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graceful alders and poison…oak bushes； vivid in crimson and yellow
leaves； while delicate maiden…hair ferns grew in miniature forests
between the crevices of the rocks； yet； with the practicality of
Chinese human nature； Hop Yet used all this beauty for a dish…pan and
refrigerator！
Now； confess that； after having seen exactly how it looks； you would
like to rub a magic lamp； like Aladdin； and wish yourself there with
our merry young sextette。 For California is a lovely land and a
strange one； even at this late day； when her character has been
nearly ruined by dreadful stories； or made ridiculous by foolish
ones。
When you were all babies in long clothes； some people used to believe
that there were nuggets of gold to be picked up in the streets； and
that in the flowery valleys； flowing with milk and honey； there grew
groves of beet…trees； and forests of cabbages； and shady bowers of
squash…vines； and they thought that through these fertile valleys
strode men of curious mien； wild bandits and highway robbers； with
red flannel shirts and many pockets filled with playing…cards and
revolvers and bowie…knives； and that when you met these frightful
persons and courteously asked the time of day； they were apt to turn
and stab you to the heart by way of response。
Now； some of these things were true； and some were not； and some will
never happen again； for the towns and cities no longer conduct
themselves like headstrong young tomboys out on a lark； but have
grown into ancient and decorous settlements some twenty…five or
thirty years old。
Perhaps California isn't really so interesting since she began to
learn manners； but she is a land of wonders still； with her sublime
mountains and valleys； her precious metals； her vineyards and
orchards of lemons and oranges； figs； limes； and nuts； her mammoth
vegetables； each big enough for a newspaper story； her celebrated
trees； on the stumps of which dancing…parties are given； her
vultures； her grizzly bears； and her people； drawn from every nook
and corner of the mappink； yellow； blue； red； and green countries。
And though the story of California is not written； in all its
romantic details； in the school…books of to…day； it is a part of the
poetry of our late American history； full of strange and thrilling
scenes； glowing with interest and dramatic fire。
I know a little girl who crossed the plains in that great ungeneraled
army of fifteen or twenty thousand people that made the long and
weary journey to the land of gold in 1849。 She tells her children
now of the strange； long days and months in the ox…team； passing
through the heat and dust of alkali deserts； fording rivers； and
toiling over steep mountains。 She tells them how at night she often
used to lie awake； curled up in her grey blanket； and hear the men
talking together of the gold treasures they were to dig from the
groundtreasures； it seemed to her childish mind； more precious than
those of which she read in The Arabian Nights。 And from a little
hole in the canvas cover of the old emigrant wagon she used to see
the tired fathers and brothers； worn and footsore from their hard
day's tramp； some sleeping restlessly； and others guarding the cattle
or watching for Indians； who were always expected； and often came；
and the last thing at night； when her eyes were heavy with sleep； she
peered dreamily out into the darkness to see the hundreds of gleaming
camp…fires； which dotted the plain as far as the eye could reach。
You will have noticed that this first week of camp…life was a quiet
one； spent mostly by the young people in getting their open…air home
comfortably arranged； making conveniences of all kinds； becoming
acquainted with the canyon so far as they could； and riding once or
twice to neighbouring ranches for hay or provisions。
Dr。 Winship believed in a good beginning； and； as this was not a
week's holiday； but a summer campaign； he wanted his young people to
get fully used to the situation before undertaking any of the
exciting excursions in prospect。 So； before the week was over； they
began to enjoy sound； dreamless sleep on their hard straw beds； to
eat the plain fare with decided relish； to grow a little hardy and
brown； and quite strong and tough enough for a long tramp or
horseback ride。
After a religious devotion to cold cream for a few nights； Polly had
signified her terrible intention of 'letting her nose go。' 'I disown
it！' she cried； peeping in her tiny mirror； and lighting up her too
rosy tints with a tallow candle。 'Hideous objick； I defy thee！ Spot
and speckle； yea； burn to a crisp； and shed thy skin afterwards！ I
care not。 Indeed； I shall be well rid of thee； thouh'mthou
well； leopard； for instance。'
One beautiful day followed another； each the exact counterpart of the
one that had preceded it； for California boys and girls never have to
say 'wind and weather permitting' from March or April until November。
They always know what the weather is going to do； and whether this is
an advantage or not is a difficult matter to settle conclusively。
New England boys affirm that they wouldn't live in a country where it
couldn't rain any day it felt like it； and California lads retort
that they are glad their dispositions are not ruined by the freaks of
New England weather。 At all events； it is a paradise for would…be
campers； and any one who should assert the contrary would meet with
energetic opposition from the loyal dwellers in Camp Chaparral。
Bell returned one day from a walk which she had taken by herself；
while the other girls were off on some errand with the Doctor。 After
luncheon she drew them mysteriously into the square tent； and lowered
the curtains。
'What is it？' Polly whispered； with an anxious expression of
countenance。 'Have you lost your gold thimble again； or your temper；
or have you discovered a silver mine？'
'I have found；' she answered mysteriously； 'the most beautifully
secret place you ever beheld。 It will be just the spot for us to
write and study in when we want to be alone； or it will even do for a
theatre； and it is scarcely more than half a mile up the canyon。'
'How did you find it？' asked Margery。
'As I was walking along by the brookside； I saw a snake making its
way through the bushes； and'
'Goodness！' shrieked Polly； 'I shall not write there； thank you。'
'Goose！ Just wait a minute。 I looked at it； and followed at a
distance； it was a harmless little thing； and I thought； for the fun
of it； I would just push blindly on and see what I should find；
because we are for ever walking in the beaten path； and I long for
something new。'
'A bad instinct；' remarked Madge； 'and one which will get you into
trouble； so you should crush it in its infancy。'
'Well； I took up my dress and ploughed through the chaparral； until I
came； in about three minutes of scratching and fighting； to an open
circular place about as large as this tent。 It was exactly round；
which is the curious part of it； and in the centre was one stump；
covered with moss and surrounded by great white toadstools。 How any
one happened to go in there and cut down a single tree I can't
unde