ed Tom, in surprise. "What! leave the
gold-fields just as the sun is beginning to shine on you?"

"Even so, Tom."

"My dear Ned, you are mad! This is a splendid country. Just see what
fortunes we should have made, but for the unfortunate accidents that
have happened!" Tom sighed as he spoke.

"I know it," replied his friend, with sadden energy. "This is a
splendid country; gold exists all over it--not only in the streams, but
on the hill-sides, and even on hill-tops, as you and I know from
personal experience--but gold, Tom, is not _everything_ in this world,
and the getting of it should not be our chief aim. Moreover, I have
come to the conclusion, that _digging_ gold ought to be left entirely to
such men as are accustomed to dig ditches and throw up railway
embankments. Men whose intelligence is of a higher order ought not to
ignore the faculties that have been given to them, and devote their
time--too often, alas! their lives--to a species of work that the merest
savage is equally capable of performing. Navvies may work at the mines
with propriety; but educated men who devote themselves to such work are,
I fear, among the number of those to whom Scripture specially speaks,
when it says, `Make not haste to be rich.'"

"But there are other occupations here besides digging for gold," said
Tom.

"I know it; and I would be happy and proud to rank among the merchants,
and engineers, and such men, of California; but duty calls me home, and,
to say truth," added Ned, with a smile, "inclination points the way."

Tom Collins still for some time attempted to dissuade his friend from
quitting the country, and his sweet little wife, Lizette, seconded his
efforts with much earnestness; but Ned Sinton was immovable. He took
passage in the first ship that sailed for England.

The night before he sailed, Ned, after retiring to his room for the last
time in his friend's house, locked his door, and went through a variety
of little pieces of business that would have surprised his hosts had
they seen him. He placed a large strong-box on the table, and
cautiously drew from under his bed a carpet-bag, which, from the effort
made to lift it, seemed to be filled with some weighty substance.
Unlocking the bag, he proceeded to lift out handful after handful of
shining dollars and gold pieces, interspersed here and there with
massive nuggets. These he transferred into the wooden box until it was
full. This was nearly the who