therefore, would elapse, before it came to one's turn to reach the window. To save such delay, sometimes people would employ and handsomely pay others to preserve places for them, which they would occupy, in room of their assistants, when they were approaching the loop-holes where the delivery clerks stood. Ten and twenty dollars were often paid for accommodation in this way. Indeed, many clever persons made large sums regularly by such work, by securing good places in the line early, never intending to seek letters for themselves, but only to sell their right of position to some richer man who was in haste, and regarded more his time than money. Some of these eager applicants had not heard from their far distant homes for many long months, and their anxious solicitude was even painful. It was therefore exceedingly distressing to mark the despondency with which many would turn away upon hearing from the delivery clerks the oft-repeated and muchdreaded sentence, "There is nothing here for you." On the other hand, it was equally pleasing to observe the cheerful and triumphant smile, not unfrequently accompanied with a loud exclamation of joy, that would light up the countenance of the successful applicant, who hastens from the window, and as soon as he can force a passage through the crowd, tears open and commences to read the more than welcome letter, every word of which awakens in his mind some tender reminiscence. He is now communing with the dearest idols of his heart. He knows no feelings but those of kindness and affection. The lines upon which his eyes are riveted, were written perhaps by an absent wife, and they have made him already a better man than he was an hour before. She is describing the sadness of the solitude his absence has occasioned, and urging him with all a true woman's fondness, to hasten back to the home which needs but his presence to be one of unmingled happiness. She tells him of their innocent children-of their improving loveliness—and how she has taught them in their daily prayers to lisp their absent father's name. Look close into the reader's face, and the nature of his emotions will not be mistaken. There is an unusual twitching of the muscles of the mouth, a growing dimness of the eyes, and tears are rapidly tracing down the furrows of his sunburnt cheeks. He is too much absorbed in his interesting occupation to know or care that he is an object of curious observation. What matters it to him what others think of his apparent weakness? It is a weakness of which he need not be ashamed. He at length carefully folds the paper and carries it to his comfortless abode, where he reads it over and over again, until by constant handling, and the tears that fall upon it, its characters become illegible. That night does not find him in the gambling-house, nor elsewhere in search of amusement; but in his own wretched chamber, he is silently communing in spirit with the loved ones at home. Such scenes were of hourly occurrence, and tended to exhibit the better portion of human nature, which neither the thirst for gold nor feverish excitement of the place could entirely destroy. Turning from these busy scenes and ascending a neighboring height, the wearied spectator beheld one of the most peaceful prospects and pleasant sights of the world. It was winter by the calendar; but the winters of California are the springs and early summers of less favored lands in northern latitudes. Beneath was the little pandemonium he had left, where the devil-inspired worshippers of mammon burrowed in, and out, and about, holes and huts of canvas and wood; but the noise of whose never-ceasing labors reached not his ears. Beyond the narrow limits of the town were the calm waters of the bay, on which floated, swanlike, hundreds of trim and well-proportioned ships, all motionless, and deserted by their crews. Farther out was the high lying island of Yerba Buena, green to the summit. Beyond it lay the mountains of Contra Costa, likewise arrayed in verdant robes, on the very tops of which flourished groups of huge redwood trees; while far in the distance towered the gray head of Monte Diablo. The eye wandered to the northern and southern extremities of the bay, and still gazed on green hills, smooth waters and picturesque islands. It turned oceanward, and saw the Golden Gate studded with deep laden ships inward bound. The grand northern shores of the strait rose boldly and brokenly to the height of nearly three thousand feet, while the lower coast opposite was equally beautiful from the freshness of its fields and bushes, in the midst of which, and in the most beautiful spot embraced in the entire view, quietly nestles the presidio, now the solitary habitation of a small detachment of United States soldiery. The great Pacific might be dimly seen beneath the dense veil of mist that hung miles out at sea opposite the Gate. To the west and south-west the spectator next looked, and admired the Blue Mountain and the Pass that sheltered the quiet valley of the mission, and the long ridges of the Sierra San Bruno, their green color sinking into a faint blue as they were seen. more distantly. Overhead was a sky as blue and as beautiful as imagination could picture; the air was fresh and balmy; the earth beneath one's feet, soft and fragrant with new herbage and flowering shrubs; while the life-giving sun shed over all its own radiance and joy. All was clear and sharp-defined; all was tranquil and motionless, except the flight of innumerable white and gray-winged gulls, that soared and fluttered among the deserted. shipping in the cove before the town. CHAPTER X. Great sale of water lots.-An election day.-Newspapers-Approval by the ayuntamiento of the city charter, and limits of San Francisco.-Squatter difficulty at Rincon Point.-Political meeting on Portsmouth Square.-The Colton grants.-First county election.-Col. John C. Hayes elected Sheriff.-City Charter adopted by the State Legislature.-First election under the City Charter.Changes in the Common Council. JANUARY 3d.-A great sale by the municipal authorities, of four hundred and thirty-four water lots, which brought $635,130. This sale had been ordered by the ayuntamiento by a resolution passed on the 3d of October, 1849, in accordance with a proclamation of General Kearny, directing three months' notice to have been previously given. JANUARY 8th.-An election was held for members of the legislature, alcaldes and ayuntamiento. The interest on these occasions increased with the population, and the election of today was the most exciting that had yet been held. The weather was exceedingly unpleasant, the wind blowing a gale, and the rain pouring down in torrents. The streets were covered with mud and water so as to render them almost impassable. Still the neighborhood of the polls was crowded during the entire day with men and boys, zealous as they well could be in their endeavors to promote the public welfare. It is one of the glorious consequences of our republican institutions, that at such times, so many worthy people are always to be found, utterly regardless of their personal interests, and so entirely devoted to the general good. Although the excitement ran unusually high, the day passed off without disturbance, and much good humor was exhibited by the conflicting parties. The voters were numerous; every citizen of the United States being entitled to the elective franchise, and almost all who were here, from every part of the world, claimed to be American citizens. The way to the polls, for a considerable distance, on either side, was completely blocked up by roughly dressed men, who thrust their favorite tickets into the hands of every new comer, with loud exclamations in behalf of the parties for whom they were working. "Here's for Geary, and the old council!" cries one, "Geary and the old council for ever!" "For ever is a long day," says another; "rotation in office, is my doctrine. The old council has made money enough. Let's give a new one a chance at the public crib!" "The old ones are so fat they can't eat any more!" exclaims a third; "we had better keep them where they are!" "We have had the old council long enough!" vociferates a stout six-footer, wading up to his waist in the mud: "I go for a new council, side-walks, and clean streets!" "You do, do you?" replies a wag: "then I guess you will have to go an infernal long ways to find them!" "We want another yuntermenter," bawls out a youngster in a red shirt and tarpaulin hat, and resembling a drowned rat more than an independent voter:-"we want another yuntermenter, and here's the ticket for um!" "It's a gutterminty that ye want ?" replies a brawny Irishman; "then take it, and good luck till ye !" giving the luckless wight a toss that sent him sprawling into the gutter overhead in water: "I am thinking ye won't want another gutterminty soon, any how!" With much difficulty the polling desk was reached, where other scenes no less amusing were transpiring. Around the judges and inspectors were an eager and excited crowd, some endeavoring to vote and others to prevent them. "I challenge that man's vote," cries a bystander, as a simple Sandwich Islander, almost as dark as an African, offered his ticket. "Then we must swear him!" says the judge, and the usual oath was administered. Where were you born?" was the inquiry. "In New York!" whispered a prompter, and the answer was given accordingly. "Where did you come from last?" "New York," was again the reply. Where was your father born?" "New York." "In what street did you live?" "New York." "Where is New York?" the judge next inquired. This was too much for the poor fellow. He knew as much of the locality and streets of the invisible world as he did of New York. His prompter, who had brought him there to vote, endeavored |