CHARACTERISTICS OF OREGON 



and it was curious to hear those perpetual 

 pioneers comparing notes and seeking infor 

 mation around the camp-fires. 



&quot;Where are you from?&quot; some Oregonian 

 would ask. 



&quot;The Joaquin.&quot; 



&quot;It s dry there, ain t it?&quot; 



&quot;Well, I should say so. No rain at all in 

 summer and none to speak of in winter, and 

 I m dried out. I just told my wife I was on 

 the move again, and I m going to keep moving 

 till I come to a country where it rains once in 

 a while, like it does in every reg lar white man s 

 country; and that, I guess, will be Oregon, if 

 the news be true.&quot; 



&quot;Yes, neighbor, you s heading in the right 

 direction for rain,&quot; the Oregonian would say. 

 &quot;Keep right on to Yamhill and you ll soon 

 be damp enough. It rains there more than 

 twelve months in the year; at least, no saying 

 but it will. I ve just come from there, plumb 

 drowned out, and I told my wife to jump into 

 the wagon and we would start out and see if 

 we could n t find a dry day somewhere. Last 

 fall the hay was out and the wood was out, 

 and the cabin leaked, and I made up my mind 

 to try California the first chance.&quot; 



&quot;Well, if you be a horned toad or coyote,&quot; 

 the seeker of moisture would reply, &quot;then 



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