o
spend a portion of his time at our house, and during his visit we could
consult, argue, and finally conclude what action should be taken in the
matter.

I had serious misgivings that our fair home was doomed; knowing too well
my father's character, and that any objections we might make to the
proposed departure would only strengthen his determination to have his
own way. Such was his intense love for the unknown, that any plausible
fellow could induce him to see the advantages of owning a thousand acres
of wild land to his own well-tilled homestead.

The following week Mr. Terhune made his advent among us. He was a fair
type of the adventurer, and seemed a man who could be equal to any
emergency circumstances might demand; of robust form, a complexion
bronzed by exposure, and with an address so pleasing when he wished to
exert himself, that he soon became a favorite, especially with the
female portion of the family. He adapted himself to our mode of life
with wonderful ease, and apparently was making preparations for a visit
that should outlast our expectations. The beauties and advantages of a
home in his adopted State was his constant theme; and so pleasantly did
he talk, illustrating his arguments with anecdotes so amusing and
apposite, that I felt myself being perceptibly influenced by his views,
and used to dream of climbing trees of prodigious height, and gathering
nuggets from their branches as if they were apples. When lending an
assisting hand at our farm labors, he would descant on the fertility of
the soil on the Pacific Slope, saying that crops grew almost
spontaneously, and related what fortunes could be made raising sheep.

By such means were we seduced into the conviction that a change of base
was not only advantageous, but necessary, and it was finally decided to
go. Mr. Terhune said he could negotiate an exchange, by which we could
dispose of our farm for California real estate, whereby we would be the
gainers; and one Monday morning in April, he left us for St. Louis, to
complete the trade and purchase. Our intentions becoming known in the
vicinity, our neighbors seemed to take an especial interest in our
movements, and many were the staid old farmers who called to offer us
their advice and wishes for our future prosperity. Being notified that
all was in readiness, and that we could start as soon as it suited our
convenience, we lost no time in packing what few articles we required,
and bidding ou