game had disappeared, and I knew noth-questions, concluding to let time solve ing of his whereabouts. I was anxious the question. After we landed at Little to know what had become of him, for I Rock, the preliminaries being all arrangthought he was in some way or other ed, we repaired to the place designated connected with one of the parties. The on the banks of the Ankansas river, about gamblers, flush with their ill-gotten treas- a mile and a half below town. The disure, commenced drinking and carousing, tance ten paces, with dueling pistols. and asked if there were any more who The first fire, Johnson's ball entered the wished to play a game of "poker," when gambler's right arm, just above the wrist, young Johnson stepped forward and said and came out above the elbow. The code he would try a hand with either one of of honor being maintained, the affair was them, but would not play with them to- settled. After the duel was over, we regether. The victorious one took his seat turned to the hotel. The affair did not at the table. All eyes were turned on create much excitement, for there were Johnson, and I do not believe there was but few who knew anything about it, one who did not wish he might come out and duels were so common those days in winner. Arkansas that little attention was paid to them, with the exception of the sporting characters. I felt a peculiar interest in Johnson from some cause, I knew not what, notwithstanding I knew him to be both a gambler and a duelist. I had some business to attend to in Little Rock, and then intended to continue my journey to the interior of the State, where I had several bills for collection. About three o'clock that afternoon a servant came to my room and handed me a note, requesting me to call at room No. 3, but making no explanations in regard to it. This rather astonished me, but I immediately repaired to the room where Johnson was waiting for me, or whom I shall now call Adelaide, for it was none other. I had scarcely entered the door before. she came and threw her arms around my neck and commenced weeping. I could not speak for several moments, for the surprise was so great to find the beautiful and accomplished Adelaide, dressed in male attire and following the occupation of gambler, but the greatest mystery to me was that I had not recognized her. She said she could not keep herself longer disguised from me, for she desired to tell me her misfortunes. The betting commenced on a large scale, and before the morning's sun made its appearance, Johnson had won all the gambler's money and Stebbin's servant. There were three or four of us who had stood around the table all night, so interested were we in the game that sleep came not to our eyes. The last bet that was made was $3,000, and when the gambler saw that he had lost, he made a grab for the money, when Johnson drew his revolver and held it within a few inches of his head, saying: "Touch one cent of that money and you are a dead man." The gambler drew back with a wild look, not saying a word, and left the table. In a few minutes he returned, telling Johnson that he was now prepared, and must have satisfaction for the insult offered him by drawing his revolver. Johnson told him he was no duelist, neither was he inclined to fight him; but if nothing else would do him, he could have satisfaction when they arrived at Little Rock, which was but a short distance ahead. This appeared to be satisfactory, and the gambler told him to select his weapons and hour of meeting. Some of the passengers who were acquainted with the gambler tried to prevail upon Johnson not to fight him, as he was considered an extraordinary shot, but it was all to no purpose. Johnson selected Stebbins as his second, and came to me and asked if I would go and witness the duel, saying that he wished to leave some papers in my care, provided he was killed. I was perfectly astonished at his request, and scarcely knew what answer to make him; but he prevailed upon me so that I at last consented. It was a mystery to me why I should be selected by him to take charge of his papers and money, but I asked no About three months after she was married, Matson was arrested for forgery on one of the eastern banks; tried, and sentenced to the state prison for ten years, where he soon afterwards died. My fears had been more than realized in regard to the unfortunate wedding, which was almost forced upon her by her parents. 66 Adelaide," said I, "what could induce you to follow the river as a gambler?" "Will, I hardly know, but I could never think of returning home again to endure the jeers of my old acquaintances. I sacrificed all my future happiness on the matrimonial altar to please my parents, and gave my hand to one I did not love, who has since proven to be a felon. Once knowing I had made myself unworthy of the only one I ever did love, I made up my mind to choose between two evils the least. Will, do not censure me, and I know you would not if you only knew the pangs of anguish that are gnawing the cords of life, one by one." "You have not forgotten Charlie." Forgotton Charlie! Ask me if the sun has forgotten to rise, or the moon to send her pale rays over the earth, or time cease to move. I love Charlie dearer to-day than I love my own soul, but I know I am now unworthy of him." I kissed her care-worn brow, and told her that although she was doing wrong in pursuing her present course of life, she could not now adorn the circles of good society with that grace and dignity which she did in other days. Yet I could not discountenance my chilhood companion, but should ever cherish for her feelings of the warmest character, hoping that she would yet reform and become a lady once more. "Will, you almost persuade me to become a woman again, but then you know, when woman falls from her position, she falls never to rise again. It is different with man, for he can reform and enter society; but poor frail woman has no hope, for when the lamp which lights the path of virtue and rectitude is once extinguished, it can never be lighted again." "You should not talk so despondingly, for there are some in this world who are ever willing to assist those who desire to reform." We parted, and I took the coach for the village of M, to attend to my duties, but I was in a poor mood for doing business, my mind being so excited over what had transpired in the last twenty-four hours. After four weeks' travel over the State of Arkansas, I returned to New Orleans, hoping I might meet Adelaine again, as she told me that she calculated to return on the boat she came up on. Let us pass over ten years which has so swiftly rolled by. Many changes have transpired in that space of time. Countless thousands have set sail on the dark river of death, while the sands of life of those who are living have been washing down into the dark waves which close upon them forever. Within that space California has been peopled by the Anglo-Saxon race, who have been drawn here by the exhibition of her marvelous wealth. The mountains, which are covered with eternal snows, have become the dwelling place of civilized man, and the untold treasure which lies buried beneath those craggy cliffs is being brought to the eyes of an astonished world. The valleys have been made to yield all the luxuries of life. Cities have sprung up as if by magic, proving the indomitable spirit of the American people. In the grand rush for the golden land, many tender ties have been severed, which has given rise to many incidents of a romantic character. It was considered early times when I came to California, that is in the discovery of gold, and the mines were the great attraction. Nothing could induce me to remain in the city, for I thought I could make my fortune in a short time by mining; in fact, I felt sure I could pick up enough to do me. It was in the spring when I left San Francisco for Auburn. The gold was more difficult to procure than I imagined, and then the "lumps" were not so large as I expected to find them, but I continued mining for about twelve months, and in that time I had managed to make some money. I came to the conclusion to return to San Francisco and go into some business which would not require so much hard labor. I got into the coach at Auburn for Sacramento; there being five other passengers, I took the middle seat, and immediately in front of me sat a man whose countenance looked familiar to me, but his face being covered with whiskers, I could not make up my mind whether I had ever seen him before or not. We sat for some time without any of us speaking, when the gentleman by my side entered into conversation with me, while the other was watching me all the time; but I paid no attention to him, when of a sudden he raised up and asked me my name, which I told him, when he took my hand, saying: "Do you remember Charles Watson?" 66 ADELAIDE.-THE FEMALE GAMBLER. I know you think I am foolish and am devoid of the feelings of a man, but such is not the case, for I have not seen one I knew since I left my native land, nine long years ago." "How long," he continued, "since you left home?" 565 I told him I did; when he embraced | ens, it is Adelaide !" Adelaide, hearing me and wept like a child. her name pronounced, rose up in the bed, looking more like a ghost than a human being, and cried out, "Oh, my God! is that Charlie ?" The next moment they were in each other's arms. The scene of that meeting is one long to be remembered by me, for it is stamped upon my mind with such a deep impression that time can never erase it, but it will cling to me while time with me remains. A comfortable room was procured, with a waiting maid in attendance; everything was done for her that medical skill could desire, but all to no purpose; in less than two weeks, Adelaide, the female gambler, was no more! "About eighteen months." "I presume there have been many changes since I left." "Yes, Charlie, you would not know the place. Little girls have become young ladies since you left, and some have been laid in the cold earth, while others have gone forth into different portions of the world to seek their fortune." "Did Adelaide and her husband ever return to the village?" "They never returned." 66 Do you know where they are?" This question I did not know how to answer; but after hesitating for a moment, I concluded to tell him all I knew concerning poor unfortunate Adelaide, for I presumed she was long since dead. When I finished the sad narrative of her fate he covered his face with his hands and sat for some time without uttering a word, when he looked at me with tears glistening in his eyes. "It is too hard," said he, "that two hearts that once beat in unison, should forever be separted." When we arrived at Sacramento we took rooms together, and I learned he had been practicing medicine in Texas until the discovery of gold in California. He was then on his way to San Francisco to commence the practice of medicine again. One evening we entered his office, and found a Spanish woman waiting for Dr. Charlie. She said there was a lady near by, very ill, and must have a physician. Charlie and myself followed the directions which led to the house. When we arrived, we found the patient in a little four by six room, with an old lamp burning, which did not give light enough to distinguish anything in the room. Charlie told me to take a seat and he would go and get some candles. Neither of us had gone near the patient. As soon as he returned he struck a light and went up to the bed; the rays of the light had hardly fell upon her countenance, when he started back trembling like an aspen leaf, his countenance as pale as the driven snow, exclaiming: "Good Hear On examination of her papers, which were in a little box under the head of her bed, it was found that she had left, by her will, all her money to Charlie. Eight thousand dollars in different banks in this State, and ten thousand in New Orleans. Charlie closed out business in San Francisco and returned to the Atlantic States, to see if he could find Adelaide's parents. The following letter explains all, and is the conclusion of our narrative, which we hope is not without some interest, as it is not fiction, for the scenes portrayed are of real life. "LOUISVILLE, Ky., 185-. "MY DEAR WILL. :-I write you according to promise, but have nothing of interest. I have again wandered over my childhood land; again I sit beneath the red wood tree on the banks of my favorite meandering little stream where love's first dream entered my heart, while the fairest creature that ever graced the earth rested her hand upon my bosom, and with a smile as sweet and bright as that of an angel, looked up into my face and told me that she was happy only by my side; but I must not continue this subject. Adelaide's parents are both dead, having died with grief from the loss of their child. My kind benefactors, Dr. Longsby and lady, are both gone to the spirit-world and have left all their property, which amounts to over twenty thousand dollars, to me; but Will., what is all this money to me, since my brightest hopes have passed away? I start for Europe in about two weeks, and will write you occasionally while in that country. My respects to all my friends in California. I shall return to that country to make it my future home, for the remains of the only one I ever loved are there. Adieu, "CHARLES WATSON." Ir is rarely that we find in the public God labored first, toil likens us to Him. prints of the day anything justly entitled Ashamed of work! mechanic with thy tools? to the name Poetry. This, we are aware, is a bold assertion, yet we repeat it, and would like to see the man with sufficient impudence to put us to the proof. Nevertheless, poetical productions of striking merit do sometimes find their way into the busy papers, many of which, we may add, are so marked by the hand of Genius, that it is impossible to pass them by without pleasing recognition. Our attention was thus arrested not long since, by a Poem in the Sunday Globe of this city, entitled "Labor," from the pen of our well known fellow-townsman, FRANK SOULE, Esq. While cheerfully transferring this charming production to the pages of our Magazine, we can almost hear the joyous sound of the hammer and saw, and fancy that we can see the "fair ribbons" as they curl out gracefully from the "rabbet plane." How sweet is the Song of Labor, and how sweetly is it sung by California's Poet! The effort is entirely worthy of the gifted author, and specially honorable to the State he takes delight in calling his home: LABOR.-BY FRANK SOULE. Despise not labor! God did not despise The handicraft which wrought this gorgeous globe; Built the first fountain in the gushing spring, Ere great Daguerre had harnessed up the Sun, That is not godlike in the toiling limb, The tree thy axe cut from its native sod, Your granite temple that through time endures, His arm has toiled there in advance of yours. He made the flowers your learned florists scan, And made it virtue's brightest diadem. Is worthy of the toil by which 'tis won, 'Tis not the calling that can e'er degrade; The pen is mightier than the hero's blade. The merchant with his ledger and his wares, The lawyer with his cases and his books, The toiling farmer 'mid his wheat, or tares, The poet by his shady streams and nooks, The man, whate'er his work, wherever done, If intellect and honor guide his hand, All mere distinctions based upon pretence, Are merely laughing themes for manly hearts, The miner's cradle claims from men of sense, On false pretensions brainless dunces live, But be thou not like them, and envy not A false society's decrees despise He is most worthy who hath labored best. The sword, beneath whose rule whole nations writhe, JOE BOWERS' WEDDING. BY ONE WHO WAS The county ofmountains," boasts of judges in California. away up in the one of the best On the bench he is firm, decided, and prompt, not caring the snap of his finger for either the applause of friends, or the mutterings of enemies. He is, perhaps, the most devoted man to the law in all creation, and has his head so full of what he terms "judicial talk," that he not unfrequently finds himself making learned charges and passing sentence outside of the court room. On a recent occasion, the judge was called on to exercise the " power and authority in him vested," in the case of a young couple, who desired to have their hearts united in the holy band of wed lock. Of course he consented to perform the pleasing duty, and on the appointed evening, was promptly on hand, at the house at which the affair was to come off. The room was crowded by the beauty and fashion of the town, and none looked more dignified or happy than the judge himself, who was dressed within an inch of his life. It is customary on occasions of the kind referred to, for the good folks of the mountain towns to pass around the wine quite freely, and to their everlasting credit, we will add, they consider it no harm for one to manifest his interest in the joyous event, by getting "lively." The judge is an ardent admirer of the fair sex, having in the course of his life led the third one to the altar. To use his own language, he is a "great believer in weddings," and that he should become a little mellow amid the glorious scene of the evening, was not to be wondered at by those who knew him intimately. He had the weakness of all good judges. He would take his "tod," The time for making Joseph Bowers and Nancy Harkens one, had arrived. Every heart throbbed with the most delightful emotions. The young gentlemen desired to know how "Joe" would stand it, and the young ladies were anxious to see how "Nance" would suffer the awful shock. Others, again, who had closely observed the turn of affairs during the evening, fixed their attention upon the judge, to see how he would come out of the scrape. At length the trying moment was announced. The judge arose very cautiously from the chair which he had occupied in one corner of the room, and casting his eye over the company, he recognized the sheriff of the county, who was present as an invited guest. The judge had imbibed just enough to make him forget the nature of his business. He was full of his "judicial talk,” and required nothing but the presence of the sheriff to start him. Looking sternly at the officer, he shouted : "Mr. Sheriff, open the Court and call order!” A general twitter followed this command, in the midst of which the sheriff took the "court" gently by the arm, and led him to his seat in the corner, at the same time informing the august personage of his mistake. Everything now bid fair for a pleasant and sudden termination of the affair, until another annoyance, which was nothing less than the absence of the bridegroom, was observed. It turned out that he had just stepped across the street to join his friends in a parting drink, but before his return, some cold blooded wag had whispered into the ear of our foggy judge, the cause of "delay in proceedings." Instantly the chair in the corner moved, and in that direction all eyes were fixed. "Mr. Sheriff," slowly drawled the The wine had passed round and round judge, "bring Joe into court on a supeand round. The music had ceased.nar"-the judge had his own way of |