Harte, Bret, 1836-1902 / 2008-09-12 00:00:00
EBOOK TALES OF TRAIL AND TOWN ***
Produced by Donald Lainson
TALES OF TRAIL AND TOWN
By Bret Harte
CONTENTS
THE ANCESTORS OF PETER ATHERLY
TWO AMERICANS
THE JUDGMENT OF BOLINAS PLAIN
THE STRANGE EXPERIENCE OF ALKALI DICK
A NIGHT ON THE DIVIDE
THE YOUNGEST PROSPECTOR IN CALAVERAS
A TALE OF THREE TRUANTS
TALES OF TRAIL AND TOWN
THE ANCESTORS OF PETER ATHERLY
CHAPTER I
It must be admitted that the civilizing processes of Rough and Ready
were not marked by any of the ameliorating conditions of other improved
camps. After the discovery of the famous "Eureka" lead, there was the
usual influx of gamblers and saloon-keepers; but that was accepted as a
matter of course. But it was thought hard that, after a church was built
and a new school erected, it should suddenly be found necessary to have
doors that locked, instead of standing shamelessly open to the criticism
and temptation of wayfarers, or that portable property could no longer
be left out at night in the old fond reliance on universal brotherhood.
The habit of borrowing was stopped with the introduction of more money
into the camp, and the establishment of rates of interest; the poorer
people either took what they wanted, or as indiscreetly bought on
credit. There were better clothes to be seen in its one long straggling
street, but those who wore them generally lacked the grim virtue of the
old pioneers, and the fairer faces that were to be seen were generally
rouged.
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