SINGULAR METHOD OF BRANCHING AND FLOWERING.
[GRANDFATHER'S ADVENTURES.]
CALIFORNIA GOLD-HUNTERS.
"It seems to me, Grandpop, that you have had every kind of exciting experience except a fight with Indians," said Ralph Pell.
Captain Sterling laughed. "Don't be so sure that I haven't had that kind thrown in too by way of variety, my boy," answered the old sailor.
Ralph was all agog in an instant. "There, Grandfather, I know you must have a story to tell about them, or you wouldn't answer me in that way; so please tell it, and I'll learn to box the compass backwards to-morrow to repay you," cried the eager lad.
"All right, Ralph," was the pleased rejoinder; "it's a bargain. And now for my yarn:
"When the California gold fever set the world aflame 'way back in '49, I caught the craze, and determined to dig a big fortune out of old Mother Earth in short order, instead of reefing topsails in winter gales of wind and chewing upon salt junk for a living; so I shipped in a big vessel named the San Juan, that had loaded mining-tools for a cargo, and set sail for the Golden Gate.