FIRST FAM'LIES OF THE SIERRAS.

By JOAQUIN MILLER

Author of "Songs of the Sierras," "Songs of the Sun-Lands," "The Ship in the Desert," Etc.

CHICAGO:
JANSEN, McCLURG & CO.
1876.

COPYRIGHT,
JANSEN, McCLURG & CO.
A. D. 1876.

LAKESIDE
PUBLISHING & PRINTING CO.
CHICAGO.

TO
MY OLD
COMPANION IN ARMS,
PRINCE JAMIE TOMAS,
OF
Leon, Nicaragua.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. In the Forks
CHAPTER II. Little Billie Piper
CHAPTER III. The First Woman in the Forks
CHAPTER IV. Sunday in the Sierras
CHAPTER V. Washee-Washee
CHAPTER VI. Some Unwritten History
CHAPTER VII. That Boy
CHAPTER VIII. Sandy's Courtship
CHAPTER IX. "That Boy" is Ill
CHAPTER X. A Scene in the Sierras
CHAPTER XI. The Parson's Pursuit of Love
CHAPTER XII. Grit
CHAPTER XIII. An Announcement
CHAPTER XIV. A Wedding in the Sierras
CHAPTER XV. What's the Matter Now?
CHAPTER XVI. Was the Woman Insane?
CHAPTER XVII. Captain Tommy
CHAPTER XVIII. "Blood!"
CHAPTER XIX. How did it Happen?
CHAPTER XX. A Flag of Truce
CHAPTER XXI. The Question None Could Answer
CHAPTER XXII. Debatable Ground
CHAPTER XXIII. Another Wedding at the Forks
CHAPTER XXIV. The Judge is Lonesome
CHAPTER XXV. After the Deluge—What Then?
CHAPTER XXVI. The Widow in Disgrace
CHAPTER XXVII. Billie Piper and Deboon
CHAPTER XXVIII. The Gopher
CHAPTER XXIX. A Natural Death
CHAPTER XXX. A Funeral
CHAPTER XXXI. The Caravan of Death
CHAPTER XXXII. The End

PUBLICATIONS OF Jansen, McClurg & Co.

First Fam'lies of the Sierras.

CHAPTER I.

IN THE FORKS.

Now there was young Deboon from Boston, who was a very learned man. He was in fact