The Transformation of Job / A Tale of the High Sierras

By FREDERICK VINING FISHER.
David C. Cook Publishing Company ELGIN, ILL., AND 36 WASHINGTON ST., CHICAGO.
Copyright, 1900, By David C. Cook Publishing Company.

If one will take the trouble to tramp with staff in hand the high Sierras, he will find not only the Yosemite, but Gold City and Pine Tree Ranch, though perhaps they bear another name. Most of the quaint characters of this tale still dwell among the vine-clad hills. To introduce to you these friends that have interested the author, and to tell anew the story of the human soul, this work is written.
Out of love of never-to-be-forgotten memories of Pine Tree Ranch, the author dedicates this book to him who once welcomed him to its white porch, but who now sleeps beneath the shadow of the mountains—Andrew Malden.
FREDERICK VINING FISHER.


The stage was late at Gold City. It always was. Everybody knew it, but everybody pretended to expect it on time.
Just exactly as the old court-house bell up the hill struck six, the postmistress hurriedly opened her door and stood anxiously peering up the street, the loafers who had been dozing on the saloon benches shuffled out and leaned up against the posts, the old piano in the Miners' Home began to rattle and a squeaky violin to gasp for breath, while the pompous landlord of the Palace Hotel, sending a Chinaman to drive away a dozen pigs that had been in front of his door through the day, took his post on the sidewalk to await his coming guests—who generally never came.