ON THE TRAMP. 213 



lodging money, and when obliged to get up found ourselves 

 in the midst of a dismal, rainy day. We only went out to 

 meals, two of which we indulged in at the " What Cheer 

 House," where we enjoyed the luxury of sitting at a table 

 with a cloth on and waiters to attend to our wants. But it 

 did make a hole in my three dollars, although we indulged 

 sparingly. 



Another night in company with beings to whom they with 

 which the Prodigal Son ate husks were blue-blooded gentle- 

 men, and a bright morning dawned upon us. We arose early, 

 as now we must begin hunting for a "job" in earnest, for by 

 the way our watch money was going we found how fleeting 

 was time. We spent a little more of the results of this time 

 at the "What Cheer" — which, by the way, was one of the 

 greatest restaurants in the world and which furnished meals 

 of good quality at a low price and without the aid of liquor 

 sales — and then went hunting for work. The trades and pro- 

 fessions we found full of incumbents and even day's work 

 could not be had; so after hunting till we were tired, we re- 

 solved to leave San Francisco and travel towards Sacramento, 

 intending to try for work among the farmers, and, failing, then 

 strike for the mines. 



My funds were now reduced to one dollar, while probably 

 "Scottie" had three or four, he having run his down in the 

 purchase of a pair of shoes. I could not afford these, although 

 I needed them badly. 



AVith the good wishes of our host of the " Pacific Lodgings " 

 accompanying us we left that vermin-infested dormitory about 

 10 o'clock on the morning of December 27th. We proceeded 

 directly to the wharf of the San Antonio ferry, where we 

 boarded a little steamer which was soon on its way over the 

 bay. The day was clear and the sun shone brightly, lighting 

 up the surrounding scenery with glowing tints until it was 

 very beautiful. Behind us lay the city with ks busy wharves 



