"Travels in Alaska 



wide views ; the miners along the branches of the great 

 river, busy as moles and beavers ; young men dream- 

 ing and hoping to strike it rich and rush home to 

 marry their girls faithfully waiting; others hoping to 

 clear off weary farm mortgages, and brighten the 

 lives of the anxious home folk; but most, I suppose, 

 just struggling blindly for gold enough to make them 

 indefinitely rich to spend their lives in aimless afflu- 

 ence, honor, and ease. I enjoyed getting acquainted 

 with the trees, especially the beautiful spruce and 

 silver fir; the flower gardens and great grassy cari- 

 bou pastures; the cheery, able marmot mountaineer; 

 and above all the friendship and kindness of Mr. Le 

 Claire, whom I shall never forget. Bidding good- 

 bye, I sauntered back to the head of navigation on 

 the Stickeen, happy and rich without a particle of 

 obscuring gold-dust care. 



