Engraved Expressly for Graham’s Magazine.
A CASE OF GOLD FEVER.
“Officials can lie as well as other people. It’s all a speculation to get settlers out there. Don’t tell me of gold scattered about as thick as jack-stones.”
Perley maintained the other side of the question, and soon had the satisfaction of pushing most abundant confirmations into the face of his partner.
“Well,” said Jenkins, “what of it? Suppose there is gold there? It doesn’t make me any better off.”
“But it will make you better off, if you seize the advantage now offered to every energetic and truly enterprising man.”
Mr. Jenkins opened his eyes rather wider than usual; then shrugging his shoulders, he answered:
“My business creed is—‘Let well enough alone.’ ”
“And mine,” replied Perley, “is to seize upon every advantage that offers.”
At this point the conversation was interrupted, and as neither party, for good reasons, thought it advisable to renew it, the subject did not come up between them for several days. During this time Perley could think of little else but California, and the golden harvest it presented; and the more he thought of it, the more fully satisfied was he that an immense fortune might speedily be realized by trading in that region. What was in the way, when blankets sold for ten dollars each, a pair of boots for double that sum, flour for sixty dollars a barrel, and every thing else in proportion?
“The fact is, Jenkins,” said he, renewing the subject not many days after the first conversation, “we must make some of this hay while the sun is shining.”