Excerpt from The Farm and the Fireside, or the Romance of Agriculture: Being Half Hour Sketches of Life in the Country

Why did the gold of California remain untouched towards six thousand years, unless it is admitted that King Solomon knew of it as the gold of Ophir, when building his memorable temple? It is simply because all the world, the Yankees as well as others, did not know it was there. Supposing some visionary scholar had written a book, stating that probably in that region this precious metal existed in profusion. W'ould such a book have put the whole creation agog in search of it? But, as soon as a few straggling soldiers and sailors from the Mexican war discovered and gathered up by handfuls the shining dust and the solid masses, then there was from every part Of the earth, not excepting the Empire of the Sun an incessant scram ble to share in it. This is all consistent, because the subject now became a matter of fact. Instead of theories and moonshine dreams, here was exhibited to the human senses - vision and feeling - l - the very thing in all ages and in all countries so much desired. Ordi narily, sensible men must know a thing exists and can be had, before they embark in a stampede for its attainment, leaving every thing else in neglect.

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