OFF FOR THE WILDS 195 



horses was presided over by an aged Scotchman and 

 his wife. The latter is famous for her cooking, and the 

 meal she set before us only added to her reputation. 

 In an old music book I found a song that I had not 

 heard for nearly twoscore of years, and then it was 

 sung by a dear sweetheart of mine with such pathos 

 and sweetness that its memory lingers with me still. 

 " My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair " was the title. 

 Another old favorite was found in the same book, 

 " k Jock o' Hazledean." The good dinner, the cheery 

 talk of the old Scotch woman, and the songs of bygone 

 days sent me away in rare good spirits and with fond 

 memories that will last for many and many a day. 



We arrived in Barkerville Thursday night at six 

 o'clock, three hours late, caused by the necessity of 

 shoeing some horses and mending a break in the stage. 

 Barkerville is a mining town pure and simple. All 

 frame houses, with sidewalks about four feet above the 

 level, varying in height in different spots, with steps 

 leading down to the street on each side. This is neces- 

 sary because of the great depth of snow in the winter. 



The glory of the town has long since departed, as a 

 majority of the formerly famous gold mines have been 

 worked out. In a ride of, say, forty miles we saw a 

 number of abandoned mines, a very small portion of 

 them having ever produced enough gold to pay ex- 

 penses. Only two mines that we saw were in opera- 

 tion, one being worked by three Chinamen, and report 



