E.

In the early days when stage coaching formed a prominent feature of
frontier existence, "The Pioneer Home" was one of the most popular of
the Sierra stations. This was not due to its dimensions, nor to its
architectural advantages, nor to the accommodations it offered, for it
was nothing more than a roughly though substantially built,
comfortable-looking log-cabin. But standing as it did on the main street
of Nevada City, it would have invited observation on account of its
neatly kept, old-fashioned garden of hollyhocks, marigolds, and
gilly-flowers, even if a swinging black sign-board had not designated it
in glaring red letters as a place of "Entertainment for Man and Beast."

It was Nathaniel Parkenson who, with the aid of his wife, rendered this
depot attractive both within and without. When news of the discovery of
gold in California reached there, this enterprising couple were among
the first to venture from their home in Connecticut. Bent on seeking a
fortune in the new El Dorado, they crossed the plains and joined an
established mining camp. But their hardships were by no means terminated
when their journey came to an end. Nathaniel found working the pick and
shovel far more laborious than he had anticipated, and the privations
and exposure of camp-life soon began to tell upon his health.

As for Mrs. Parkenson, able-bodied and capable of work though she was,
she soon determined in her mind that more congenial occupation and
surroundings would have to be sought. Many a plan suggested itself to
her, but none formulated to her satisfaction until the coarse canvas
bag in which her husband's earnings had been concealed and regularly
added to through many months began to evince a state of plethora. Then
she felt that the time had come when silence ceased to be golden.

"This kind of livin' ain't goin' to do for you, nor me nuther,
Nathanel," was the statement with which she one day interrupted a fit of
coughing on the part of her husband.

Too much absorbed with the suggestion she was about to offer to observe
his surprise at the first expression of dissatisfaction he had heard
from her lips, she continued: "We've got to git out er this place in a
little less nor no time, unless we wait till we're tuk out, and that's
all there is about it." Mrs. Parkenson emphasized her remarks with
decided jerks of the head, which set in motion the half-dozen black,
pipe stem curls that hung on either cheek.

Nathaniel r