tears streaming down his cheeks, most earnestly praying, when, suddenly, a flash from the light of a lantern passed over him, and a voice exclaimed: "why, here you are, i have been searching for you for ever so long."
it was one of the young men from st. louis, with whom guy had been on most excellent terms ever since they left w——.
"yes, it is i," he returned, rather reluctantly, for he was ashamed that he should have found him crying. "what is the matter, john?" he presently added.
"the matter! why, don't you know we are to break up camp to-morrow, and one party go one way into california, and the other another! now, which one are you going with, guy?"
"i don't know," he said, with difficulty repressing a sob, "one part of california is the same to me as another. i have no friends there, and, oh dear, i very much fear i ought not to have come at all."
"oh, don't say that," exclaimed john, cheerfully, "you just come along with me and my partners, we are going straight to the placer diggings, and we'll take care of you until you can do for yourself, which won't be long, you may be sure; i shouldn't wonder if you're as rich as rothschild in a few years."
guy's eyes sparkled, but in a moment his countenance fell, and he faltered out,—
"but what is to become of mother,—i couldn't leave her alone in a strange country, her heart would break."
"sure enough, i never thought of her, but something might be done, she wouldn't break her heart, if she didn't starve."
"ah, but she might do both!" exclaimed guy. "indeed, i cannot leave her. we must live and strive together, john. i thank you for your offer, but i can't leave my mother."
"you're a nobler fellow than the spartan that let the wolf gnaw his vitals rather than cry out," replied the young man, "and though you won't join us, guy, i don't doubt but you'll find good fortune somewhere."
"thank you," said guy, and comforted by the young man's kind offer, though he could not accept it, he walked back to the fire, where he found only the grahams and the harwoods.
"we have been talking about you, guy," said mr. harwood. "mr. graham says he will give you a place in the mill if you will go with him."
"that i will, sir!" cried guy, joyfully, his heart bounding, then falling like lead as he added, "but my mother?"
"i think she will consent," said mr. graham.
"oh, sir, it was not of that i was thinking, it was of what would become of her. oh, sir, she is poor and friendless, and i couldn't think of leaving her alone."
"i say then," said george, who had apparently been engaged in building castles in the air, or anything else rather than listening to the conversation, "i say, now that guy isn't going with mr. graham, it's cold enough up there to kill his mother, make an icicle of her before christmas, you know you said last night it was."
"is that true, sir?" asked guy, turning to mr. graham.
"why, i can't say that your mother would be an icicle before christmas," returned mr. graham, laughing, "but it certainly is far too cold and stormy there for a delicate woman."
"ah, then, sir!" returned guy, very sadly, "i cannot go with you, i cannot leave my mother."
"hurrah!" cried george, turning a double somersault before the fire, and nearly into it.
"what's the matter?" asked guy, in astonishment.
"why, it means," said mr. harwood, "that if you will not leave your mother, you must stay with us, as she has consented to do. much as i disliked to part with you, who have been so invaluable to me on the way, i did not like to ask you to remain with us while others were ready to offer you, in mines and mills, so much better opportunities of gaining money than i can upon my little farm. there, for some time at least, there will be more work than money, i guess. so now, guy, you know your mother will, at any rate, have a home; mr. graham will give you much higher wages than i can."
at that point, aggie began to cry bitterly, saying, "guy, you mustn't go away! who should i have to tell me stories?"
"and, besides, my dog jack can't smoke yet," interrupted gus, "and you promised to teach him, and you've got to stay and do it."
"that's so," said george. "i expect i shall burn the house down trying to smoke, if you don't. you see i haven't forgotten how you threw that flour and water on me in the burning wagon, yet, and you have to stay and let me have satisfaction for that!"
"yes, do stay," said aggie, coaxingly.
"i intend to," cried guy, bursting out into a loud laugh to prevent himself from crying with joy at his good fortune. "hasn't it nearly broken my heart to think of leaving you, aggie, and mr. and mrs. harwood, and all the rest? indeed, i would rather be with you all, if you were as poor as—as—"
"job's turkey," suggested george.
"well, yes, or as i am myself, than be a prince without you."
after which burst of eloquence guy sat down, bringing a scream of dismay from aggie, upon whom he had inadvertently seated himself.
"now that is all settled," said mr. harwood, dismissing the matter in his usual cool way, though one could see he was much gratified, "we will have prayers."
he arose and rung the large bell and all the company gathered around him, as they had often done upon the plains and the mountains, and listened to the word of god. then he spoke to them of what had passed, and gave his best wishes to each. all were much affected at his kindly words, and by the short prayer that followed. there were few dry eyes there as those that were to leave on the morrow bade farewell, and it was with deep grief guy parted with his many friends.
at daybreak next morning the final separation took place, a long train of waggons diverged to another path, leaving the families of mr. frazer and mr. harwood to take their way alone into california.
