He
had not travelled far before he found a mate for his ox, and ere long
a wagon, which had given way in some of its parts, and been abandoned
by its rightful owner, and left in the road. Our travelling genius was
aroused to turn these mishaps to his own advantage; so he went
straightway to work to patch and bolster up the wagon, bound his
faithful oxen to it, and changed his employment from trundling a
wheel-barrow to driving a team. Onward moved the new establishment,
the owner gathering as he went, from the superabundance of those who
had gone before him, various articles of utility--such as flour,
provisions of all kinds, books, implements, even rich carpets, &c.
which had been cast off as burdensome by other travellers. He would
occasionally find poor worn-out animals that had been left behind, and
as it was not important for him to speed his course, he gathered them
together, stopping where there was abundance of grass, long enough for
his cattle to gain a little strength and spirit. Time rolled on, and
his wagon rolled with it, till he reached the end of his journey, when
it was discovered that he had an uncommon fine team and a good wagon,
&c. which produced him on the sale 2500 dollars.
'Being now relieved of the care of his team, and in the midst of the
gold-diggings, he soon closed his prospecting by a location; and while
all around him were concentrating their strength to consummate the
work of years in a few months, he deliberately commenced building,
finishing, and, as fast as he could, furnishing, a comfortable cabin.
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