being as bad as the rest of us. I think."

Boys are worse

"Not if they had such a mother as I've got !" and then Sam thought that his mother was all now, and his heart sank down again, for there was the new-made grave, he was fatherless and she a widow.

"I wish I had a mother-I wish I had any body to care for me, or any thing to live for. Go home, and take care of your mother, my boy— stay by her as long as she lives. You !—yes, go home and comfort her. See what gold's done for your father-see what it's doing for all of us, here in the mines. We live like savages, and we die like sheep. Your father was taken care of, and buried decently, that ought to make you thankful. I've seen men lie down by the roadside, with no one to give them a drop of water— with racking pain and thirst. And they'd die so, and nobody knew even their names, or where they came from. You must go home."

་

Sam had not thought of what he was to do; but he did not need such urging to decide. He could go now, he was free, his labor of love was ended! He almost caught his breath with the

recollection, that there was nothing to keep him one day longer away from all the comforts of life, and among bad men. He was almost happy again-even when looking back to his father's grave, for would he not leave death, and toil, and care behind him, and have a home, and be a boy once more!

"Well, good-bye, if I never see you again," the Major said, when he found the boy was fairly roused. Sam had not noticed till then that he seemed to be ready for a journey, and a pack, such as a New-England pedler might carry, laid under a bush near them. His companion raised it, and secured it, with the long red sash, over his shoulder.

You'd

"I'm off, you see, I don't know exactly where. If I did, I'd ask you to travel with me. better start with the next team that comes in from Sacramento, and try a steamer this time if you can. I would anyway, I've had enough of

the Horn."

It was a brief, abrupt leave-taking, and Sam had not known him long, yet he felt as if the only friend he had in the country was gone, as he watched the tall figure disappear over the

bluff above him. A little kindness had made him. feel a great interest in this strange, roving man. But there are many such in California, who seem to have no settled plans, and nothing to live for, but the whim of the moment. Sam was thankful even in his loss, that he had so great a duty and pleasure before him, as to make his mother happy, and take care of his sisters. He was their only protector now. He was learning in boyhood what some live a lifetime to find out, that the greatest happiness we can ever have in this world, is thinking more and doing more for other people than ourselves.

CHAPTER XII.

AS WE FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES.

He came slowly down the ravine, still heavy with shadows, while the sun was shining above him, and on the bed of the river below. The tents were deserted and still, the men were already at work, and the hum of voices and labor came up the stream. The sound brought back his thoughts in a moment, to the bare reality of his position. If his father had not been persuaded to come to California, and his mother's anxious fears made him a partner in the scheme, he would now have been lounging about the old homestead, thinking himself very useful and industrious if he kept the vegetable garden in order, and mended broken fences, glad enough to escape from any thing that seemed like work, for a game of ball, or a blackberry expedition.

Now he was free from all restraint as if he had been a man; the undisputed possessor of almost two thousand dollars. He hurried towards the tent, to look at this accumulated treasure, not with any selfish, miserly feeling, but to find out the exact amount, and plan how he could best reach home with it. In the short distance he had still to go, his quick thoughts had shaped out a great deal for the future. He would go home by the steamer, and be the first to tell his mother the sad news, for he knew she could bear it better in the joy of his return.There would still be money enough left to buy back the lost land they had parted with, and the house, and something to get started with. He could manage a little farm, if not very well at first, after a few years, with Squire Merrill's advice, and his mother's help. "Mother was as good as a man, any day," he said to himself.

But then how much gold there was yet in California, and every one said they had had wonderful luck. Now he was here, wouldn't it and work another season, and

be best to stay

go home rich!

How the people would look up

to him, and mother could have the whole farm. He might as well after all that trouble!