summer of 1852 this railroad and a saw | don't. You may be like a friend of ours mill were erected in this wildly romantic who is always thinking that things in genspot, under the superintendence of Dr. Brad-eral-just now-look remarkably blue; and ley of the corporation of Bradley, Berdan things in particular, particularly black& Co., for the purpose of sawing the lum- not a bright, but a dull black. If he has ber required in the construction of their just come out of a good speculation, (for he large canal, from this stream to the mining is generally successful,) he hangs his face in towns of Ringgold, Weberville, Diamond elongated mourning, lest he should go in on Springs, Missouri Flat, El Dorado City, the next. When he is well-which is very (then called Mud Springs,) Logtown, and seldom--he looks daily forward, with agoseveral other mining localities in the south- nizing anxiety to the day when he may beern portion of El Dorado county, to supply come sick--and the moment he begins to those districts with water for mining. feel unwell, he has day visions of Death, with his scythe and hour glass at his side; and although he dislikes the thought of him exceedingly, he will keep him in imagination by his bed- -no doubt wishing (just for the looks of the thing, and to oblige him,) that he would put those weapons of his in the cupboard, or leave them at the foot of the stairs! This railroad is built upon an inclined plane, at the (often quoted) angle of fortyfive degrees, for the purpose of lowering saw-logs to the mill. The car descends with its load, and being attached by a rope thro' a pulley at the top to the empty car, the weight descending causes the empty car to ascend; and by which contrivance the necessity of any other kind of machinery for that purpose is obviated. We happened to be one of a very agreeable little party to visit this singular place, and could the reader have seen us-ladies and gentlemen, cold chickens and sandwiches, boiled ham and water melons, blankets and daguerrean instruments-all snugly stowed away in that coach, and then have heard the jokes and fun going on, if he had not been envious of our enjoyment, we know he would like to have been of the party, that is, if he liked pleasant company. Now it so happened that we all endorsed the opinion that frolic was better than pills; and pure mountain air than powders; and open-hearted, jovial, and unrestrained laughter, better than medicine of any kind; however, it seemed to be well understood, that care was to be left behind. It is pleas. ant to forget care for at least one day, is it not reader? Perhaps, though—we say perhaps you may belong to those long-faced, slab-sided, door-post-built, cold-and-immovable countenanced kind of folks, who don't believe in fun, and certainly not in pic-nic parties. Well then, we pity you; no we don't either, for you don't deserve it-you Now, if you claim any sympathy or relationship with this eminent friend, we are glad that you were not of the party, simply because we don't like sour faces. They don't look right, well enough no doubt in the curd and cheese business, but not good for pic-nics. On, on, we go, as merry as crickets; now passing through long forests of trees; now ascending or descending a gently rolling hill; then taking alternates doses of dust and soda water-jokes and cakes-until we arrived at the top of a hill overlooking a cañon. Here, on looking down, we saw something resembling two long lengths of broad ribbon with bars across, lying on the side of the hill. When the question was asked, "What is that?" it was answered with " that is a railway, and we take all our logs down that rail to the mill-that dark spot down yonder; and we have all to take a ride on it to the mill." "Never mind," soothingly suggests a second gentleman. I never can!" objects another lady. "If the rope should break!" suggests a fifth. Why, really there is no danger," cries gentleman number three, "for altogether we are not as heavy as a green pine log, and that never broke it." After some hesitation and delay, one gent seats himself in the car, (fitted up with seats for the occasion,) and with sundry questions and entreaties, and sighs and oh dears, the whole party join him, and at last we are all safely seated; while beneath the seats are the water-melons and blankets, cold fowl and daguerrean instruments, cakes and shawls, pies and over-coats. Now off we go! "Oh, do stop! stop! oh do!" cries a lady. "I will get out!" exclaims another. But one and all affirm that to be next to impossible. 66 It is too steep ever to reach the river on foot." "Let me try," beseeches a lady. Then-if you will," answers a gent, "I will assist you." And she did try, and the gent did assist her to the bottom; but oh! ye tall pines and spreading oaks, what a time they had of it! Slowly again we started, and with many heart flutterings and tremblings, fears and exclamations, on, on, we go, until the anticipated danger over, we all stand in safety at the bottom of the railway; and then we calmly looked our enemy in the face and took courage. "Bless me!" We did look around, but what a wild, craggy place for a mill, that itself was built upon rocks; the fire-place, hearth and chimney in the kitchen were all natural formations of the rock. A flume which has been constructed, is built, or rather hung upon rocks; a prop here, a packing there, and a brace yonder; here, a tree cut off, formed a post; there, a rock formed a stay; while the water rushed and leaped on, on, down the steep rocky bed of the river, as though it cared for nothing and no one. Friend B. we give you credit for your undaunted perseverance. This work, with many others, shews what can be accomplished by patient, unswerving determination and skill. If at any time a miner should, for a moment, be disposed to think lightly of water companies, we wish him to visit the upper end of most of our canals, there to witness the expense, labor and energy expended on them. At this mill was sawed all the lumber needed in the construction of the flume; besides supplying many thousands of feet of lumber, for sluice making and other purposes, in the settle ments below. It is a magnificent sight to see the stately pine and venerable oak, growing upon and among vast piles of rocks; in some instances a large overhanging tree growing in the seam, or between two rocks, as though it were a lever placed there by nature to overturn portions of the mountain above, adding wildness, boldness, beauty and sublimity to the beautiful landscape. After enjoying the good things provided by our worthy host, and all the pleasant and exhilerating recreations of fun and frolic, we wended our way along a plank on the top of a serpent-like flume, until it intersected the road below, (as none cared to ascend that railway again,) where our coach had been sent to meet us, and soon we were "all aboard," and on our way homeward, indulging in the reminiscences and enjoyments the trip had afforded us. Should any of our readers ever go upon a jaunt of this kind, they have our best wishes that an equal amount of pleasant and suony gladness may keep them company on the way, and then we know that they will say, "Yes, we enjoyed it," when the journey is ended. "WELL, let us go, as it is about time all honest folks were in bed." Ah! yes-then I had better be off-but you need'nt hurry on that account! "I see better without wine and spectacles than when I use both," said Sidney Smith. THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE-SNUDGGERS' INVESTIGATIONS, ETC. 65 THE OLD SCHOOL-HOUSE. Do you not remember friend of mine, It was there we early learned to love The flowers we bound in each other's hair, Are calling the forms of our parted band, Never more may the little feet SNUDGGERS' INVESTIGATIONS INTO TABLE-TURNING. investigations will be sought, I have spared no labor to trace the slightest action of that illustrious individual. I can safely say, that after my diligent researches, the first indication that his gigantic powers were working upon the subject, which was subsequently so clearly demonstrated in that renowned undertaking," Snudggers' Investigations into Tableturning," was shown in his (after having been mysteriously thoughtful for several days, so much so that persons who were acquainted with that great man's peculiarities, remarked that, Snudggers was on some scent,) inviting a select company to his cabin. After the company was assembled, Snudggers took Blodget by the button-hole, and, after leading him beyond the hearing of the rest, addressed him as follows: "I feel it my duty to my fellow-man to investigate, and lay before the world, stripped of its mystery, this phenomenon of table-turning, which keeps the world in commotion. I think, and I hope with becoming modesty, that I need but see the action to find the cause, in consideration of which I have determined to form a circle and would be happy of your assistance." The same words, I find by much labor, he repeated in the same manner to every member of the circle. They all shook their heads and cast knowing glances at each other, while Snudggers arranged a table and seats, as silently as if his mighty intellect was sleeping; but when the ar COMPILED FROM THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS rangement was completed, then burst forth OF ASHBRY SNOBS. All ages have had their great men,Cæsar and Cicero were great men in their days. In later times Washington and Bonaparte. We have also great men at the present day, among whom none can be fennd more eminent than Caleb Snudggers. His wreath of fame is not that won by sword and blood, but that fairer one with which Science adorns the brows of her favorites. He has pursed his investigations with a mind constituted of the happiest mixture of the theoretical and experimental, and his startling discoveries will carry his name down to posterity as a great benefactor of mankind. In giving these papers to the world, I think I may modestly say, that I have as due a sense of the responsibility of my office as it is possible for any one to have;and knowing with what avidity every thing connected with Caleb Snudggers' scientific the hidden power, which the awful stillness had betokened. Seizing a folded newspaper, which contained some account of the mystery, and holding it in one hand like a baton, he leaned gracefully forward resting the other hand on the table, thus began: "I have, gentlemen," pausing and looking around on the assembled group to make his words more impressive "requested your attendance here to-night, to assist me in the furtherance of some scientific investigations. Every mail," continued he, slowly extending the paper baton, 46 comes freighted with rumors of the manifestation of a mystery too deep for man to solve; that is for the common analytical minds which have had to do with it."" The shadow of a depreciating smile played over his manly features as he continued, "But, gentlemen, genius jumps at conclusions; and I hope I may say without any appear. ance of self praise, that my powers are of that order. If there be any here who doubt it, I would refer them to my researches in Feline Electricity which startled the world by their originality. Who, I ask, but a genius would have ever conceived the idea of taking a cat into a dark closet and rubbing her hair against the grain, until it led to these important discoveries? Is there any one here who does not know what they were?-I hope not, sincerely I hope not. But if there is, I tell him in commiseration of his ignorance that they were of the most startling kind, that the cat became so highly charged, that with a tremendous yell, the charge reacted upon myself, with what force my bleeding hands and face attested. A mind which had the power to grasp and succesfully combat the difficulties surrounding the truths of Feline electricity, can, I think, without any doubt as to the result, undertake the solution of this less abstruse mystery. I would fain have pursued my investigations alone, but I find from the unsatisfactory reports that it is impossible, and I have chosen you, gentlemen, as those I would most like to have benefitted by the celebrity of my researches," he paused and looked condescendingly upon them. "In order," he continued, that they may partake of the method and regularity, which characterizes my undertakings, I propose to give them a name. and think they may be appropriately called, "Snudggers' Investigations into Table-turning." As he paused a general murmur of assent was heard, he bowed slightly in acknowledgement, and continued: "as the slightest thing will be of importance, I deem it expedient to appoint a secretary, and would THE CIRCLE 18 FORMED. select Mr. Ashbry Snobs, as a person capable by his high attainments, to fill that important office, (Snobs bowed) and now, gentlemen, we are prepared to comm nce." They were seated with some regard to temperaments, which, I judge the worthy secretary did not quite comprehend, and so made a large blot in his book. The impression which the scene made on the lamented Snobs, as he has noted it down, is highly interesting. It is a sight calculated to impress one deeply with the solemnity and method, with which all investigations must be carried on in order to be successful. At the head of the table sits the illustrious Caleb Snudggers, of whose physical appearance it can be truly said (as it has often been figuratively remarked in compliment to his piercing intellect) that "he has a head as long as a horse's "-there he sits with transcendent intellect beaming from every lineament of his dignified features. On his right sits Blodget, the manly Blodget of whom his admiring friend Sulks so often says, "If there is any one man made more in the image of his Maker than another, that man is Blodget." On the left of Snudggers sits Sulks, the admiring friend of Blodget, who thinks as he thinks, says as he says, and does as he does, without asking why or wherefore. Their relation to each other has been expressed in ways, all synonymous of their seeing with the same vision. Next to Sulks sits the incredulous Weeks, who has never been known to proceed thus far in anything before, without exclaiming, "I'll not take that in, I'm no sardine," the allusion to this particular species of fish, being a conventional phrase, about equiv alent to dupe. Those great "For freedom's fight, when first son, Though baffled oft, is ever won." Last, though not least, comes Jones, who is slightly tinctured with the poetic, and who never undertakes any thing but that he brings his muse to aid him. Such is the illustrious company now in the earnest pursuit of science. The impressive silence remained unbroken for a long time; finally sundry movements, on the part of Jones began to attract attention. If Jones had been a child he might have been said to have been wriggling in his seat; but not being a child his motions partook as much of the sinuosity of the movements of the serpent as the human form divine" would admit. Sundggers' eye lighted, it was evidently the first manifestation of the strange phenomenon; all eyes were fixed upon Jones, who under the conflicting circumstances became perfectly miserable, for the truth was, a flea was amusing itself at the expense of that poetical individual. "Oh" thought Jones (as he afterwards remarked to Snobs) "how consoling it would be to nail the monster, or at least give one long scratch to the afflicted part; -but the chain-the investigations of the great Snodggers must be broken to accomplish that, and as it was, my misery was protracted like the closing line of a Spenserian stanza;-either alternative was dreadful to contemplate." Bu Jones like most other mortals, was made of clay, although, perhaps of a higher order; and that clay possessed among others a peculiar capacity called feeling, which rendered him very susceptible to fea bites; and, not being as stoical as some savages, or as philosophical on the subject of bearing pain as some ancient philosophers, he writhed in the anguish of that tortured susceptibility. But there is a point of desperation, in which men regard no consequences, and Jones arrived at that point; jerking his hand from the table, with such force that he nearly upset it, he lit upon the unsuspecting torturer, with a dexterity truly commendable, and tore his head from his gloated body. Snudggers had been surprised at the first moments, bat when he saw the sequel, he became so indignantly astonished as to appear almost insensible. Blodget sent a withering glance at poor Jones; Sulks ditto, of course; 0. S'appy was completely abstracted, and the semblance of a smile played on the features of the incredulous Weeks. The circle was renewed without a word being spoken,but shortly after, Snudggers, having recovered from his astonishment, proceeded to enlighten the circle, with his intended course of proceedings in nearly the following words. "In pursuing scientific investigations, it is necessary to assume some facts as truths, as a basis on which to build a theory. Whether these assumed facts be truths or not is immaterial, since the conclusions arrived at will be true without regard to them. I find in the contradictory reports, that this phenomenon is mostly ascribed to the agency of spirits; and I shall assume the same, and shall confirm or disprove that assumption as the circumstances justify me in so doing." The circle appeared deeply impressed with the lucid explanation of the intentions of their illustrious leader. After some little time Snudggers solemnly said : "If there are any spirits present they will please tip the table." Nothing broke the intense silence which ensued. Blodget asked the same with the same result. The request went round in the same way with the same result except that, Weeks asked the table to tip without any reference to the agency of spirits, and Sulks, who adjured the table to tip toward Blodget in vain. The silence which followed was long, again the request went round, and various, snappings and crackings was the result, "a decided manifestation" said Snudggers,— "a decided manifestation" echoed all the others except Weeks, and the meeting adjourned. A week had passed and again the chosen few were assembled around their distinguished leader; every thing was arranged and they were about to commence the sitting, when Jones arose and said: If you will indulge me for one moment I will read a slight tribute, in the form of an invocation to spirits, inscribed to our noble guide." With the greatest pleasure," said Snudggers. "You will perceive," resumed Jones, "that it is in the form of an acrostical sonnet; while pondering upon the form of verse in which to clothe my invocation, I was struck with the remarkable coincidence of your name containing the requisite number of letters for the acrostical sonnet, and I did not hesitate to take the advantage of it."-Jones then read the following: SONNET. INVOCATION TO THE SPIRITS. Come, spirits, from your heavenly dwelling place |