IN THE MINING DISTRICT 251 



and confidence in my energy, even if I am young in years 

 yet ; have confidence and all your doubts about my future 

 will vanish. With my experience, my energy increases 

 day by day; and should a man not be safe in a stream, 

 where the feeble inexperienced boy has kept himself 

 afloat so long? xVnswer that question to yourself, my 

 dear father. 



And now let me answer your question about Griin- 

 hagen and Olias, my original companions, whom I have 

 not mentioned lately. Alter having worked together in 

 the mines for a few days, there were plain indications, 

 that our company would not last long. The first condi- 

 tion for the permanent existence of such a union, is com- 

 plete harmony in everything, that may lead to success, 

 and that was lacking with us. As long as Emil Boett- 

 cher's soothing influence was felt among us— I am sure 

 Rosenstock has not exaggerated in describing it to you 

 —everything went all right; but very soon after he had 

 left us to go to Lucius' farm on the Feather River, we 

 dissolved our partnership, though in a thoroughly 

 friendly way. Olias went to work on Feather River, at 

 the mouth of Nelson Creek; and Griinhagen, with whom 

 I remained for a while longer, went afterwards to Inde- 

 pendence Bar, where Boettcher also went, on returning 

 to the mines from Lucius' farm. Ever since that time — 

 or since we dissolved partnership— the most cordial rela- 

 tions have existed between us. Of Olias, however, I 

 have not heard since I left Nelson Creek; Griinhagen 

 and Boettcher I have visited, nearly every Sunday at 

 Independence Bar. In June Boettcher fell sick and was 

 compelled to go to San Francisco, and Griinhagen fol- 

 lowed him soon afterwards. A letter from the former,— 

 the same which transmitted to me your two letters,— 

 told me that Griinhagen has not yet succeeded in finding 

 employment. In this letter Emil advises me, in earnest 

 and not to be mistaken language, not to come to San 

 Francisco; and his elder brother— an excellent man, cool 

 healed and intelligent, in whom I have the most implicit 

 confidence — who wrote to me at the same time, gives me 



