84 Idle Days in Patagonia. 



into the ear of the emigrant the warning " That 

 which thou goeth forth to seek thou shalt not 

 find." 



It is not said, be it remembered, that he will not 

 find happiness, which, like the rain and sunshine, 

 although in more moderate measure, comes alike to 

 all men ; it is only said that the particular form of 

 happiness to which he looks forward will never be 

 his. But one need not fear to whisper the warning, 

 nor even to shout it from the house-tops, for, to begin 

 with, he will not believe nor listen to it. His mind 

 is fixed on the three glorious prizes that lure him 

 away Adventure, Distinction, Gold. These bright 

 and shining apples are perhaps just as common at 

 home as abroad, and as easily gathered ; but the 

 young enthusiast, surveying coasts five or ten thou- 

 sand miles away through his mental telescope, sees 

 them apparently hanging on very much lower 

 branches, and imagines that to pluck them he has 

 only to transport himself beyond the ocean. To 

 drop this metaphor, adventure in that distant place 

 will be as common as the air he breathes, giving him 

 much invigorating pleasure by the way, while he 

 advances to possess himself of other more satisfying 

 things. With the nimble brains, brave spirit, and 

 willing hands characteristic of the inhabitants of the 

 British Islands, he will assuredly be able to achieve 

 distinction that pretty bit of ribbon which most 

 men are willing enough to wear. 



This, however, is only a matter of secondary im- 

 portance ; the chief prize will always be the yellow 



