My First Summer in 

 the Sierra 



1869 



N the great Central Valley of 

 California there are only two 

 seasons, spring and summer. 

 The spring begins with the 

 first rainstorm, which usually falls in No- 

 vember. In a few months the wonderful 

 flowery vegetation is in full bloom, and by 

 the end of May it is dead and dry and crisp, 

 as if every plant had been roasted in an 

 oven. 



Then the lolling, panting flocks and herds 

 are driven to the high, cool, green pastures 

 of the Sierra. I was longing for the moun- 

 tains about this time, but money was scarce 

 and I could n't see how a bread supply was 



[3] 



